Strabismus: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatment For Wandering Eyes

Causes Of Strabismus

Everyone’s eyes are controlled by muscles, which are in turn controlled by the brain. Each eye has six muscles: one moves the eye left, one moves the eye right, and the remaining four eye muscles move the eye up and down. For the eyes to be appropriately aligned and to focus straight on a single object, the muscles must be balanced and work together at the same strength level. Misalignment occurs when one or more of the muscles are weaker than the others. The specific weak muscle will determine the type of strabismus the individual has.

Aside from weakened eye muscles, other causes of strabismus in children include medical conditions affecting the brain, such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Duane syndrome, and hydrocephalus. Eye injuries and cataracts or suffering a stroke may also result in strabismus. However, the majority of children with strabismus do not have an associated medical condition, making weakened eye muscles the most common reason behind strabismus in children.