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Strabismus in children
Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes are not aligned. In other words, the eye looks in a different direction than the other eye. If one or both eyes look inward, this is called esotropia, or inward strabismus, and if one or both eyes look outward, this is called exotropia, or outward strabismus. The misalignment between the eyes may be vertical, which is called upward strabismus or downward strabismus. There are different types of strabismus, and each type has a different form of signs, mechanism, and treatment.
What causes strabismus in children?
There are several causes of strabismus in children. The most common cause is a disorder in the neuromuscular control mechanism of eye movement, which is not fully understood. Other less common causes include the need for glasses without follow-up treatment, poor vision in one eye, Down syndrome, and other causes.
How is strabismus diagnosed?
Squint is usually diagnosed by parents or relatives. Strabismus can be easily diagnosed during a simple examination by an ophthalmologist.
How is strabismus treated?
Treatment for strabismus depends on the type, the child's age, the child's eye health, and other factors. Treatment options include glasses or contact lenses, prisms, eye movement exercises, Botox injections, patching the eye to treat lazy eye (amblyopia), and surgery. Surgery is the most common treatment for strabismus in children.
What happens if strabismus is not treated?
If strabismus is left untreated, it will worsen and cause blindness, lazy eye, eye strain, fatigue, headaches, double vision, poor three-dimensional vision, and loss of self-confidence (embarrassment about the appearance of the eyes).
How does Dr. Nasser perform strabismus surgery on children?
Dr. Nasser performs strabismus correction surgery on children under general anesthesia, where the child is "asleep", and there is no need to stay overnight in the hospital. The surgery is performed on one or both eyes, depending on the type and degree of strabismus. During the operation, Dr. Nasser exposes the eye muscles through a deep tissue on the eye inside the eyelid (Fornix).
This way, no scars appear after surgery. The eye muscles are then exposed to change their position inside the eye. The tissues are closed with thin sutures that are hidden inside the eye and cannot be seen after surgery. These sutures dissolve automatically within two weeks, and there is no need to remove them. At the end of the operation, a transparent mask is placed on the eye. The child is allowed to return home immediately after the operation, while adhering to the specific instructions, and then comes the next day for a medical check-up at the clinic.