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What Causes Crossed Eyes?
Question: Hi
We have noticed crossing of eyes in our 8 month old. We have consulted 2 different doctors.
Doctor 1 when he was 6 months old :- He prescribed multivitamins and asked us to get back after 2 months.
Doctor 2 at 8 months :- Baby's eyes were dilated. The doctor has prescribed glasses with a power of +2.5 D. She stressed that his eyes were normal for the age but glasses were being prescribed to relax the eye muscles. She further stressed that probably some squint would remain after glasses. That unresolved squint would need surgical correction.
Is there a chance this condition can resolve on its own? Is surgery a safe option for a 8 month old baby. Please advise
We have noticed crossing of eyes in our 8 month old. We have consulted 2 different doctors.
Doctor 1 when he was 6 months old :- He prescribed multivitamins and asked us to get back after 2 months.
Doctor 2 at 8 months :- Baby's eyes were dilated. The doctor has prescribed glasses with a power of +2.5 D. She stressed that his eyes were normal for the age but glasses were being prescribed to relax the eye muscles. She further stressed that probably some squint would remain after glasses. That unresolved squint would need surgical correction.
Is there a chance this condition can resolve on its own? Is surgery a safe option for a 8 month old baby. Please advise
Brief Answer:
Surgery is required in few cases.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to Health care magic.
I am Dr. DADAPEER K, an ophthalmologist and I answer health problems related to eye.
It seems from the history that your 8 months old son is having crossed eyes. This is called as squint.
The examination and advice given by doctor 2 is correct.
One of the commonest cause for squint in children is refractive accommodative esotropia. Most of these cases require treatment by prescription of glasses to relax accommodation to correct the squint. Hence your doctor has prescribed +2.5 D lens to treat this.
Most of the cases do improve and may not need surgery. However a few cases may require surgical correction if the condition is not corrected.
Hence as of now you can wait till your son reaches age of 2 years or more.
But most important thing to be considered is he has to wear the correction by spectacles full time and need to undergo follow up examination to look for vision development.
More than 80% of cases of squint do improve only with glasses and may not require surgery and few may need to wear the glasses for long time.
Few number of children may require corrective squint surgery.
Hence no need to worry, the treatment initiated by your doctor is in right direction, do continue it. You can wait before you go for surgery.
Thank you
With regards
Surgery is required in few cases.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to Health care magic.
I am Dr. DADAPEER K, an ophthalmologist and I answer health problems related to eye.
It seems from the history that your 8 months old son is having crossed eyes. This is called as squint.
The examination and advice given by doctor 2 is correct.
One of the commonest cause for squint in children is refractive accommodative esotropia. Most of these cases require treatment by prescription of glasses to relax accommodation to correct the squint. Hence your doctor has prescribed +2.5 D lens to treat this.
Most of the cases do improve and may not need surgery. However a few cases may require surgical correction if the condition is not corrected.
Hence as of now you can wait till your son reaches age of 2 years or more.
But most important thing to be considered is he has to wear the correction by spectacles full time and need to undergo follow up examination to look for vision development.
More than 80% of cases of squint do improve only with glasses and may not require surgery and few may need to wear the glasses for long time.
Few number of children may require corrective squint surgery.
Hence no need to worry, the treatment initiated by your doctor is in right direction, do continue it. You can wait before you go for surgery.
Thank you
With regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Please can you suggest some eye exercises or any specific dietary recommendations. We would like to ensure we take the best possible step for our child.
Brief Answer:
Eye exercises and diet will not help.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.
Eye exercises will be effective in divergent squint and since in this case your son seems to have accommodative esotropia as suggested by the treatment given by your doctor by prescription of glasses, eye exercises will not be effective in this case.
The treatment is by use of corrective spectacles. Spectalces are given to relax accommodation and these children will have normal vision for there age.
You should see that the he wears the glasses as for as possible.
Multivitamins and dietary supplements also will not help in this condition but providing foods rich in vitamin A is good for overall eye health.
Hope the information is helpful to you.
Thank you
with regards
Eye exercises and diet will not help.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thank you for the follow up question.
Eye exercises will be effective in divergent squint and since in this case your son seems to have accommodative esotropia as suggested by the treatment given by your doctor by prescription of glasses, eye exercises will not be effective in this case.
The treatment is by use of corrective spectacles. Spectalces are given to relax accommodation and these children will have normal vision for there age.
You should see that the he wears the glasses as for as possible.
Multivitamins and dietary supplements also will not help in this condition but providing foods rich in vitamin A is good for overall eye health.
Hope the information is helpful to you.
Thank you
with regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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