When the eye muscles work poorly, then the apples with which the rotational movements are carried out are not located correctly. It turns out that the eyes look in different directions. This disease is called strabismus and can occur at any age. Children's pathology is treated much easier and faster, in adults it is longer and more difficult.
Strabismus Description
Strabismus is when eyes look in different directions. Moreover, this can manifest itself in different ways. For example, in one person the eyes may converge in the nose at the same time, in the other one looks directly, and the second looks away. Most often, strabismus appears in childhood, but can also develop in adults.
In infants, a false form of the disease is sometimes observed. The nose of the newborn is still underdeveloped and usually quite flat. On the nose on both sides there are additional skin folds. They partially close the baby's view. And the feeling is that the child’s eyes are beveled to the nose. Over time, additional folds disappear, the nose forms, and the symptoms disappear.
Types of disease
Strabismus is called when eyes look in different directions. The disease has two main types. Strabismus can be paralytic when the muscles stop moving. This can occur due to trauma, disruption of the nervous system. Most often, only one eye is affected.
The second type of strabismus is called friendly. It manifests itself when a person looks in all directions at once. Such eyes are a deviation from the norm. This type of strabismus is most often found in childhood. The cause may be any progressive eye disease.
Strabismus can have several additional types:
- mixed - when there are several forms of deviations;
- converging - in this case, the eye constantly approaches the bridge of the nose;
- diverging - the apple deviates to the temple;
- vertical - while the eye is looking down or up.
Strabismus can be either permanent or periodic in nature. To determine the type of disease, an ophthalmic examination is carried out, different tests are done.
Causes of occurrence
Why do eyes look in different directions? Strabismus can be congenital or acquired. In the first case, the cause becomes heredity. The disease most often begins in the womb or the baby receives a pathology at the genetic level.
The causes of acquired strabismus are:
- vision loss;
- infectious diseases;
- disruption of the central nervous system;
- physical or mental trauma;
- tumors;
- meningitis;
- flu;
- stress
- strokes
- paralysis;
- measles.
Excessive physical or visual stress can cause strabismus. Especially if the work is connected with computers or places where you need to strain your eyesight. The causes of strabismus can also be thyroid disease, diabetes, hypertension. Sometimes pathology occurs due to cataracts or retinal pathologies.
Symptoms of the disease
Why eyes in different directions? This disease is called strabismus. Its symptoms are quite simple: the eyes look in different directions. The exception is children under one year old. During this period, false strabismus may be observed. The reason why the eyes are directed in different directions may be the individual structure of the visual organ. The eyeball deviates all the time. In this case, an examination is required. It is possible that a person simply looks away.
Strabismus treatment goals
There are three main goals for treating strabismus. Therapy is carried out to preserve a person’s vision, align eyeballs or synchronize their work. To achieve these goals, glasses, dressings and surgeries are used. Acquired strabismus in adults is most often due to the lack of timely treatment.
Therapeutic treatment
If the eyes are directed in different directions, this does not mean that a surgical operation is immediately required. First, therapeutic methods are applied. If strabismus has arisen against the background of a specific disease, then treatment is aimed primarily at him. If you do not start therapy on time, then a person may completely lose his vision.
In any case, an eye correction is first performed. Previously, only glasses or special prismatic lenses were available. In modern times, soft contact lenses are also used for correction. Laser therapy is very popular. It is not only painless, but also very effective. For vision correction, diploptic, hardware and orthoptic treatment is used.
If amblyopia develops, then penalization is prescribed (temporary closing of a healthy eye). The corresponding eye socket or eyeglass lens is sealed. This is done to increase the load on the muscles of the squinting eye.
Amblyopia is carried out for a long time. During treatment, the patient should be under constant medical supervision. During an increase in the load on the sore eye, vision begins to recover gradually, strabismus disappears.
For its treatment, special exercises are prescribed. The methodology of Dr. Bates, an American ophthalmologist, is very effective. His exercises can help even when, it would seem, there is only one way out - a surgical operation.
There are various authorship exercises by other professors (Roy, Zhdanov, Shichko, etc.) that help restore normal vision. Many techniques are very effective at the first sign of strabismus. A neglected disease can be treated much longer and more difficult.
Surgery
If the above therapeutic methods did not help, and the eyes are still directed in different directions, a surgical operation is prescribed. It is done under local anesthesia. But if the operation is prescribed for the child, general anesthesia is used.
Even after cure and complete restoration of vision, some rules must be observed. With prolonged visual load, a mandatory break is made every 45 minutes. Children should not be allowed to watch TV for a long time, sit at a computer, in front of a tablet. You need outdoor walks, eye exercises and a healthy diet.
Improving and restoring vision takes a long time. It can take from 2 to 3 years. It is very important to start treatment on time. In childhood, therapy helps much faster. Strabismus does not go away on its own. Corrective glasses and ophthalmologist supervision are needed.