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Intermittent Exotropia One Sheet
(Tailored from academic supplies supplied by VCU Ophthalmology — Drs. Amanda Pfeifer & Evan Silverstein)
Intermittent Exotropia One Sheet (Spanish)
(Tailored from academic supplies supplied by VCU Ophthalmology — Drs. Amanda Pfeifer & Evan Silverstein)
WHAT IS EXOTROPIA?
Exotropia is when one or each of the eyes flip outward, as a substitute of trying straight. It’s the reverse of crossed in eyes, additionally known as esotropia. Exotropia can occur once in a while (known as intermittent exotropia) or it may be fixed. Folks of all ages can have exotropia.
[See figures 1 and 2].
Fig. 1: Eyes aligned, straight.
Fig. 2: Proper eye turned out, exotropic
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXOTROPIA?
Exotropia may be current at start (known as congenital exotropia) or develop later in life. The sorts of exotropia that develop later are intermittent exotropia, sensory exotropia, and consecutive exotropia (which occurs after surgical procedure to repair crossed eyes)
WHAT IS CONGENITAL EXOTROPIA?
Congenital exotropia occurs when a child’s eyes flip outward from start or early childhood. Esotropia, or eyes turning inward, is extra frequent in infants. If a child has fixed exotropia, a pediatric ophthalmologist ought to examine for different well being points.
WHAT IS INTERMITTENT EXOTROPIA?
Intermittent exotropia is when one eye seems generally, however different instances each eyes are straight. It may well occur when the individual is drained, sick, or daydreaming. Typically it occurs when the individual is issues far-off. In some folks, intermittent exotropia could develop into extra frequent and even fixed over time.
DOES EXOTROPIA RUN IN FAMILIES?
Strabismus, which is the medical time period for eye misalignment, can run in households. Nonetheless, folks in the identical household could not have the identical sort or severity of strabismus. If somebody within the household has exotropia or strabismus, a toddler ought to see a pediatric ophthalmologist.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF INTERMITTENT EXOTROPIA?
Folks with intermittent exotropia could discover that their eyes drift outward, particularly when they’re drained, sick, bored or after consuming alcohol. Kids could squint one eye in shiny daylight or rub their eyes when their eye drifts outward. Some folks say their imaginative and prescient will get blurry or they see double when their eyes are usually not straight. Some folks may even “really feel” that one eye is misplaced, even when they don’t see something uncommon. Some folks could not really feel something when their eye drifts, and solely know they’ve exotropia as a result of different folks discover their eye turning out.
WHY DOES SOMEONE WITH INTERMITTENT EXOTROPIA CLOSE ONE EYE FREQUENTLY?
Kids with intermittent exotropia generally squint or shut one eye, particularly in shiny daylight. The rationale for this isn’t totally understood, however closing one eye will help them see higher within the mild. Sun shades can generally assist with the squinting. If a toddler received’t put on sun shades, a hat with a brim, like a baseball cap, will help defend their eyes from the solar and scale back squinting.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO OUTGROW INTERMITTENT EXOTROPIA?
Exotropia may occur much less typically as an individual will get older, however most varieties don’t go away utterly. Many individuals find yourself needing surgical procedure to repair it. Nonetheless, some folks can study to manage the drifting of their eyes with glasses or different therapies with out surgical procedure.
CAN ANYTHING BE DONE TO KEEP INTERMITTENT EXOTROPIA FROM GETTING WORSE?
We will’t predict if or when intermittent exotropia will worsen.
Easy issues like getting sufficient sleep and staying wholesome will help management intermittent exotropia, as sickness or fever could make it occur extra typically. It’s additionally vital to see the attention physician repeatedly to verify your imaginative and prescient is doing nicely and glasses are right. The ophthalmologist can let you already know if there are different therapies that may assist.
DOES WATCHING TOO MUCH TELEVISION OR PLAYING TOO MANY VIDEO GAMES MAKE EXOTROPIA WORSE? OR CAN VIDEO GAMES HELP?
Regular actions, like studying or taking part in exterior, don’t have an effect on exotropia. Nonetheless, it’s a good suggestion for fogeys to restrict the time their children spend watching TV, taking part in video video games, or utilizing computer systems for different well being causes. For extra info, see our info on screentime.
WHAT IS SENSORY EXOTROPIA?
Sensory exotropia occurs when one eye has poor imaginative and prescient. The weaker eye can’t work nicely with the opposite eye, so it would flip outward. This will occur at any age. If the imaginative and prescient drawback may be handled, it ought to be handled early. If the imaginative and prescient is completely misplaced, surgical procedure to straighten the attention is perhaps useful.
HOW IS EXOTROPIA TREATED?
Exotropia can generally be handled with out surgical procedure. Glasses could assist, and generally patching the stronger eye is used. If the eyes are misaligned typically, surgical procedure could also be wanted to repair the eyes. The pediatric ophthalmologist will let you know one of the best time for surgical procedure.
WHEN IS SURGERY FOR EXOTROPIA NEEDED?
Surgical procedure could also be wanted if exotropia occurs so much, if there are issues like eyestrain or double imaginative and prescient, or if the affected person begins shedding “binocular imaginative and prescient” (the flexibility to make use of each eyes collectively). Surgical procedure won’t be wanted if glasses or different therapies work.
WHAT IS BINOCULAR VISION?
Binocular imaginative and prescient means utilizing each eyes collectively to see objects clearly. This helps with depth notion, or “3-D imaginative and prescient.” Your pediatric ophthalmologist can take a look at for this within the workplace.
WHAT AGE IS BEST FOR EXOTROPIA SURGERY?
Age just isn’t the primary motive for exotropia surgical procedure. Surgical procedure is taken into account when exotropia occurs more often than not, irrespective of the affected person’s age.
CAN EXOTROPIA BE TREATED WITH PATCHING?
For younger kids preferring utilizing one eye more often than not, patching the stronger eye part-time will help the weaker eye see higher. Some medical doctors could recommend patching the eyes on alternate days to assist the eyes work higher collectively.
CAN EXOTROPIA BE TREATED WITH GLASSES?
It depends upon the glasses prescription. If somebody is nearsighted or has quite a lot of astigmatism, sporting the best glasses will help preserve the eyes straight and dealing collectively.
CAN EXOTROPIA BE TREATED WITH PRISMS IN THE GLASSES?
If the exotropia is gentle or small, prisms in glasses may assist with double imaginative and prescient, particularly in adults. However prisms do not repair the attention motion drawback.
WHAT ABOUT EXERCISES OR VISION THERAPY FOR THE EYES?
Workout routines have solely been confirmed to work with convergence insufficiency, a particular eye motion drawback that occurs when specializing in issues shut up. These workouts may be performed at residence. If the pediatric ophthalmologist recommends this, they’ll present you the way to do the workouts. Some folks recommend workouts for different sorts of exotropia, however there’s no confirmed proof that they assist with intermittent exotropia.
Up to date: 12/2024
