Strabismus is an eye condition associated with misaligned eyes. It is identifiable by traits such as eyes that squint or an eye turn - either inward (Esotropia) or outward (Exotropia). Strabismus may be constant or intermittent.
Strabismus is often associated with the condition of Lazy Eye but it is not the same condition. The condition Amblyopia or Lazy Eye may result from a Strabismus condition so the eye conditions often go hand in hand, especially in cases of constant strabismus. It is commonly assumed that an eye turn, floating, wandering or crossing eye is a "lazy eye". These are actually strabismus conditions (that could lead to Lazy Eye). Lazy Eye alone is often not able to be visibly detected and can only be diagnosed through early pediatric vision screening.
Is Strabismus treatable?
Strabismus can be treated and in many cases completely corrected. As with most vision issues an early course of action for treatment includes the uses of corrective prescription lenses or eyeglasses. If Amblyopia is present then the use of an eye patch or atropine drops will be used in conjunction with corrective lenses.
One option is eye muscle surgery which often needs to be repeated. The end goal is not just cosmetic correction so that eyes are aligned but also corrected vision. Often times eye muscle surgery achieves the cosmetic correction so that both eyes are looking in the same direction but the eyes are still do not working together.
Vision Therapy is also an option for treating strabismus. These are eye exercises that are usually prescribed by a Developmental Optometrist in order to correct vision problems and improve visual skills. An interesting book about the recovery of binocular vision through non-surgical means is Fixing My Gaze: A Scientist's Journey Into Seeing in Three Dimensions
