What Can Happen if Strabismus is Not Corrected?

Strabismus is a set of ocular misalignment disorders in which the eyes point in different directions. In addition to self-consciousness about abnormal eye appearance, patients with strabismus often suffer the loss of binocular depth perception.

In young children, strabismus may be associated with amblyopia, in which vision loss results from the brain ignoring or suppressing the input from one of the eyes.

Rarely, certain kinds of strabismus can be caused by brain disorders, including strokes, tumors, and multiple sclerosis.

Fortunately, most forms of strabismus may be successfully treated. Our board-certified ophthalmologist, Dr. Benjamin Ticho, can help you enjoy better sight for a better life. Just contact us today at one of our Ticho Eye Associates offices in Chicago Ridge, IL, Tinley Park, IL, or Munster, IN.

What happens if strabismus is not corrected?

Due to a lack of stereoscopic vision (both eyes being able to focus on the same thing), the brain may ignore the input from one of the eyes. This ignored eye will not be able to see well and will jeopardize your total vision (strabismic amblyopia).

As mentioned, stereoscopic (or binocular) vision is essential to proper depth perception. Impaired depth perception hinders many everyday tasks and hobbies – especially sports and other physical activities that require ocular coordination.

How is strabismus corrected?

To correct strabismus, our expert optical team, led by Dr. Ticho, offers our patients the option of strabismus surgery. It’s an outpatient procedure that generally takes an hour, with a relatively rapid recovery. Extraocular muscles are accessed by making a tiny incision and then either tightened (resented) or loosened (recessed). Because these muscles are outside the eyeball itself (extraocular), the vision risk from strabismus surgery is extremely small.

See clearly with strabismus surgery

Strabismus can cause a cross-eyed appearance and prevent proper stereoscopic vision. The negative consequences may affect a child's vision (amblyopia) as well as self-confidence.

Corrective treatment at Ticho Eye Associates can give patients a confidence boost to go along with improved eyesight. And you can be proactive by reaching out to us to schedule a consultation with board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Benjamin Ticho in Chicago Ridge, IL, Tinley Park, IL, or Munster, IN.