Strabismus occurs in about 3% of children, and if left untreated, about 50% of children with strabismus may lose partial vision due to amblyopia – reduced visual function of one eye, caused by disuse during visual development.

In the first few months after birth, the mother may notice that the baby’s eyes are slightly crossed, due to poor coordination between the two eyes. In most cases, the baby’s eyes will return to normal later. However, if the baby’s eyes are crossed for a long time, the baby should be examined early.

1. Causes of strabismus in newborns

Stria can occur at any age, if it is congenital, the child is born with strabismus or strabismus appears from 6 months of age. The child may have strabismus in one eye from birth or from 1 to 2 years of age (maybe later). Causes of strabismus in newborns:

– Due to the imbalance between the two eyes: The baby’s two eyes work rhythmically, through the control of the nerves and the diagonal muscles attached to the eyeball. For some reason, this coordination is disrupted. At that time, the baby’s eyes do not look in the same direction, so there are signs of strabismus (cross-eyed).

– Children have eye problems such as: Myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism. Myopia often causes external strabismus, hyperopia causes inward strabismus.

– Due to abnormalities in the muscles of the eyeball.

– Children with nerve damage or brain damage that causes damage to their motor skills can also cause strabismus. In addition, normal children can also have strabismus after having a high fever, convulsions causing complications.

– Children’s eyes are infected, traumatized, cataracts, ptosis, organic amblyopia, retinal cancer, Toxoplasma disease…

– Family factors: Many studies show that strabismus is due to family factors. Up to 20% of patients with the disease are determined to have a family cause.

– In addition, another important factor is due to birth abnormalities such as low birth weight and premature birth.

If left untreated, about 50% of children with strabismus may lose some vision due to amblyopia.

2. Signs of strabismus in children

‎A baby’s eyes are born with all the structures needed to form vision, but it takes time for the baby’s vision to gradually develop by 8-12 months.

The main sign of strabismus is that one eye does not look straight. Sometimes the baby will glance to one side when looking in sunlight or tilt the head to use both eyes at the same time. However, the eyes of a newborn often appear to be crossed, even though they are not. This condition is called “pseudo-strabismus”.

Young children often have flat, wide noses and a fold of skin inside the eyelids, making the eyes appear to be crossed. The appearance of pseudo-strabismus may improve as the child grows. The child will not progress to true strabismus.

An ophthalmologist can distinguish between true strabismus and pseudo-strabismus. Some cases of strabismus occur at a small degree or hidden strabismus is very difficult to detect, because the deviation between the two eyes is not clear to see.

Children with abnormal signs will look sideways, look sideways or turn their heads to see objects next to them. The child’s eyes do not react to light or do not focus on a toy…

If the child is over 1 year old and still has a condition of asymmetrical eyes, it will lead to decreased vision, leaving behind consequences of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. The later the detection, the more severe the condition.

Up to 20% of patients with strabismus are determined to have a family history of the disease.

3. How to treat strabismus?

The earlier the treatment, the better the chance of recovery. If strabismus is treated before the age of 3, the success rate is up to 92%, if the child is between 6 and 8 years old, it is 62%. If left for a long time, the child’s eyes will become defective, so the ability to recover will be poor.

Regarding treatment, doctors may prescribe a bandage on the unaffected eye to help the child practice looking in the direction of the other eye. Or the doctor may prescribe a special type of glasses for the child to wear to correct the direction of the child’s eyes.

After that, the doctor will perform another minor surgery. Note that the method of covering the eyes when treating strabismus in children must be prescribed by a doctor. Because depending on the condition, the doctor may prescribe the child to cover the eyes with medicine, glasses or a piece of cloth; Regular or intermittent occlusion…

Children may also be prescribed by their doctor to treat strabismus with games such as puzzles and beading to help them increase the coordination of both eyes.

Children should have regular health check-ups or scheduled appointments to detect eye diseases promptly.

4. Doctor’s advice

It is very difficult to detect eye abnormalities in newborns. Some diseases such as myopia and amblyopia do not have external manifestations when the child is too young.

Therefore, it is necessary to take the child for regular health check-ups or according to the appointment schedule to be able to detect eye diseases in time and have early intervention measures.

If normal, the child should have his/her first eye exam at the age of 3, or earlier if there is a vision problem in the family. When the child is about to go to school, it is necessary to have his/her vision checked again.