Strabismus is a visual problem where eyes are not aligned correctly and point in different directions. One eye may look straight ahead, while the other turns inward, outward, upward or downward. The eye turn may be consistent or it may come and go. If it is not treated properly it will become much worse with age and results in clouded vision of this eye. This eye indisposition very often touches children. However, it can also appear later in life. It is worth mentioning that it is a hereditary condition, although sometimes people who suffer from strabismus have no relatives with this problem.
Strabismus can be diagnosed by an eye examination, especially children should have their vision checked by a specialist between 3 and 3,5 years of age. The treatment aims at straightening the eyes and restoring binocular vision. Although, when strabismus is not advanced, eyeglasses are prescribed in order to straighten the eyes. Other treatments include surgery to correct the unbalanced eye muscles or to remove a cataract. In order to improve amblyopia (the lazy eye), patching or blurring the strong eye is recommended.