Symptoms of Eye Misalignment

Misaligned eyes are a vision problem where the eyes do not face the same direction simultaneously. While one eye focuses on the item of interest, the other may turn inward, outward, upward, or downward.

Also called strabismus, crossed eyes, or wall eye, misaligned eyes can make reading and doing other activities difficult. Performing your daily activities should be easier if your eyes work in perfect harmony. But that is not the case for many whose eyes do not work together as well as they could.

Is It Normal to Have Misaligned Eyes?

Misaligned eyes normally occur in people whose eyes have weak muscle control. Many things can cause eye misalignment, from eye disease or injury to birth defects or brain problems. This eye condition usually happens in babies and young children, especially before they turn three years.

However, older kids and adults can also develop it. When an older child or adult suddenly develops misaligned eyes, it could signal a neurological problem.

What Happens If Your Eyes Are Misaligned?

You may experience the following symptoms if your eyes are misaligned:

 

Eyes That Point in Different Directions

Eyes point in different directions when their muscles do not line up together to look at the same image. In an ideal situation, all the six eye muscles that control how the eyes move work together and direct the eyes to look at the same thing. With misaligned eyes, one eye has trouble maintaining focus on the same object.

 

Eyes That Move Differently

The eyes do not move together. In other words, the eyes do not move simultaneously, and one may turn outward when looking at an object up close. Reading and focusing can become challenging if your eyes do not track together.

Eyes That See Double

Double vision is when you see two separate images of the same thing. One of the images is blurrier, while the other one appears sharper. The pictures can be on top, next to one another, or both.

 

If that happens in a child, the developing brain ignores the fainter image and prevents the eyes from developing normal binocular vision. The brain learns to focus only on the image from the stronger eye.

 

Eyes With Weak Depth Perception

Your eyes may not accurately measure how far away an object is from you if one of the eyes is misaligned. In kids, weak depth perception can reduce their ability to learn. Adults can find it hard to drive or play sports.

 

Blinking or Squinting Often

You usually blink frequently or squint around bright lights due to eye irritation. However, you tend to blink and squint excessively with misaligned eyes, particularly in bright sunlight. This is because your eye turning out overstimulates your blinking and squinting reflex.

 

Slanting the Head or Closing One Eye to See Things Better

Slanting your head puts your eyes in a better position to work together to send clearer images to your brain. Likewise, closing the affected eye can help you see a single, clear image, making your vision comfortable.

 

That is usually the case when your eyes are misaligned. Eye misalignment is not preventable, but some treatments can help. Talk to your eye doctor if you suspect your eyes are misaligned.


 

For more about the symptoms of eye misalignment, call Advanced Vision Family Eye Care at our office in Bellingham, Washington. Call (360) 526-0075 to book an appointment today.