Strabismus

Strabismus is a lack of coordination between the eye muscles, which prevents both eyes from focusing on the same point in space. This causes incorrect binocular vision that affects depth perception and the loss of parallelism between the two.

Inicio / Specialisations / Paediatric ophthalmology / Strabismus

Causes

The muscles surrounding the eye work together to ensure that both eyes focus on the same object. In a person with strabismus, these muscles do not work in sync, causing the eyes to point in different directions.

Strabismus in adults can have various causes: decompensated congenital strabismus in adulthood, thyroid disease (Graves’ disease), diabetes mellitus, strokes, or tumors in the central nervous system, as well as cranioencephalic trauma.

Therefore, the causes can be diverse and can be grouped based on their effects into:

Paralysis or muscle alterations cause paralytic strabismus.
Differences of vision between both eyes cause refractive or accommodative strabismus.
Restrictive strabismus caused by muscle entrapments, myopia, or thyroid disease.
Other mechanical disturbances of the muscles are less frequent.
Idiopathic patients do not have a clear cause.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Depending on the deviation it may be:

Horizontal outwards (divergent), or inwards (convergent).
Vertical upwards (superior) or downwards (inferior).

One of the main symptoms of this condition is double vision, uncoordinated eye movements, and loss of depth perception. Strabologists will assess the deviation angle using the so-called occlusion test or cover test, along with the aid of prisms.

Treatment

Strabismus that appears in childhood should be evaluated as soon as it is detected. There are accommodative types of strabismus that can resolve with the proper prescription of glasses or contact lenses. These types of strabismus are more likely to lead to a lazy eye or amblyopia, which must be treated with patches during early childhood.

When strabismus is not corrected with glasses, it becomes a surgical case. Depending on the angle of deviation, the surgeon will decide whether to perform surgery on one or both eyes.

Treatment of strabismus at our clinic in Madrid

Are you looking for strabismus treatment in Madrid? You can visit our clinic at Calle Príncipe de Vergara 131, where you will be attended by top professionals, such as Dr. Belén Díez-Feijoo Arias from the Pediatric Ophthalmology Unit.

Operation procedures

Surgery’s purpose is to change the length or position of one or some of the muscles of the eye system, to strengthen muscles and / or to weaken muscles in order to change the effective forces on the eyeball and achieve alignment.

Do you want to know the cost of a strabismus surgery?

The cost of strabismus surgery can vary depending on the clinic. If you would like us to evaluate your case, you can fill out the form below or contact our patient care department. We will be happy to assist you and answer all your questions.