My one year old sometimes looks like her eyes are crossing. The pediatrician and eye doctor both told me her eyes are okay. What makes her eyes looks this way sometimes?
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Answered by Richard E. Gans, M. D. (xx102@ofcn.org)
There are several reasons why a child's eyes might appear to be crossed. Obviously, the first reason is that they are crossed. Crossed eyes in children are not always constant. They may appear to be straight most of the time, but deviate when the child is tired or not paying attention to a particular task.
Crossed eyes are not always present at birth. It is not uncommon for the problem to develop in the second year of life. A particular type of crossing, called ACCOMMODATIVE ESOTROPIA typically develops at this time. This form of crossing is usually related to the child's farsightedness. It can often be treated with glasses, and without surgery.
Nevertheless, if the child has been examined by an ophthalmologist and you have been told that there is no crossing problem, the condition may be PSEUDOSTRABISMUS. Pseudostrabismus means that the eyes are, in fact, straight, but can appear to be turning inward.
At birth, babies usually do not have a "bridge" of the nose. An extra flap of skin, called an epicanthal fold, usually lies between the nose and the eyelid. As the child looks to the side, this skin fold blocks your view of the white part of the child's eye, making it appear as though the eye is turning inward excessively, even though it is not.
Over time, as the nose develops, this fold of skin flattens out, causing the pseudostrabismus condition to disappear.
If you are in doubt as to the child's eye condition, a return visit to the ophthalmologist is suggested. Occasionally, an intermittent problem can be missed at one examination. If the condition is pseudostrabismus, however, it will correct itself.
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Copyright, 1994. Richard E. Gans, M.D.
A RICHARD E. GANS, M.D. 11
A A OFCN Primary Sysop, The Eye Clinic 111
AAAAA xx102@ofcn.org 11
A A A C A D E M Y O N E 1111
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NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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