Esotropia is eye misalignment characterized by one or both eyes turning inward. It’s a type of strabismus frequently referred to as being “crossed eyed.” It can develop at any age, but is most common in infants and children. It can be a constant condition or it can happen only sometimes.
It’s important for your ophthalmologist to establish the cause of esotropia so that proper treatment can be provided. Esotropia can be caused by a problem or injury with the nerves, eye muscles, or the part of the brain that controls eye movements. When there is a family history of strabismus, patients should be seen by a pediatric ophthalmologist.
Sometimes there are no symptoms of esotropia. The most noticeable sign, however, is the crossing of one or both eyes, usually intermittently at first. While children’s brains are often able to suppress a second image caused by the condition, double vision is the most common symptom in adult-onset esotropia. Patients may also experience blurry vision, a decreased visual field, and difficulty with depth perception. Headaches, squinting, rubbing eyes, and eye fatigue are other symptoms.
Without treatment, the condition will worsen. Esotropia should be corrected as early as possible to avoid vision loss.
Your ophthalmologist will review your family and medical history, and conduct a vision test and motor sensory exam, including an ocular alignment test. A sit-lamp exam will be performed and a refraction test will be conducted with dilating eyedrops.
Often, eyeglasses or contacts are used to treat esotropia. Depending on the severity of the case, your provider may also prescribe ointments, or eye drops to help straighten the eyes. Prism lenses, which are thicker on one side, can help by reducing the amount of light entering the eye. Vision therapy may be used to improve focus and eye coordination. In some cases, surgery can be performed to straighten the position or length of your eye muscles.
The Cizik Eye Clinic opened in 2007 and is housed in Memorial Hermann Plaza at 6400 Fannin Street. It includes dozens of exam areas, multiple operating rooms, and laser suites equipped with the most sophisticated equipment available for patient care.
People travel from across the country and the world for treatment at the Cizik Eye Clinic, in part because our affiliation with the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth provides unmatched resources and expertise. Our friendly staff works diligently to make your visit pleasant and efficient, as we maximize patient flow through everything from routine eye exams to the most advanced eye surgeries.
Our physicians are faculty members at McGovern Medical School and are board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology or are board eligible. At the Cizik Eye Clinic, we understand that the eye is a small part of a whole patient who deserves top-notch, comprehensive care in a cutting-edge facility.
At Robert Cizik Eye Clinic, we offer patients access to highly specialized eye and vision care. To ask us a question, schedule an appointment, or learn more about us, please call (713) 486-9400, or click below to send us a message. In the event of an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Room.