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Becoming a mother is one of the most pleasurable things in a woman’s life, without a doubt, even if it implies a radical transformation in the way you view your life. New concerns arise all the time, new information needs to be assimilated and your time needs to be very well managed between your common tasks and the great task of taking care of your child.
And of course, many women end up having doubts, since the change in life is so radical and so sudden. One of the common doubts is when a mother does not know exactly whether she has a baby squint or not. If it happens to you, don’t worry. Let’s talk about what is strabismus, how to deal with it and how to know if your baby has this condition or not.
What is Strabismus?
First of all, it is necessary to clarify what strabismus is about and what its real consequences are in a person’s life. There are many myths that surround our daily lives about this condition, which ends up generating confusion and doubts in many people.
Strabismus is nothing more than an eye disorder that causes misalignment of one or both eyes. The vast majority of cases of the disease are still manifested in childhood, but there are possibilities for an adult to become strab as well.
Often people who suffer from strabismus can suffer from social , psychological and even economic problems because of the disease, but little is said about this subject.
Strabismus can manifest itself in different ways in a person’s eyes, and it can be convergent, divergent, vertical, latent or even be pseudoestrabism, a specific type that gives the sensation of misalignment of the eyes. Each of the other types is separated by the way the eyes are misaligned , as the names themselves say.
What Causes Strabismus?
As it is an imbalance between the muscles that control the eyes, it is possible to say that problems of motor coordination are factors that can cause the disease. In addition, we can also point out diseases that affect the brain and the region that controls the muscles as factors that can also cause strabismus.
Some studies point out that a genetic factor also influences, although there are many cases in which a person has the disease even with a positive family history.
In addition, we can also point out some diseases as influencing this problem. Some of them are:
- Down syndrome
- Hydrocephalus
- Cranial Tumors
- Diabetes
- Meningitis
- Encephalitis
- Stroke
- Thyroid problems
Strabismus Treatment
Fortunately, strabismus is a disease that can be cured in many ways, from simpler treatments to surgical interventions. The main ways of treating strabismus are:
- Eye Cap
- Botulinum toxin
- Glasses
- Surgery
Eye Cap
Very common in children and when there are cases of strabismus, the tampon is used so that the deviated eye is forced to return to its place. For this, the use of the tampon is exactly in the eye without deviation, so that the brain forces the only eye that is seeing something, to align itself to see better. It goes without saying that this type of treatment is done only in children who have strabismus in only one eye.
Botulinum toxin
It is a type of toxin of the same origin as botox that is applied directly to the muscle of the person who has strabismus. In this way, nerve impulses from muscles that are out of coordination are blocked , causing the eyes to be aligned. Although it seems like a strong treatment, botulinum toxin can also be used in children without problems.
Glasses
It is a method used in both children and adults. A simple way to help solve the problem is the use of glasses, since with more focused images, the eye will not try so hard and, consequently, can align itself. However, this is a treatment that, in most cases, needs to be accompanied by some other for it to have an effect.
Surgery
It is the recommended method when none of the other treatments had an effect on the strabic person. It is a simple surgery where the muscles are reorganized and realigned and takes about two hours. Despite being simple, it is not recommended for children , as they are still fragile even for the simplest surgeries.
Is it normal for baby’s eyes to turn?
Now that you know what strabismus is and how it manifests in people, it is easier to understand what happens to the baby’s eyes. In the first 3 months of life, they actually have an intermittent type of strabismus.
This is because a baby sees blurry images early in life and, in order for the brain to be able to focus, the eyes may appear misaligned for a few seconds. However, this is a problem that usually ceases at 4 months of age , when the baby already has a clearer vision. It is at this stage that you should pay attention to whether the problem persists or not. If it persists, it is time to see a doctor.
How do I know if I have a squint baby?
After 4 months of age, when the brain and eyes are already developed and accustomed to the external environment, parents should watch the baby to see if everything is normal with their eyes. If there is suspicion, there are two things you can do right away:
- Search for a doctor
- Take a Home Test
Let’s talk about each one more deeply so that we can understand it better.
Search for a doctor
It should be the first thing to do when there is a suspicion that you may have a baby squint is to see a doctor. It is important not to take any action before that, because suspicions are just suspicious. It can often happen that your baby has no problem at all and the difference you notice in your eyes is just a natural reaction.
Take a Home Test
There are tests you can do at home to check your baby’s eye alignment. Checking the child’s reaction to the light, turning the child’s head back to check his eyes, paying attention to the movement of his blinks and manipulating objects to follow with his eyes are some of the tests you can do yourself to find out baby squint or not. But, as we already said, to be sure it is important to have a visit to a doctor.
Strabismus is not one of the most serious problems that a baby can have, but that does not mean that it is not something that does not need treatment. Any care you can take with your baby is welcome, especially when it comes to a disorder, no matter what its severity.
This type of problem often scares mothers , especially first-time mothers . However, it is essential to research the subject and visit a doctor before making any hasty decisions. This type of attitude is beneficial for both the mother and her concern, as well as for the baby’s health.
See Also: How to Identify Congenital Cataracts?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
