Differentiating Between Strabismus & Amblyopia

Both strabismus and amblyopia affect the way the eyes work together as a team. Strabismus (crossed eye) occurs when the eyes are not aligned and one eye may appear to “wander”. Amblyopia occurs when one or both eyes cannot see 20/20 vision even with glasses.

Amblyopia and strabismus are 2 of the most common eye conditions that children experience, and if they are left untreated, they can have more severe problems and vision loss.

Our vision therapy programs can help treat binocular vision disorders, such as strabismus and amblyopia. These therapies are painless and can save your child’s vision.If you suspect your child’s eyes might not be working together as they should, please get in touch with our friendly optometrists. We can discuss your child’s vision at their regularly scheduled eye exam or between visits.

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So, What’s the Difference?

Strabismus and amblyopia are similar but are caused by different reasons. However, they’re both due to development issues as your child’s eyes grow.

Strabismus

Strabismus (crossed eyes) results in eyes that aren’t properly aligned to each other. This causes double vision or the brain can suppress the image it sees in one eye to help reduce double vision. One eye may turn in a different direction than the leading eye.

Strabismus affects people of all ages, but it usually develops between birth and 21 months of age. Strabismus won’t go away without treatment, and if left untreated, it can cause double vision and may result in amblyopia (lazy eye).

Treating Strabismus

Strabismus can be treated at any age, however the longer it has been present, the longer the treatment length. Your optometrist will evaluate your child’s vision and determine the best treatment for them.

Common treatments for strabismus include:

Single vision or bifocal glasses
Prisms
Vision exercises and therapies
Surgery in rare cases

Amblyopia

When your child’s eyes are growing, they may develop the need for prescription glasses. If their refractive error or misalignment of the eyes isn’t corrected, it can lead to amblyopia.

Amblyopia is a condition where one eye does not see nearly as well as the other, even when wearing glasses. This usually occurs due to abnormal visual development during childhood. The brain will then favour the stronger eye, which can cause vision in the weaker eye to get worse.

Treating Amblyopia

Your optometrist will recommend the best treatment to correct amblyopia.

Some treatment options include:

Glasses or contact lenses
Prism and occlusion
Vision therapy

Correcting Vision for Life

The earlier strabismus and amblyopia are diagnosed, the higher chance of correcting the visual error. Both conditions can lead to lifelong challenges and can be a barrier to children’s academic achievement. Setting your child up for success begins with regularly scheduled eye exams to ensure their vision is developing as it should.

Are you concerned about your child’s vision? Let us know so we can get started on correcting any issues.