Strabismus

Strabismus, also known as "heterotropia", "squint", "crossed eye", "wandering eye", or "wall eyed", is a disorder in which the eyes do not point in the same direction. It typically involves a lack of coordination between the extraocular muscles which prevents bringing the gaze of each eye to the same point in space, preventing proper binocular vision, which may adversely affect depth perception. The cause of strabismus can be a disorder in one or both of the eyes. For example nearsightness or farsightness. Making it impossible for the brain to fuse two images.

Related Topics:
Disorder - Eyes - Extraocular muscle - Binocular vision - Depth perception

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When strabismus is congenital or develops in infancy, it can cause amblyopia, in which the brain ignores input from the deviated eye although it is capable of normal sight. Since strabismus can cause amblyopia, which is sometimes referred to as lazy eye, it is sometimes itself inaccurately referred to as lazy eye.

Related Topics:
Congenital - Infancy - Amblyopia - Brain

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In addition to the visual problem, strabismus can be considered a cosmetic problem owing to the appearance of the deviated eye.

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One study reported that 85% of adult strabismus patients "reported that they had problems with work, school and sports because of their strabismus".

Related Topics:
Work - School - Sport

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The same study also reported that 70% said strabismus "had a negative effect on their self-image"

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http://www.med.wayne.edu/Scribe/scribe00-01/scribesp01/baker-strabismus.htm.

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