Infantile esotropia

Infantile Esotropia

Infantile esotropia, also known as congenital esotropia, is a form of strabismus characterized by an inward turning of one or both eyes. This condition typically presents in infants within the first six months of life.

Signs and Symptoms

Infantile esotropia is primarily identified by the noticeable inward deviation of the eyes. Other signs may include:

• Crossed eyes
• Poor binocular vision
• Lack of depth perception
• Head tilting or turning to use one eye more than the other

Causes

The exact cause of infantile esotropia is not well understood, but it is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some potential contributing factors include:

• Family history of strabismus
• Neurological conditions
• Premature birth

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of infantile esotropia is typically made through a comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist. The examination may include:

• Visual acuity tests
• Eye alignment tests
• Assessment of eye movements

Treatment

Treatment for infantile esotropia aims to improve eye alignment and binocular vision. Common treatment options include:

• Glasses: Corrective lenses may be prescribed if there is a refractive error contributing to the esotropia.
• Patching: Occlusion therapy, or patching, may be used to strengthen the weaker eye.
• Surgery: Surgical intervention may be necessary to correct the alignment of the eye muscles.

Prognosis

With early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, many children with infantile esotropia can achieve good eye alignment and binocular vision. However, some may continue to experience issues with depth perception or require additional treatments.

Related Conditions

Infantile esotropia is one of several types of strabismus. Other related conditions include:

• Accommodative esotropia
• Intermittent exotropia
• Amblyopia

See Also

• Strabismus
• Binocular vision
• Ophthalmology