CORRECTED? CAN A MISALIGNED EYE BE
AI have a misaligned eye? Can it be corrected at any age?
Misaligned eyes or strabismus can be seen at any age right from a baby who is few weeks old to a more mature individual. Usually it is seen because of the eye’s inability to function properly. The misaligned eye may be turned inwards (esotropic) or outwards (exotropic) and usually one eye is affected. In children, it may be due to a need for glasses or they may have pathology in the front or at the back of the eye.
Sometimes the alignment is intermittent; however in either case it is important to see an ophthalmologist to rule out any potential serious condition.
There is a misperception that it is normal for a child’s eye to go inwards or outwards when they are few months old, this is absolutely incorrect. It is important to correct the alignment soon so the child can use both the eyes together which promotes the development of 3D vision or in depth perception.
Adults who are esotropic (ocular deviation is towards the nose) have a reduced field of vision on the side of the deviated eye. Adult patients with esotropia have a significant expansion of the binocular visual field after surgical realignment of the eyes. Visual field expansion can have a significant impact on the patient’s life since peripheral vision is considered vital for road safety. Loss of visual field can be a contributing factor in motor vehicle accidents.
In adults the misalignment can be acute which represents a serious health problem or may exist since childhood but was never corrected. In the latter case it is important to see an ophthalmologist soon as this could be a sign of a nerve palsy or a stroke.
Research also shows that correcting the alignment of a child or person improves their overall confidence. Strabismus has been shown to have a negative impact on an individual’s likelihood to obtain employment, receive a promotion, or find a partner because of the inability of the strabismic patient to maintain normal eye contact, interfering with communication and interpersonal relationships. In addition, adults with strabismus can have an increased risk of mental illness such as depression, anxiety, and social avoidance, and this has been shown to improve after surgery.
Newer microsurgical techniques allow for misaligned eyes to be corrected by a simple surgical procedure, with the highest success rates.