Differential Diagnosis for One Eye Looking Outwards
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Exotropia (also known as divergent strabismus): This is a common condition where one eye turns outwards due to an imbalance in the muscles controlling eye movement. It can be congenital or acquired, and is often noticed in childhood.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Esotropia with overcorrection: In some cases, surgery to correct esotropia (crossed eyes) can result in overcorrection, leading to one eye turning outwards.
- Cranial nerve VI palsy: The abducens nerve (CN VI) controls the lateral rectus muscle, which moves the eye outwards. Weakness or paralysis of this nerve can cause the eye to turn inwards, but if the other eye is affected, it may appear as if one eye is looking outwards.
- Myasthenia gravis: This autoimmune disorder can cause fluctuating weakness in the eye muscles, leading to strabismus or eye misalignment.
- Do Not Miss diagnoses
- Thyroid ophthalmopathy: This condition, associated with Graves' disease, can cause the eyes to bulge and the muscles to become inflamed, leading to strabismus or eye misalignment.
- Orbital cellulitis or abscess: Infection or abscess in the orbit can cause pain, swelling, and eye misalignment, and requires prompt medical attention.
- Stroke or cerebral vasculitis: In rare cases, a stroke or inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain can cause eye movement disorders, including strabismus.
- Rare diagnoses
- Moebius syndrome: A rare congenital disorder characterized by facial paralysis and abnormal eye movements, including strabismus.
- Duane syndrome: A rare congenital disorder that affects the muscles controlling eye movement, leading to limited eye movement and strabismus.
- Congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles: A rare genetic disorder that affects the development of the eye muscles, leading to strabismus and limited eye movement.