What causes strabismus?

The causes of strabismus are diverse and mainly include the following: 1. Genetic factors: Strabismus may be related to heredity, and it is common for multiple family members to be affected. 2. Congenital factors: Congenital chromosomal abnormalities or developmental anomalies of ocular nerves, muscles, and soft tissues may lead to abnormal eye movement and impair binocular motor coordination. 3. Abnormalities during birth: Complications during delivery, such as difficult labor or use of forceps, may cause damage to the eyes, affecting ocular nerves and muscles and resulting in strabismus. 4. Refractive errors: Conditions such as hyperopia (farsightedness) or myopia (nearsightedness) may trigger strabismus. Hyperopic eyes often over-accommodate, leading to esotropia (inward turning), while myopic eyes are frequently associated with exotropia (outward turning). 5. Extraocular muscle problems: Weakness of the eye muscles or structural abnormalities of the eye, such as irregular eyeball shape or unequal muscle length, can also result in strabismus.