Weak eye muscles in children is something of a misnomer. The term is often applied to kids who have a condition called amblyopia--more commonly known as "lazy eye" --or strabismus, often described as wandering or cross eyes. But these conditions are the result of a neurological disorder, not because of weak eye muscles. The eye muscles work fine; they just aren't getting the correct signals from the brain.
Amblyopia
Amblyopia describes reduced vision in an eye that's not used adequately in early childhood. Causes include a misalignment of the child's eyes, such as crossed eyes, or a difference in the sharpness of vision between the two eyes. One eye becomes stronger and suppresses the vision of the other eye. When this condition goes untreated, it can result in a permanent loss of vision.
Stabismus
Strabismus refers to the misalignment between the two eyes. The eyes look in different directions and don't focus on a single point. In children, the brain may ignore the input from the misaligned eye, which is sometimes called a crossed or wandering eye. If the eye remains untreated, it can lead to amblyopia and permanent vision loss.
Surgical Treatment
Surgery for strabismus is not uncommon, but perhaps it should be. According to the Children's Vision Information Network, the notion of "weak eye muscles" has been discredited as a cause of strabismus or amblyopia, so surgery to "fix" the condition is literally only cosmetic. Surgery can improve the appearance of the eye but rarely the vision.
Vision Therapy
Vision therapy deals with the real cause of strabismus. According to the Children's Information Network, visual therapy improves the coordination between the brain and the eyes and teaches the brain how to use both eyes together, which helps the eyes remain straight. About 90 percent of kids who are treated with vision therapy complete it with straight eyes and a normal visual system. The results are permanent.
Considerations
It's important for your child to have regular eye exams from an early age, because some cases of amblyopia are hard to detect and treatment should begin as soon as possible. It's also important to see the right specialist for cases of strabismus and amblyopia. There are about 1,600 developmental optometrists in the country who are specifically trained to perform vision therapy.
