Eye condition · Children's vision
Strabismus (crossed or turned eyes)
Strabismus means the eyes do not line up. Learn the types, causes in children and adults, warning signs that need urgent care, and treatments.
Get help the same day if you have
- New double vision in an adult
- An eye that suddenly turns in, out, up or down
- A turned eye with a droopy eyelid, headache or weakness
Call an eye doctor now or go to an emergency department. Eye emergencies guide
What it is
Strabismus is a misalignment of the eyes. While one eye looks straight ahead, the other turns:
- Esotropia: inward
- Exotropia: outward
- Hypertropia and hypotropia: up or down
The turn can be constant or come and go, for example when tired or daydreaming.
Causes
In children, strabismus often runs in families and may relate to how the brain controls the eye muscles. Uncorrected farsightedness can cause accommodative esotropia, where the eyes cross from focusing hard. In adults, new strabismus can come from thyroid eye disease, diabetes, a stroke, nerve problems or an injury.
Signs
- Eyes that do not appear to look in the same direction
- Squinting or shutting one eye in bright light
- Tilting or turning the head
- Double vision, mainly in adults
Some babies have wide nasal bridges that make the eyes look crossed when they are not (pseudostrabismus). An eye doctor can tell the difference.
Why it matters
In children, the brain may ignore the turned eye, causing amblyopia and poor depth perception. In adults, strabismus causes double vision and can affect confidence and work.
Treatment
- Glasses, which can fully correct some types
- Patching or atropine drops to treat amblyopia
- Prism lenses to reduce double vision
- Eye muscle surgery to realign the eyes
- Botulinum toxin injections in some cases
New double vision or a sudden eye turn in anyone can signal a nerve or brain problem and needs same-day medical care.
Questions people ask
Will my baby grow out of crossed eyes?
Brief wandering is normal in the first few months. An eye that turns constantly, or still turns after about 4 months of age, should be checked by an eye doctor.
Can adults have strabismus surgery?
Yes. Surgery can improve alignment, relieve double vision and widen the field of vision at any age.