Strabismus

Strabismus is the misalignment or wandering of one or both eyes either inward (called esotropia), outward (exotropia), up (hypertropia), or down (hypotropia). The condition can be constant or parents may only notice it occasionally; for instance, when their child is tired or looking at something very close up.

It's normal for a newborn's eyes to wander or cross occasionally during the first few months of life. But by the time a baby is 4 to 6 months old, the eyes usually straighten out. If one or both eyes continue to wander in, out, up, or down — even intermittently —it's probably due to a condition called strabismus. Strabismus can be present at birth or develop in childhood. In most cases, the cause is unknown, although kids with a family history of strabismus are at an increased risk for it.

If strabismus is left untreated, the brain will eventually suppress or ignore the image of the weaker eye, resulting in amblyopia or permanent vision loss.

You can read the original article published on Kids Health by clicking here.

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