Strabismus
Strabismus is a vision condition in which a person cannot align both eyes simultaneously under normal conditions
Strabismus (Eye Turn) and Vision Therapy
Strabismus, often called an eye turn, wandering eye, lazy eye, or crossed eye, occurs when the eyes are not aligned and do not point to the same place at the same time. One eye may turn inward, outward, upward, or downward, either constantly or intermittently.
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While it may appear to be just a cosmetic issue, strabismus is actually a problem of coordination between the eyes and brain. When the eyes are misaligned, the brain must adapt, often leading to suppression of one eye, double vision, or reduced depth perception.
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At Hope Clinic, we focus on improving how the eyes and brain work together, not just how the eyes appear.
Strabismus can present differently depending on the individual and age. Some people are very aware of their symptoms, while others have adapted over time.
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Common signs and symptoms include:
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One eye turning in, out, up, or down
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Closing or covering one eye, especially when reading or in bright light
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Double vision or intermittent blur
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Poor depth perception or clumsiness
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Eye strain, headaches, or fatigue with visual tasks
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Difficulty reading or maintaining attention
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Tilting or turning the head to use the eyes more comfortably
In children, strabismus may impact visual development. In adults, it can interfere with comfort, confidence, and daily performance.
Vision Therapy is designed to retrain the visual system so the eyes can align, team, and work together more effectively.
Rather than forcing the eyes into alignment temporarily, therapy focuses on building the underlying skills needed for stable, effortless binocular vision.
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Your individualized program may focus on:
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Improving eye alignment and control
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Developing coordination between both eyes (binocularity)
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Reducing or eliminating suppression
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Expanding comfortable use of both eyes together
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Building stability so improvements carry into real life
For some patients, Vision Therapy is used on its own. For others, it may be used alongside lenses or in conjunction with surgical intervention to improve long-term outcomes.