Hello, this is Goyang Shinsegae Eye Clinic.
As children grow, not only does their visual acuity develop, but so does their ability to use both eyes together properly.
One of the eye conditions that parents may notice relatively easily during this period is strabismus, a condition in which the two eyes appear to be looking in different directions.
A child’s eyes may seem normal most of the time, but one eye may drift outward when the child is tired. In other cases, one eye may appear to be positioned differently whenever a photo is taken.
If strabismus is not diagnosed and treated at an appropriate time, it may interfere with normal visual development and potentially lead to amblyopia (lazy eye) or reduced stereoscopic vision.
Therefore, if you repeatedly notice one eye drifting or appearing misaligned, it is important to visit an ophthalmology clinic near Madu Station for a comprehensive examination.
The evaluation should include not only eye alignment, but also visual acuity, refractive status, and binocular vision function.
1. What Is Strabismus?
In normal binocular vision, the right and left eyes look at the same object, and the brain combines the visual information received from both eyes into a single image.
When this process works normally, we are able to perceive depth and distance accurately.
Strabismus is a condition in which the normal alignment of the two eyes is disrupted.
Depending on the direction in which the eye deviates, strabismus can be classified as follows:
Esotropia: the eye turns inward toward the nose.
Exotropia: the eye turns outward toward the ear.
Hypertropia: the eye deviates upward.
Hypotropia: the eye deviates downward.
2. Differences Between Childhood and Adult Strabismus
When an adult suddenly develops eye misalignment, they are often able to recognize double vision, or diplopia, relatively quickly.
However, children may respond differently.
Because their visual system is still developing, if one eye remains misaligned for a prolonged period, the brain may begin to suppress the visual information coming from the deviated eye in order to avoid confusion.
As a result, children may not immediately notice discomfort or double vision.
Therefore, if early signs of strabismus are suspected, it is important to evaluate the child’s visual development and check whether amblyopia is also present.
3. Early Signs of Childhood Strabismus
Possible early signs of childhood strabismus include:
✓ One eye appears to be pointing in a different direction in photographs.
✓ One eye drifts outward when the child is tired or sleepy.
✓ The child frequently squints or closes one eye in bright sunlight.
✓ The child turns or tilts their head to one side when looking at objects.
✓ The child watches television or reads books from an unusually close distance.
✓ The child appears to have difficulty judging distance when reaching for objects or going up and down stairs.
✓ One eye repeatedly turns inward toward the nose or outward toward the ear.
Parents are encouraged to observe whether changes in eye alignment occur when the child is tired, sleepy, or staring into the distance.
If possible, taking photos or videos at the moment the symptoms appear may also be helpful during the ophthalmologic evaluation.
4. What Can Happen If Strabismus Is Left Untreated?
If one eye remains misaligned for an extended period, the brain may begin to suppress the image coming from that eye.
This can interfere with the normal development of visual acuity.
If the condition is left untreated, even if refractive errors are later corrected with glasses, the affected eye may not fully develop normal vision, resulting in amblyopia.
In addition, if the ability to combine images from both eyes does not develop properly, stereoscopic vision and depth perception may also be reduced.
5. How Is Childhood Strabismus Examined?
When evaluating a child with suspected strabismus, the first step is usually to check whether there is a difference in visual acuity between the two eyes.
If the child is too young to complete a standard vision chart test, alternative testing methods appropriate for the child’s developmental stage can be used.
Next, the ophthalmologist may perform a cover test and cover-uncover test, in which each eye is covered alternately while the movements of the eyes are observed.
These tests help determine whether strabismus is present and identify its type.
If necessary, prisms may be used to measure the degree of eye deviation, also known as the strabismus angle.
The doctor will also check whether there is any restriction in eye movement.
In addition, stereoscopic vision, binocular vision function, and the presence of amblyopia may be evaluated comprehensively.
6. How Is Childhood Strabismus Treated?
1) Glasses
If refractive errors such as farsightedness or astigmatism are contributing to the eye misalignment, wearing glasses with the correct prescription may help improve eye alignment.
2) Amblyopia Treatment
If amblyopia is also present, the stronger eye may be covered for a certain period of time each day.
This encourages the weaker eye to be used more actively and supports visual development.
3) Medication
When appropriate, medications such as cycloplegic agents may be used to reduce excessive focusing effort and help balance visual function.
4) Strabismus Surgery
If glasses or other non-surgical treatments do not provide sufficient correction, strabismus surgery may be considered.
The procedure involves adjusting the position or tension of the extraocular muscles that control eye movement.