congenital strabismus

Congenital strabismus is a condition where the eyes are misaligned from birth, a defect whose exact cause is not fully understood but is likely genetic. This misalignment can cause one eye to turn inward (esotropia), outward (exotropia), upward (hypertropia), or downward (hypotropia).1

While most children with congenital strabismus are neurologically normal, the primary danger is the development of amblyopia, or "lazy eye," if the brain suppresses the image from the deviating eye. Early detection and treatment, often involving patching the stronger eye to encourage use of the weaker one, are crucial. Eyeglasses to correct refractive errors like farsightedness can also be part of the treatment, and surgery on the eye muscles may be necessary to realign the eyes.123