What causes vertical strabismus?
Disease description:
Hello, doctor. My child is 2 years old, and we've recently started reading picture books to him. However, we noticed that his eyes aren't looking straight at the book; there's some misalignment. After a hospital examination, we found out our baby has strabismus. Could you please explain what causes upward and downward strabismus?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Cui Xin
The causes of strabismus are complex, including congenital hereditary factors and poor development of extraocular muscles due to maternal viral infections during pregnancy. There are also acquired factors, such as nerve paralysis or extraocular muscle spasms caused by orbital trauma, which may lead to paralytic or restrictive strabismus. Regardless of the underlying cause, early correction is essential. For cases caused by congenital or hereditary factors, surgical correction is typically the primary treatment. For acquired strabismus, conservative management targeting the specific cause is recommended initially. If symptoms fail to improve after more than six months of conservative treatment, surgical intervention may be considered. Strabismus surgery is a very common ophthalmic procedure that can routinely be performed even at basic-level hospitals. Therefore, individuals with strabismus should seek medical evaluation and, if necessary, surgical treatment at a hospital.
