Strabismus (Eye Misalignment) in Infants

There are 2 types of strabismus seen in infants. One of these is known as pseudostrabismus. Pseudostrabismus is a condition that appears in the first 3 months of an infant's life and completely disappears after the 4th month. If your baby's strabismus is still present after 4 months, this is an issue that needs to be taken seriously for eye health, and it must definitely be diagnosed with the necessary tests and examinations.

Persistent strabismus in infants most commonly appears between 3 to 6 months and 2 to 3 years of age. Strabismus in infants is diagnosed through a detailed eye examination. For this, certain special tests, such as the light reflex test, are applied, and eye misalignment is detected.

In examinations performed on suspicion of eye misalignment in an infant, the anatomical condition of the eye is also checked at the same time. This is because, although quite rare, important issues that can occur in infants, such as congenital cataract and retinal abnormality, can lead to vision loss, and this condition can cause strabismus to develop in infants. Therefore, a detailed eye examination is performed for all cases presenting with eye misalignment in infants.

Causes of Strabismus (Eye Misalignment) in Infants

If eye misalignment is seen in 3-month-old infants, this may be pseudostrabismus, a common and well-known condition. It disappears on its own by the 4th month. However, if strabismus is still present from the 4th month onward, this indicates a persistent eye condition. There are several causes of strabismus in infants. Here are the causes of strabismus in infants;

• Genetic factors
• Difficult or traumatic births
• High-fever illness or seizures
• Conditions experienced by the mother during pregnancy
• High degree of myopia or hyperopia

Symptoms of Eye Misalignment in Infants

Diagnosing conditions in infants, who cannot express themselves and their existing problems, is quite a difficult process. Parents need to be much more attentive regarding eye misalignment in infants. Eye misalignment in infants shows itself with certain symptoms. Some symptoms seen in infants with eye misalignment are as follows;

• Loss of normal synchronized eye movement
• Squinting in bright environments
• Instability while walking that develops later
• Turning the head or face to one side while looking at an object

Treatment of Eye Misalignment in Infants

Strabismus is not a condition that resolves on its own. The first step taken for strabismus treatment in infants will be the use of glasses. In some types of strabismus, this condition can be completely treated with the use of glasses. However, if the strabismus problem continues despite regular use of glasses, strabismus surgery is performed to correct the eye muscles.

Eye Misalignment (Strabismus) Treatment in Kayseri

For the treatment of strabismus in Kayseri, our İdeal Göz Clinic is at your service with experienced eye doctors. Please contact us to make an appointment with Prof. Dr. Hakkı DOĞAN, the esteemed senior professor of Kayseri who worked on strabismus at Erciyes University for a full 33 years, and with our other specialist physicians.