What is Strabismus?

Strabismus is commonly referred to as a crossed eye or wandering eye. It is a visual condition in which a person's eyes do not point at the same object at the same time. The result is the appearance of one eye turning in relationship to the other. A person with strabismus has reduced binocular function and depth perception. People who have strabismus struggle with visual space orientation. This orientation is a mental phenomenon that exists in the visual cortex of the brain. If left untreated, the eye that turns may develop reduced visual acuity, a condition known as amblyopia, or lazy eye. Whether the eye turn is constant or intermittent, strabismus always requires treatment. It will not go away on its own and children will not outgrow it.