Treatment for Strabismus, Lazy Eyes & Crossed Eyes

Doctor checking eyesight of a girl — Munster, IN — Munster Eye Care Associates

What is Strabismus?

Strabismus is a visual defect in which the eyes are misaligned and point in different directions. One eye may look straight ahead, while the other eye turns inward, outward, upward, or downward. The eye turn may be constant, or it may come and go.


Strabismus is a common condition among children. About 4% of all children in the United States have strabismus. It can also occur later in life. Strabismus occurs equally in males and females. It may run in families; however, many people with strabismus have no relatives with the problem.

What is Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)

This term describes the condition where one eye cannot see, even with the best pair of glasses and the other eye. This can be caused by conditions such as a congenital (there at birth) cataract, strabismus (eye turn: crossed eye), or anisometropia (large differences in prescription between the two eyes). Frequently this can be corrected by early diagnosis and prescription for full-time wear of glasses. It may require patching or dilation of the good eye to help balance the vision. Surgery may sometimes be required to straighten the eye or remove a cataract or corneal opacity.

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