There are different types of strabismus, each with its characteristics upon ophthalmological examination, age of onset, prognosis and treatment.

In children

Some strabismuses begin before 6 months of age, these are called infantile strabismuses, and it is important to detect and correct them in time. There are other strabismuses that can develop in childhood or even in adulthood.

Strabismus can appear due to a defect in glasses that has not been corrected. Some diseases can be related to strabismus such as cerebral palsy, trisomy 21, among others.

In Adults

Many adult patients who suffer from strabismus have suffered from this condition since childhood, although in a controlled manner. However, in most cases, strabismus has its origin in other diseases such as:

• Mellitus diabetes
• Thyroid disease (Graves disease)
• Myasthenia Gravis (a neuromuscular disease)
• Tumors of the central nervous system
• Cepha trauma

In general, parents and/or caregivers are the first to notice the deviation. The deviation can be constant (present all the time) or occasional/intermittent (sometimes present and sometimes no deviation). When the deviations are intermittent, they tend to occur more frequently when the child is exhausted or sleepy.

By preferentially diverting one eye, the patient may develop lazy or lazy eye. Patients with strabismus may gradually lose/or fail to develop the ability to see in 3D, see in relief, or calculate distances (depth). In addition to visual function, we must consider the aesthetic and psychological burden that having a deviated eye places on children.

The most common symptoms of strabismus may include:

• Squinting eyes
• Double vision
• Eyes that do not align in the same direction
• Uncoordinated eye movements (eyes do not move together)
• Loss of vision or depth perception

Management of strabismus depends on the type of strabismus. In general, a complete ophthalmologic examination should be performed, including the amount of deviation, measurements of deviation, eye movements, refractive errors, and fundus.

In children, it is important to initially correct any refractive error with glasses or contact lenses and subsequently reevaluate the patient. Some deviations can be cured only with optical correction.

The patient may also need visual rehabilitation therapy in case of lazy or lazy eye, which includes management with eye patches. Some strabismus require surgical intervention to correct it.

In adults, surgery must be performed; All cases of strabismus can be operable and in those in which the pathology has appeared during childhood, surgical intervention can be performed at any age.

This is considered a reconstructive surgery that allows patients to feel very satisfied with the result and experience obvious improvement on a social level.