Strabismus (Crossed Eyes): Understanding and Treatment

At Clarendon Vision Advanced EyeCare, we understand how strabismus, commonly known as crossed eyes, can affect both children and adults—not just visually, but also socially and emotionally. Whether you’ve noticed your child’s eye turning inward or outward, or you’re an adult experiencing double vision, we’re here to offer advanced, personalized solutions to help you see clearly and comfortably.

What Is Strabismus?

Strabismus is a condition where the eyes don’t align properly, meaning they don’t work together as a team. One eye may turn inward (esotropia), outward (exotropia), upward, or downward. It can be constant or intermittent, and while it often develops in childhood, it can also occur in adults due to neurological issues, eye muscle imbalances, or trauma.

For children, untreated strabismus can lead to amblyopia (lazy eye), where the brain starts to ignore input from the misaligned eye, potentially causing long-term vision problems. For adults, it can result in double vision, headaches, and difficulty with depth perception, making daily activities like reading and driving more challenging.

The good news is that strabismus is treatable, and at Clarendon Vision Advanced EyeCare, we offer solutions tailored to each patient’s unique needs.

Prism Lenses

Prism lenses are a specialized type of prescription lens that help redirect light entering the eye, ensuring that both eyes perceive a single, unified image rather than seeing double. These lenses are particularly beneficial for adults with strabismus who experience diplopia (double vision) as a result of their eye misalignment.

By subtly shifting the way light reaches the retina, prism lenses encourage the brain to fuse images from both eyes more effectively, reducing strain and improving depth perception. Unlike traditional corrective lenses that primarily address nearsightedness or farsightedness, prism lenses are tailored specifically to compensate for ocular misalignment.

SHAW Lenses

SHAW lenses stand out because they are uniquely designed with iseikonic properties, meaning they help balance the size and shape of images seen by each eye. By using specialized digital lens technology, SHAW lenses ensure that both eyes receive images of similar proportions, reducing the effort required for the brain to merge them into a single, clear image.

This innovative lens technology is particularly helpful for individuals with strabismus who struggle with depth perception issues or discomfort from standard glasses. SHAW lenses are an excellent option for both children and adults, providing a more natural, comfortable visual experience that supports long-term visual function.

Vision Therapy

Vision therapy is a program designed to improve the brain’s ability to control eye movement, teaming, and focusing. Since strabismus often results from the brain struggling to coordinate both eyes, vision therapy directly targets the root cause rather than just compensating for misalignment with corrective lenses. Each vision therapy program is customized to the patient’s unique needs, using a combination of eye exercises, specialized equipment, and interactive techniques to strengthen neural pathways responsible for eye coordination.

Vision therapy is particularly effective for children with strabismus, as their visual system is still developing and can adapt more readily to training. However, it’s also beneficial for adults who struggle with long-standing visual misalignment or eye strain.

A Personalized Approach for Westmont Families

At Clarendon Vision Advanced EyeCare, we believe in treating the person, not just the condition. We take the time to understand how strabismus is affecting your daily life—whether it’s your child struggling in school due to poor depth perception or you experiencing frequent headaches from eye strain. Our goal is to provide solutions that fit seamlessly into your lifestyle while delivering long-term visual improvement.

If you or your child is experiencing symptoms of strabismus, schedule a consultation with Clarendon Vision Advanced EyeCare to explore the best treatment options. Visit our office in Westmont, Illinois, or call (630) 323-7300 to book an appointment today.