Strabismus

Question 1

What is another name for strabismus?

Answer 1

Squint

Question 2

What is a squint?

Answer 2

Ophthalmic condition in which the eyes do not properly align with each other when focusing to look at an object (i.e. poor fusion)

Question 3

When do squints usually first present?

Answer 3

Commonly onset is in childhood, can start in adulthood but this is less common

Question 4

What are some causes of strabismus?

Answer 4

Muscle dysfunction
Farsightedness
Problems in the brain
Trauma
Infections

Question 5

What are some risk factors for developing strabismus?

Answer 5

Premature birth
Cerebral palsy
Family history of the condition

Question 6

What are some symptoms of strabismus?

Answer 6

• Misalignment of the eyes
• Reduced visual acuity
• Diplopia
• Asthenopia (i.e. eye strain, fatigue or pain), particularly in the afternoon or at the end of the day

Question 7

What is shown?

Answer 7

Strabismus - Exotropia

Question 8

What is a clinical sign of strabismus?

Answer 8

Corneal reflections will be asymmetrical

Question 9

What are the 4 main types of strabismus?

Answer 9

Esotropia
Exotropia
Hypertropia
Hypotropia

Question 10

What is meant by esotropia?

Answer 10

Eye sits nasally - Moves temporally on cover test

Question 11

What is meant by exotropia?

Answer 11

Eye sits temporally - Moves nasally on cover test

Question 12

What is meant by hypertropia (Hypermetropia)?

Answer 12

Eye sits superiorly - Moves inferiorly on cover test

Question 13

What is meant by hypotropia (Hypometropia)?

Answer 13

Eye sits inferiorly - Moves superiorly on cover test

Question 14

What are some possible management options in strabismus?

Answer 14

Use of prism glasses
Possible surgery

Question 15

What is a consequence of untreated strabismus in children?

Answer 15

Amblyopia (Lazy eye)

Question 16

How can amblyopia be managed?

Answer 16

• A wandering eye can often be corrected surgically, but not until a baby is old enough
• In the meantime, cover the infant’s good eye with a patch for a few hours each day so that the brain must rely on signals from the bad eye
• This helps the brain develop properly to process signals coming from both eyes