From the Guidelines
Treatment for eye inversion (strabismus) should prioritize surgical correction, including prisms and surgery, as recommended for patients with persistent strabismus 1.
Treatment Options
The treatment approach for strabismus depends on the type and severity of the condition. Non-surgical treatments are typically tried first and include:
- Prescription eyeglasses to correct refractive errors that may be contributing to the misalignment
- Vision therapy exercises to help strengthen eye muscles and improve coordination
- Patching therapy (covering the stronger eye with an adhesive patch for 2-6 hours daily for several months) to strengthen the weaker eye in children
- Prism lenses incorporated into eyeglasses to bend light and reduce the need for eye turning
Surgical Correction
If conservative approaches are insufficient, surgical correction is necessary, involving adjusting the position of the eye muscles to improve alignment, as indicated in the most recent guidelines 1. Surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. The success rate for strabismus surgery is approximately 80%, though some patients may require multiple procedures.
Important Considerations
Early treatment is particularly important in children to prevent permanent vision problems like amblyopia (lazy eye) that can develop when the brain suppresses vision from the misaligned eye. The patient should be monitored and observed if symptoms are mild, occasional, and well tolerated or if the patient is opposed to treatment 1. Chemodenervation (botulinum toxin) can yield long-term improvement in ocular alignment in some cases 1.
From the Research
Treatment Options for Eye Inversion (Strabismus)
- The treatment options for strabismus, also known as eye inversion, include occlusion therapy, refractive correction, and vision therapy 2, 3, 4.
- Occlusion therapy, which involves covering the stronger eye to strengthen the weaker eye, has been shown to be effective in treating strabismic amblyopia, a condition that can cause eye inversion 2, 4.
- Refractive correction, such as glasses or contact lenses, can also be used to treat strabismus, especially if it is caused by a refractive error 2, 4.
- Vision therapy, which includes exercises to improve eye movement and coordination, can also be effective in treating strabismus, especially when combined with occlusion therapy or refractive correction 3.
- The choice of treatment depends on the severity and cause of the strabismus, as well as the age and overall health of the patient 5, 6.
Effectiveness of Treatment Options
- Studies have shown that occlusion therapy can be more effective than refractive correction alone in treating strabismic amblyopia 2, 4.
- Combining occlusion therapy with near activities, such as reading or puzzles, may produce a better visual outcome than occlusion therapy alone 2, 4.
- Vision therapy, including monocular accommodative exercises, ocular motility, and central fixation exercises, can also be effective in improving visual acuity and stereoacuity in patients with strabismus 3.