Refractive Esotropia
Refractive Esotropia is a type of strabismus, which refers to a misalignment of the eyes. In this condition, one eye turns inward (esotropia) due to a refractive error. Refractive errors occur when the shape of the eye causes light to focus improperly on the retina, resulting in blurred vision.
Causes
Refractive Esotropia is primarily caused by significant differences in refractive error between the two eyes, such as:
- Hyperopia: Also known as farsightedness, it occurs when the eyeball is shorter than normal, causing distant objects to appear blurry.
- Uncorrected hyperopia: When hyperopia is left uncorrected, it can lead to the development of Refractive Esotropia.
- Anisometropia: It refers to a significant difference in the refractive error between the two eyes.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of Refractive Esotropia include:
- Eye misalignment: One eye turning inward towards the nose.
- Double vision: Seeing two images overlapping each other.
- Squinting: Frequent squinting or closing one eye to see clearly.
- Eye strain: Headaches or eye discomfort, particularly after prolonged visual tasks.
- Poor depth perception: Difficulty judging distances accurately.
Treatment
Treatment options for Refractive Esotropia may include:
- Prescription glasses or contact lenses: Corrective lenses can help to improve vision by compensating for the refractive error.
- Patch therapy: Covering the stronger eye with an eye patch to strengthen the weaker eye.
- Vision therapy: A combination of exercises and activities to improve eye coordination and strengthen eye muscles.
- Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be recommended to realign the eyes and correct muscle imbalance.
It is crucial to consult an eye care professional for a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Refractive Esotropia.