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Various forms of treatment exist
to correct the effects of Strabismus.
While treatments exist, they are not
considered to be a cure. Proper diagnosis
and treatment may be acquired through
the services of trained ophthalmologists
(surgeon and medical doctor), optometrist
(non-medical practitioner) and orthoptists
(medical practitioner), who specialize
in eye care. The goal of any method
of treatment is to assist the patient
in achieving as close to normal binocular
vision as possible in every direction
of gaze and at all distances.
Eye Patch
Eye patches are used in amblyopic children to force the brain to interpret images from the strabismic eye. Eye patches will not change the angle of strabismus.
Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses
Eyeglasses or contact lenses are used in an attempt to improve the positioning of the eye by modifying the patient’s reaction to focus. Eyeglasses and contact lenses also attempt to redirect the patient’s line of sight, which straightens the eye. Eye drops or ointment may be required along with the use of eyeglasses. An overly active eye muscle may also require medication that is injected.
Prisms
Prisms modify the way light and images hit the eye. Prism lenses provide comfort for the patient and are effective in preventing the development of double vision. Prisms are used in diagnoses to measure the degree of misalignment of the eyes.
Vision Therapy
Vision therapy is a non-surgical form of physical therapy that attempts to treat the eye and brain. An optometrist skilled in vision care oversees the therapy, which is designed to strengthen or develop visual skills. Eyeglasses, prism lenses, eye patches and a number of other specialized or computerized medical devices may be used with the therapy.
Surgery
Surgical procedures are used in an attempt to align the eyes by modifying one or more extravocular muscles in the eye. Surgery attempts to change muscle positions or change the length of the muscles.
The Bates Method
The Bates Method is an alternative treatment method that has faced controversy in the medical community. The Bates method offers natural remedies to correct vision problems, such as relaxation, exercise, games and other activities. The Bates Method proposes to restore or improve natural vision by eliminating mental strain.
Botox therapy
Botox® is a drug provided as an alternative to eye muscle surgery. The drug proposes to temporarily relax the eye muscle, which allows the opposite eye to tighten and straighten. The effects of the drug are relatively short term, lasting for several weeks. In some patients, eye misalignments have been permanently corrected.
The goal of treatment is to implement a strategy that attempts to strengthen weakened eye muscles. By strengthening the weakened muscles, the eyes are expected to realign. The strategy may include eye muscle exercises and it may include prescription eyeglasses. If muscle-strengthening strategies are not successful, surgery may be required to properly align eye muscles.
When congenital (child) strabismus
advances to cause a minor case of
amblyopia and the condition is diagnosed
early, the condition is most often
corrected by placing an eye patch
on the good eye to force the amblyopic
eye to be used. Amblyopia cannot be
corrected with eyeglasses or contact
lenses. Vision therapy may also be
used. If the condition is not diagnosed
early, vision loss in the amblyopic
eye may become permanent. More advanced
forms of strabismus usually require
a combination of surgery, vision therapy
and prisms or eyeglasses. The chosen
combination is determined based on
a diagnosed reason for the misalignment.
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