$Unique_ID{BRK01626}
$Pretitle{Nervous System and Sense Organs}
$Title{Is it Safe to Wait for a Baby's Crossed Eyes to Become Straight?}
$Subject{eyes crossed infants}
$Volume{F-21}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Is it Safe to Wait for a Baby's Crossed Eyes to Become Straight?


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QUESTION:  My baby was born with crossed eyes, Now he is close to a year old,
but they are not straight yet.  Am I safe in waiting another six months to see
if they finally will become straight?

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ANSWER:  A loud no should be heard by all parents.  Waiting for this to happen
can mean serious vision loss to the child.  I'm not talking about the normal
infant eye that frequently may seem to move about and be uncoordinated.  The
tracking system sets the eyes straight by four to six months.  But after that
time, if the baby's eyes turn in, out, up or down, it is vital to see an eye
specialist for diagnosis.  If you take a wait and see outlook, the baby might
miss a crucial part of visual development.  Recent findings show that good
early vision is essential to normal visual development and once this visual
development is missed, it cannot be regained.  Strabismus, as the turned eye
condition is called, can cause double vision.  The child shuts off vision in
one eye so that the vision seen with the remaining eye is clear.  The unused
eye and the brain don't get the proper stimulation and development and after a
while that "weaker" eye goes blind or is severely visually impaired.
     If you notice a turned-in eye and bring the child to be checked by an eye
doctor, tests can help to find the proper means of correcting the condition.
The goals are to achieve good vision in each eye, enable the eyes to move
together and appear straight, and to develop binocular vision, where both eyes
see one image.  The child may be fitted with glasses or contact lenses.  The
strong eye may be patched so that the other eye will be forced to develop An
orthoptist, a person trained in the use of exercises for this condition, may
be called in to work with the child under the doctor's supervision.  In some
cases, surgery may be necessary to straighten the eye so it can look and see
better.  Many surgeons feel the best results are achieved when surgery is
performed within the first two years of life.  It is a relatively simple
mechanical operation, that can provide the type of vision which will allow
your child to develop normally.  When necessary, it should not be delayed.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
