Crossed-eyes (strabismus) occurs when one or both of your eyes turns in, out, up or down, usually caused by eye muscle control. This misalignment often first appears before age 21 months but may develop as late as age six. There is a common misconception that a child will outgrow crossed-eyes. This is not true. In fact, the condition may get worse without treatment.

 

Treatment for crossed-eyes may include single vision or bifocal eyeglasses, prisms, vision therapy, and in some cases, surgery. Vision therapy helps align your eyes and solves the underlying cause of crossed-eyes by teaching your two eyes to work together. Surgery alone may straighten your eyes, but unless your eye muscle control is improved, your eyes may not remain straight.

 

If detected and treated early, crossed-eyes can often be corrected with excellent results, so the California Optometric Association recommends an initial infant eye exam at six months of age and a comprehensive eye exam by age two. Children should be seen again before starting school and every other year thereafter.