Can Surgery Fix Strabismus or an Eye Turn?
An eye turn, also called strabismus, occurs when one of the eyes turns in or out either all of the time or some of the time. This condition can affect depth perception, and eye movements, and lead to reduced vision in the eye that is turned. Treatment options for eye turn depend heavily on the type and the magnitude of the eye turn. One of the treatment options for severe eye turns is to have surgery to alter the eye muscles and align the eyes.
Types of Eye Turns
There are a few classifications that are used to help describe the differences between eye turns. The first key classification is whether the eye is turning inward – toward the nose – or outward – toward the side of the face.
Inward eye turns are called esotropias and are usually more severe and begin early in life.
Outward eye turns are called exotropias and are often less severe and can develop later than esotropias.
The second major classification of an eye turn is to determine the frequency of the eye turn. If the eye is always turned in or out, then it is a constant strabismus. However, if the eyes are sometimes aligned straight ahead and other times one eye is turned, then it is an intermittent strabismus.
Constant eye turns are considerably more worrisome and severe than intermittent eye turns because, with an intermittent eye turn, there are times when both eyes work together.
Eye turns can also be categorized by what eye is turning or if it switches between both eyes turning and fixating.
Determining the Magnitude of Strabismus
If an eye turn is present, it is important to determine the magnitude of the deviation of the eye. This allows the doctor to better decide on the best option for treatment.
The magnitude of the eye turn is measured using prisms that shift the image until the eyes are seeing the same thing even when one is turned.
Small amounts of the prism can neutralize a small or microtropia. These small eye turns are generally amenable to treatment with glasses, vision therapy, or patching.
Larger amounts of the prism will neutralize medium or large eye turns. These eye turns can have both surgical interventions and non-surgical interventions work with success depending on the type of eye turn.
If an eye turn is unable to be neutralized with large amounts of the prism, the deviation is very large, and the strabismus is very severe. These large eye turns are best treated initially with surgical intervention and then non-surgical options following the surgery.
Surgery for Eye Turns
The surgery used to correct an eye turn alters the eye muscles which control the positioning of the eye.
If the eye is turning out, the muscle which is pulling the eye outward is weakened to cause the eyes to straighten after surgery.
When the eye is turning in, the opposite is performed with the goal still to have the eyes aligned after surgery.
There is no guarantee that the eyes will be perfectly aligned after surgery and the eye may still turn or may even turn in the opposite direction.
However, if the surgery is performed it can bring the eyes much closer to being aligned and make other treatments more effective.
Our eye doctors at GHEye excel in the prescription of glasses, contact lenses and the diagnosis of a variety of eye diseases. Call our optometrists at (571) 445-3692 to schedule your appointment today to be evaluated for strabismus. Our eye doctors, Dr. Ally Stoeger and Dr. Jennifer Sun provide the highest quality optometry services and eye exams in the Gainesville VA and Haymarket VA areas.
An eye turn, also called strabismus, occurs when one of the eyes turns in or out either all of the time or some of the time. This condition can affect depth perception, and eye movements, and lead to reduced vision in the eye that is turned. Treatment options for eye turn depend heavily on the type and the magnitude of the eye turn. One of the treatment options for severe eye turns is to have surgery to alter the eye muscles and align the eyes.
Types of Eye Turns
There are a few classifications that are used to help describe the differences between eye turns. The first key classification is whether the eye is turning inward – toward the nose – or outward – toward the side of the face.
Inward eye turns are called esotropias and are usually more severe and begin early in life.
Outward eye turns are called exotropias and are often less severe and can develop later than esotropias.
The second major classification of an eye turn is to determine the frequency of the eye turn. If the eye is always turned in or out, then it is a constant strabismus. However, if the eyes are sometimes aligned straight ahead and other times one eye is turned, then it is an intermittent strabismus.
Constant eye turns are considerably more worrisome and severe than intermittent eye turns because, with an intermittent eye turn, there are times when both eyes work together.
Eye turns can also be categorized by what eye is turning or if it switches between both eyes turning and fixating.
Determining the Magnitude of Strabismus
If an eye turn is present, it is important to determine the magnitude of the deviation of the eye. This allows the doctor to better decide on the best option for treatment.
The magnitude of the eye turn is measured using prisms that shift the image until the eyes are seeing the same thing even when one is turned.
Small amounts of the prism can neutralize a small or microtropia. These small eye turns are generally amenable to treatment with glasses, vision therapy, or patching.
Larger amounts of the prism will neutralize medium or large eye turns. These eye turns can have both surgical interventions and non-surgical interventions work with success depending on the type of eye turn.
If an eye turn is unable to be neutralized with large amounts of the prism, the deviation is very large, and the strabismus is very severe. These large eye turns are best treated initially with surgical intervention and then non-surgical options following the surgery.
Surgery for Eye Turns
The surgery used to correct an eye turn alters the eye muscles which control the positioning of the eye.
If the eye is turning out, the muscle which is pulling the eye outward is weakened to cause the eyes to straighten after surgery.
When the eye is turning in, the opposite is performed with the goal still to have the eyes aligned after surgery.
There is no guarantee that the eyes will be perfectly aligned after surgery and the eye may still turn or may even turn in the opposite direction.
However, if the surgery is performed it can bring the eyes much closer to being aligned and make other treatments more effective.