$Unique_ID{BRK01626} $Pretitle{} $Title{Is it Safe to Wait for a Baby's Crossed Eyes to Become Straight?} $Subject{eyes crossed infants Sense Baby vision loss eye visual Strabismus visions visually cross eyed infant Senses Babies see seeing sight Strabismal Strabismic Strabismical} $Volume{F-21,S-21} $Log{} Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc. Is it Safe to Wait for a Baby's Crossed Eyes to Become Straight? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ QUESTION: My baby was born with crossed eyes. Now he is close to a year old, but they are not straight yet. Am I safe in waiting another six months to see if they finally will become straight? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ANSWER: A loud no should be heard by all parents. Waiting for this to happen can mean serious vision loss to the child. I'm not talking about the normal infant eye that frequently may seem to move about and be uncoordinated. The tracking system sets the eyes straight by four to six months. But after that time, if the baby's eyes turn in, out, up or down, it is vital to see an eye specialist for diagnosis. If you take a "wait and see" outlook, the baby might miss a crucial part of visual development. Recent findings show that good early vision is essential to normal visual development, and once this visual development is missed, it cannot be regained. Strabismus, as the turned eye condition is called, can cause double vision. The child shuts off vision in one eye so that the vision seen with the remaining eye is clear. The unused eye and the brain don't get the proper stimulation and development, and after a while that "weaker" eye goes blind or is severely visually impaired. If you notice a turned-in eye and bring the child to be checked by an eye doctor, tests can help to find the proper means of correcting the condition. The goals are to achieve good vision in each eye, enable the eyes to move together and appear straight, and to develop binocular vision, where both eyes see one image. The child may be fitted with glasses or contact lenses. The strong eye may be patched so that the other eye will be forced to develop. An orthoptist, a person trained in the use of exercises for this condition, may be called in to work with the child under the doctor's supervision. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to straighten the eye so it can look and see better. Many surgeons feel the best results are achieved when surgery is performed within the first two years of life. It is a relatively simple mechanical operation that can provide the type of vision which will allow your child to develop normally. When necessary, it should not be delayed. ---------------- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.