What is strabismus?
Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes are not straight and point in different directions. This may result with an eye that turns inward, outward, upward or downward. The misalignment may be constant or intermittent. Strabismus is a common condition among children. About 4% of all children in the United States have strabismus.

The exact cause of pediatric strabismus is not fully understood. It usually occurs in healthy children without any health conditions. However strabismus is common among children with disorders that affect the brain, such as:
· Cerebral palsy
· Down syndrome
· Hydrocephalus
· Brain injury or tumors.

The two most common types of childhood strabismus are esotropia and exotropia.
Esotropia is the condition where the eye turns inward.  There is a infantile form that typically requires surgery and an accommodative type that typically can be corrected with glasses.

Exotropia is the condition where the eye turns outward. Exotropia is usually intermittent in children. The eye often turns outward constantly in adults with exotropia. Although glasses or prisms may help control the outward turning eye in children, surgery is often needed.