My Infant's Eyes Roll All Over. Should I Be Concerned?
At birth, an infant's eyes cannot always focus directly on objects. They may appear to move quite independently at first, sometimes crossing, and sometimes wandering outward. But by the age of three to four months, an infant's eyes should have the ability to focus on small objects and the eyes should be straight or parallel. A six-month-old infant should be able to focus on both distant and near objects.
What Should I Do If I Notice Wandering Eyes in My Four-month-old Child?
If parents notice crossed or wall eyes persisting in a child four months of age, they should immediately take the child to an eye care professional for an examination. Early medical attention is recommended for another important reason—to rule out the presence of a serious disease, such as a tumor.
Is Strabismus (Crossed Eyes) Present at Birth?
Strabismus (crossed eyes) may be present at birth, it may become apparent at a later age or it may appear at any time in life as a result of illness or accident.
How Many Children Have Strabismus (Crossed Eyes)?
Approximately two percent of the nation's children have strabismus (crossed eyes). Half of them are born with the condition.
Is It Important to Detect Strabismus Early?
It is critical that this condition be diagnosed and corrected at an early age since children with uncorrected strabismus may go on to develop amblyopia.
What is False or Pseudo-strabismus?
Certain children may appear to have strabismus when, in fact, they do not. An extra fold of skin near the inner eye, a broad, flat nose or eyes that are unusually close together may also produce the effect of false (or pseudo) strabismus. False strabismus should disappear as the child's face grows. After an eye exam by an eye doctor, a parent's concern can be quickly dispelled if false strabismus is present.
What Treatment is Available for Strabismus?
Strabismus cannot be outgrown, nor will it improve by itself. Treatment to straighten the eyes is required. The types of treatments may be used alone or in combination, depending on the type of strabismus and its cause.
- Glasses are commonly prescribed to improve focusing and redirect the line of sight, enabling the eyes to straighten.
- Medication in the form of eye drops or ointment may be used, with or without glasses. Injected medication may be used to selectively weaken an overactive eye muscle.
- Surgery may be performed on eye muscles to straighten the eyes if nonsurgical means are unsuccessful.
- An eye doctor may recommend eye exercises either before or after surgery.
Concerns about crossed eyes in your child? Please make an appointment today for your child's exam.
