Crossed Eyes

Esotropia, or crossed eyes, most often appears during infancy or early childhood. It is a form of strabismus. Uneven muscle development, injury, eye diseases, brain tumors, eye tumors, and central nervous system disorders, such as cerebral palsy, autism, or Down syndrome, are all possible underlying causes.

Uneven muscle development is often the result of straining to see clearly when a child is very farsighted. An eye patch can sometimes correct uneven muscle development.

Crossed eyes can be a warning sign of serious underlying problems, especially in infants and young children who may not be able to express other symptoms, and should not be ignored. In newborns the eyes sometimes appear crossed, simply because their vision is not very developed.

Glasses can correct crossed eyes in some cases, but in others, surgery may be necessary.

To research more eye disorders, read The LASIK Directory's articles on vision disorders by clicking here.