Strabismus

Overview

Strabismus (crossed eyes) is a condition in which the eyes do not line up with one another. In other words, one eye is turned in a direction that is different from the other eye; basically, it’s a condition in which both eyes do not look at the same place at the same time. It usually occurs in people who have poor eye muscle control or are very farsighted.

What is Strabismus?

Six muscles attach to each eye to control how it moves. These muscles receive signals from the brain that direct their movements. Normally, the eyes work together so they both point at the same place, but as problems develop with eye movement control, an eye may turn in, out, up, or down. The eye turning may occur all the time or may appear only when the person is tired, ill, or has done a lot of reading or closed work. In some cases, the same eye may turn each time. In other cases, the eyes may alternate turning. Patients with strabismus have problems with the control of eye movement and cannot keep normal ocular alignment (eye position). 

Forms of Strabismus

There are several forms of strabismus. The two most common are: 

Accommodative Esotropia

This often occurs in cases of uncorrected farsightedness and a genetic predisposition (family history) for the eyes to turn in. Because the ability to focus is linked to where the eyes are pointing, the extra focusing effort needed to keep distant objects in clear focus may cause the eyes to turn inward. Symptoms include double vision, closing or covering one eye when looking at something near, and tilting or turning the head. This type of strabismus typically starts in the first few years of life. This condition is usually treated with glasses, but may also require eye patching and/or surgery on the muscles of one or both eyes. 

Intermittent Exotropia 

In this type of strabismus, one eye will fixate (concentrate) on a target while the other eye is pointing outward. Symptoms may include double vision, headaches, difficulty reading, eyestrain, and closing one eye when viewing far-away objects or when in bright light. Patients may have no symptoms while the ocular deviation (difference) may be noticed by others. Intermittent exotropia can happen at any age. Treatment may involve glasses, patching, eye exercises, and/or surgery on the muscles of one or both eyes.

Strabismus in Iran

Equipped hospitals and advanced specialized centers with experienced doctors and specialists are available in all medical treatment areas in Iran. Your strabismus surgery in Iran will cost you somewhere between 1500-4000$. Also, good hotels and entertainment centers have made Iran an appropriate choice for patients who suffer from crossed-eye issues.