Strabismus is the name for misaligned eyes – also called “wandering eye” and “lazy eye”. Each eye points in a different direction, so that the brain receives two different pictures. It can be inborn or acquired during adult life, and about 4% of adults do have strabismus. It can be the result of childhood strabismus which was not properly treated, or which has progressed.

Until recently, most eye doctors believed that adult strabismus could not be successfully treated. However, there is now better testing and most cases can be significantly improved. When the eyes are not working together, the person does not have good depth perception. Some also lose peripheral vision or may have double vision.

Causes of Adult Strabismus

When there is no history of childhood strabismus, other possible causes are:

• Impact to the head
  

• High blood pressure
  

• Brain tumors
  

• Diabetes
  

• Thyroid disease

• Strokes

• Poor vision in one eye – that eye may drift outward
  

Symptoms of Adult Strabismus

When a child has strabismus, the brain learns to ignore the pictures coming from one eye, and that impairs vision development. When an adult develops strabismus however, the brain has already learned to accept two pictures and to combine them into a three-dimensional image. So double vision is a frequent symptom.

Strabismus in both children and adults will cause one eye to be turned, rather than being in tandem with each other, and this is easily detected.

Strabismus Treatment

The treatment goal is to preserve vision and restore binocular vision by straightening the eyes. Each case of adult strabismus is somewhat different, depending on the cause. Your eye doctor would examine your medical history as well as examine your eyes. Your subsequent treatment might include measures designed to treat the cause of strabismus, as well as treat the eye problem itself. For example, perhaps high blood pressure could be lowered, or diabetes managed more successfully, or cataracts be removed.

Strabismus surgery can be done to correct the eye muscles. It may be done on both eyes or just one. Local anesthetic is often enough, although sometimes a general anesthetic is necessary. Adjustable sutures may be used so that some fine-tuning can be done the day after surgery. Recovery takes only a few days and you can return to your normal activities then.
 
Our adult strabismus ophthalmologists are:

            Stephen A. Daugherty, MD

            Elizabeth R. Waller, MD

 
To learn more about adult strabismus, and to have your eyes checked by one of our eye surgeons, please call or email our Charlotte, N.C. office. We will be glad to schedule a personal consultation for you.