Strabismus in adults: causes, treatment, prevention

Many people think that strabismus is found only in children, but this is far from the case.In adults, this disease also occurs, although less often. The causes of strabismus can be many, among which not only various kinds of diseases, but injuries can lead to a visual disability of this format.About this and how to diagnose and treat strabismus, we'll talk in more detail later.

What it is

Strabismus (heterotrophy, strabismus) is a violation of the eye movement, which is due to the fact that it is looking in different directions as a result of disruption of the eye muscles.

Types of strabismus

In childhood, strabismus is well treatable, but the older the person, the more difficult it is to cure this disease.Strabismus is a serious problem requiring an ophthalmologist.It is not just a cosmetic defect, it can lead to a loss of normal functioning of the eye apparatus and to the development of visual disorders.

With strabism, there is a deviation of one or both eyes from the center.This leads to the fact that a person can not focus on the observed object, and he sees not one image of the image, but two at once. Our central nervous system blocks signals from the problem eye, which gives impetus to the development of amblyopia.Amblyopia is a persistent reduction in the visual acuity of one or both eyes, which can not be corrected optically.

In addition to the fact that strabismus is a cosmetic and physiological defect, it also affects the psyche. The person becomes irritable, withdraws into himself. The sphere of professions is also limited.

Forms of strabismus

• Strabismus is congenital and acquired.In the first case, it develops in the embryonic period, or within six months after the birth of the child. In the second case, strabismus can appear at any stage of a person's life.
• Strabismus can be convergent (horizontal), divergent and vertical.Vertical strabismus is manifested in the fact that one or both eyes look down or up, but it does not often occur. The convergent strabismus is characterized by the movement of the eyes to the bridge of the nose, and the divergent one - by movement towards the temples.
• Manifest strabismus can also be different.Monocular strobism is a violation of the work of one eye. At the same time, it eventually loses its efficiency due to the adaptation of the brain to the work of the only healthy eye. Alternating strabismus is a violation of the work of both eyes. It is less dangerous than monocular, as it does not lead to loss of vision, since both eyes work, albeit alternately.
• For reasons of origin, strabismus is divided into friendly and paralytic.The first form develops in children. The mobility of the eyes is preserved, there is no doubling. The second form of strabismus develops after damage to the eye muscles or paralysis, it can appear due to problems with the brain, nervous system. Paralytic strabism is characterized by the fact that the eyes are not limited in movement.

Causes

Strabismus can occur for many reasons. Among them are:

• Stress, nervous tension.
• Infections(influenza, diphtheria, measles, scarlet fever).
• Not the right development of the muscular system of the eyes.
• Paralysis.
• Paresis.
• Pathologies of the nervous system.
• Myopia.
• Farsightedness.
• Astigmatism.
• A strong fright.
• Down Syndrome.
• The mutational effect of drugs, drugs, alcohol.
• Atrophy of the optic nerve.
• Detachment of the retina.
• Retinoblastoma.

Strabismus can be adjusted. For this purpose, a cosmetic operation is appointed, which, unfortunately, will not improve vision, or special gymnastics for the eyes, stimulating the work of their muscles.

In adulthood, strabism develops as a result of excessive physical exertion, due to the inadequate correction of vision, brain infections, injuries, and inflammation.

Symptoms

The main symptom of strabismus is the asymmetry of the iris and the pupil to the eye gap.

In paralytic strabism, the eye can not move toward the paralyzed muscle, whether this movement is difficult.Concomitant symptoms: dizziness, diplopia, difficulty in determining the distance to the subject. The angle of deviation of the mowing eye is less than that of a healthy one.

To compensate for the work of the mowing eye, a person with a paralytic strabismus turns or tilts his head. He has to do this, so that the image of the object falls on the retina, and then there is no twitching.

If the oculomotor nerve is involved in strabismus, the pupil dilates, the ptosis of the eyelids, the eye deviates, and paralysis of accommodation may occur.

With a friendly strabismus, there is no difference in the angles of inclination of the mowing and healthy eyes, the muscles work normally.Friendly strbizm divided into convergent and divergent, torsion, vertical, combined, monocular and alternating.Monocular strabism leads to disruption of the functioning of the mowing eye, while vision falls, and amblyopia develops.

Diagnostics

To diagnose strabismus, the ophthalmologist should perform a series of tests, examine the refraction and diagnose the condition of the eyes by measuring the angle of strabismus.The ophthalmologist should learn about when the problems started, what traumas and illnesses the person has suffered.The doctor observes the position of the head, eyes. He evaluates the symmetry of the face and eyes.

After that, the specialist should check his vision.Additional techniques here are skiascopy and refractometry. The doctor examines the condition of the fundus, the anterior section and the transparent environment of the eyes.

To investigate the state of vision, a sample is applied with alternate closing of the eyes. The mowing eye in that case changes its position.A synaptophor is also used, which makes it possible to determine the ability to merge an image.

People with strabismus are advised to visit a neurologist.

Treatment

In the case of friendly strabismus, the main goal is to restore normal eye function.For this, optics correction, pleoptical-orthoptic treatment, surgery, postoperative treatment can be applied.

Medication and contact optics

• Optical correction.For this, glasses or lenses are selected. They will restore normal vision. This form of correction is used for any form of strabismus.
• Pleoptic treatment is used for amblyopia.It is aimed at restoring the joint functioning of both eyes. Treatment is carried out and the use of various equipment, computer programs.
• Diploptic treatment with Bagnoli lenses, prisms, gymnastics and so on are necessary for the development of vision in natural conditions.

Operative treatment

Operation for treatment of strabismus is applied in the event that the result from the above-described methods of treatment is not present throughout the year or a year and a half.

The operation takes place in several stages.To correct strabism, two types of surgical intervention are used:

1. Weakening the work of the eye muscles. For this, a muscle graft is used.
2. Strengthening the functioning of the muscles of the eyes. The muscle is shortened to strengthen its work.

In the postoperative period, orthoptic and diplomatic treatment is required.A good result of the operation is observed in ninety percent of cases.

Individual treatment calculation

Complications

After surgery, there may be some complications, such as hypercorrection or insufficient correction of strabismus.Rarely, but infections, bleeding, blindness can develop.If you do not take any measures to treat strabismus, then probably the emergence of amblyopia, abnormal correspondence of the retina.

Prevention

Preventive measures of strabismus:

1. Regular visits to the ophthalmologist.
2. Care for the health of the eyes (reading and working at the computer).
3. Timely treatment of infectious diseases.
4. Prevention of injuries.

You can do special gymnastics, it is considered the best means of prevention and treatment of strabismus.Different techniques and exercises can be found on the Internet.

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Selection of glasses for myopia - how to make the right choice of optics for vision correction read here.

From what age can you wear contact lenses: http://eyesdocs.ru/linzy/myagkie/rezhim-nosheniya-kontaktnyx-linz-vazhnaya-osobennost-myagkoj-optiki.html

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conclusions

Strabismus is a serious disease requiring timely treatment.People at risk should follow preventive measures to avoid strabismus in the future.At the first suspicions on a strabismus address to the ophthalmologist. This will allow in the early stages to make the necessary correction of vision and avoid complications.Take care of the health of your eyes, and you will forget about the diseases, and you will see the world around him in all his colors.

If you have a visual impairment that is not associated with strabismus, then consult a doctor for advice.He will advise you on effective medications, daytime contact lenses. The latter have a mass of varieties, among which there are lenses of night wear, and toric, and different modes of socks.