• Home
  • Why You Choose Us...?
  • Eye Problems...
  • Our Staff
  • Patient Eye Health Education
  • Contact us

Eye Problems

Glaucoma

Cataract surgery

Keratoconus

Dry eye

Squint

Retinal Detachment

Low Vision

Corneal Transplants

..............................

Laser Department

Lasik

Posterior Capsulotomy

Diabetic Eye Problems

..............................

 

Investigations

Visual Field

Flourescein Angiography

Corneal Topography

OCT

Ultrasonography

Specular Microscopy

..............................

Patient Eye health education

When Should I Go To Ophthalmologist..!

Eye Injuries

Eye Care & Facts myths

Floaters and flashes

How To Care About My Contact Lenses..!

..............................

... Translate This Page To Arabic

Exotropia

Exotropia, or an outward turning eye, is another common type of strabismus. This occurs most often when a child is focusing on distant objects. Often the exotropia will occur intermittently, particularly when the child is daydreaming, ill, or tired. Parents often notice that the child squints one eye in bright sunlight. Although glasses, exer­cises or prisms may reduce or help control the outward turning eye in some children, surgery is often needed.

Strabismus Surgery

r The eyeball is never removed from the socket during any kind of eye surgery. Strabismus surgery involves making a small incision in the tissue covering the eye which allows the ophthalmologist ac­cess to the underlying eye muscles. Which eye muscles are repositioned during the surgery depends upon the direction the eye is turning. It may be necessary to perform surgery on one or both eyes.

r When strabismus surgery is performed on children, a general anesthetic is re­quired. Local anesthesia is an option for adults.

r Recovery time is rapid. People are usual­ly able to resume their normal activities within a few days. After surgery, glasses or prisms may be useful. Over-or-under correction can occur and further surgery may be needed.

r Early surgery is recommended to correct strabismus because younger infants can develop normal sight and binocular vision once the eyes are straightened. As a child gets older, the chance of developing nor­mal sight and binocular vision decreases. Crossed eyes can also have a negative effect on a child's self-confidence.

r As with any surgery, eye muscle surgery has certain risks. These include infection, bleeding, excessive scarring, and other rare complications that can lead to loss of vision. However, strabismus surgery is usually a safe and effective treatment for eye misalignment. It is not, however, a sub­stitute for glasses or amblyopia therapy.

 

Summary

r Treatment for strabismus is most effec­tive when the child is young.

r Children do not outgrow strabismus.

r Cosmetic straightening of the eyes remains possible at any age.

r Treatment for strabismus may be non­ surgical and include eye drops, exercises, or glasses.

r If surgical treatment is indicated, the earlier in life it is done, the better chance the child has of developing normal binocular vision.

 

Previous Page 

Copyright © 2007 National Eye Hospital. All right reserved.