If your child has strabismus, which is a misalignment of the eyes, it’s usually the result of a neuromuscular problem. Our pediatric ophthalmologists may recommend glasses or even surgery to straighten the eyes. The important thing is to begin treatment as soon as possible to help improve your child’s vision.
Strabismus ("struh-BIZ-mus") occurs when both eyes are oriented in different directions.
Sometimes called “crossed eyes” or “walleye,” pediatric strabismus often begins when a child is very young and is usually the result of a problem with neuromuscular, including brain, control of eye movement, or less often, the actual eye muscle.
Signs of Strabismus in Children
Strabismus can be congenital (present at birth) or develop in childhood. Many times a family member or teacher notices the misalignment of the eyes; however, there are some signs and symptoms your child might exhibit, including:
- complaining of double vision (seeing two objects when there's only one in view)
- having trouble seeing things in general
- squinting or head tilting (particularly in kids who aren’t old enough to talk)
Left untreated, strabismus can cause vision loss. Only a trained pediatric ophthalmologist can diagnose and treat strabismus in children, so talk to your child’s doctor if you suspect there is a problem. A referral to Nemours might be necessary.
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- photo ID
- medical and pharmacy insurance cards
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- names and dosage of all medications, including over-the-counter medication, your child is currently taking
- guardianship and custody papers, if a legal guardian rather than a parent accompanies your child
Bring these forms for your first appointment:
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Note: A parent or legal guardian must be with a child for a first visit.
Resources for Patients & Families
Pediatric Strabismus (Crossed Eyes) Care in Orlando
If your child is diagnosed with crossed eyes, or pediatric “strabismus,” your Nemours Children’s Hospital ophthalmologists may recommend glasses, patching (wearing an eye patch over the good eye in order to strengthen the weaker eye), or in some cases, strabismus surgery to straighten crossed eyes. Our goal is to help improve your child’s vision as soon as possible, provide the best chance for brighter — and clearer — days ahead.
Expert, Comprehensive Pediatric Ophthalmology Services at Nemours Children’s Hospital
The pediatric ophthalmologists at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando know kids, and how to make kids feel comfortable. This means we have the expertise to perform comprehensive evaluations and high-quality exams on children of all ages, even babies, that can result in more accurate diagnoses. Our providers also have unique expertise working with children who have special health care needs.
At Nemours, we recognize the importance of the family in the care and healing process. Because many of the children we see have chronic illnesses that require repeated visits, we build strong relationships with our families that foster respect, dignity and collaboration. We’re also committed to educating children and families about the medical condition, and how best to manage it. Our goal is to get your child back to the business of being a kid as quickly as possible.
No matter where your child receives care at Nemours, your medical team (including your primary care provider) can access your child’s medical history, test results and visit notes anytime through our award-winning electronic health record system.
You can also view parts of your child's health records, communicate with your Nemours care team, make appointments, request prescription refills and more through our MyNemours online patient portal.