Strabismus is a visual impairment where both the eyes do not face the same direction. Strabismus can be corrected by vision therapy which seeks to improve and restore a person’s eyesight.
Causes of Strabismus
This eye illness affects both adults and children. While most children may outgrow it, it is preferable to begin treatment early because some children do not outgrow it. Strabismus can cause further vision problems if left untreated. You have to see a doctor immediately, signs of strabismus present. Some of the causes of strabismus include:
- Inheritance
- Extreme far nearsightedness.
- Early sign of an illness. Additionally, strabismus can occur after a stroke or a head trauma.
Common Types of Strabismus
It is necessary to better understand the common types of strabismus to understand its treatment. Common types of strabismus include esotropia when the eyes are turned in, while exotropia is when the eyes are turned out. On the other hand, hypotropia is when the eyes are looking down, while hypertropia is when the eyes are turned upward. Regardless of the type of strabismus, you will be able to regain your eyesight with the proper treatment. In most cases, an orthoptist will recommend vision therapy.
Vision Therapy for Strabismus
Visual therapy can help to strengthen eyesight and eye coordination. For example, you may need glasses or surgery to help treat strabismus. Some of the other therapies that your ophthalmologist may suggest include:-
- In-office vision therapy is a type of physical therapy in which an orthoptist may use prism lenses and computer software to perform vision therapy.
- Surgery – The ocular muscles are lengthened or repositioned through surgery to help restore eyesight.
- Eye patching – This vision therapy entails wearing an eye patch over the stronger eye for a few hours each day to help the weaker eye focus and prevent vision loss.
- Drops for the eyes – Your doctor may prescribe drops to blur the vision in the stronger eye to restore the vision of the weak eye.
- Contact lenses or eyeglasses – Corrective eyeglasses will strengthen vision in the weaker eye and help it focus correctly.
Vision Exercise for Strabismus
Exercises help your eyes to focus accurately by improving muscle strength and central nervous system coordination. Exercises that your ophthalmologist may prescribe to treat strabismus include:
Pencil push-ups
Pencil push-ups are a simple, low-cost workout that can be done anywhere. To do this exercise, start by placing a pencil at arm’s length from your face and slowly moving it closer to your nose while keeping your eyes on the pencil. While performing this exercise, it is important to maintain focus on the pencil in focus, but move it further away when you start to focus on the two pencils. You can do this exercise a few times a day. However, this therapy alone may not help with strabismus.
Barrel cards
Barrel cards is a convergence exercise in which you start by drawing three barrels of increasing size in red lengthwise on one side of a card and green on the other. Then hold the card on your nose, lengthwise and vertically, with the largest barrel furthest away. Concentrate on the barrel furthest from your nose until it combines both colors into one image and the other two barrel images have doubled. Repeat with the medium and smallest barrel images, holding your attention for around five seconds.
The Brock string
To do the Brock string visual therapy, you’ll need five feet of string and three different colored beads. Start by evenly placing the beads on the string and holding one end of the string to your nose. Secure the other end to anything immovable. Concentrate on the bead nearest to your face and focus on it. Once that is achieved, move on to the next bead and repeat.
Computer programs
The computer program is a divergence vision therapy, unlike the pencil push-ups, barrel cards, and brock string, which are all convergence techniques. Some doctors have created computer programs that use virtual reality and video games to aid this. Your doctor can help you adopt personalized treatment that best treats your strabismus.
Even with these strabismus therapy treatments, what works for you may not work for someone else. As a result, you should not self-medicate without first seeking medical advice.
