Care for Strabismus at University of Colorado Hospital

What is Strabismus?

Strabismus is the misalignment or turning of the eyes. Lack of coordination between the eye muscles prevents both eyes from pointing towards the same object. It is often called lazy eye, cross-eyed, wall-eyes, eye turns, wandering eyes, deviating eye, etc. Patients may have trouble with depth perception or see double vision. 

Strabismus may occur at birth or during childhood.  With early detection, the defect may often be corrected. Left untreated, vision loss may be permanent. Strabismus may also develop later in life due to factors such as trauma or neurological disease.

Treatment for Strabismus

Treatment may be surgical or medical depending on the cause of the problem.  Vision therapy may include patching or visual exercises, glasses with the correct prescription or bifocal or prism correction to aid in proper focusing, eyedrops to help focus.

Additional Strabismus Resources

Medline Plus

Optometrists Network

Eye MD Link