Muscle Disorders

Strabismus
Dr. Ludwig specializes in the treatment of strabismus (deviated eyes) in children and adults, amblyopia, blocked tear ducts, and congenital ophthalmological disorders. Strabismus (crossed eyes or eyes that turn out) is a misalignment caused when one or more of the six muscles controlling the eyes fail to work properly. It prevents the eyes from working together, initially causing vision impairment, double vision, or faulty depth perception. Strabismus occurs in two to five percent of all children. Unable to outgrow it, children may lose vision in one eye, which then succumbs to amblyopia, if the root cause is not treated in early childhood.

Poor vision during childhood interferes with learning, school performance, and sports play, and leads to poor socialization and self-esteem problems.


Treatment
Strabismus cannot be outgrown, nor will it improve by itself. Treatment to straighten the eyes is required. The types of treatments may be used alone or in combination, depending on the type of strabismus and its cause.

Glasses can be prescribed to improve focusing and redirect the line of sight, enabling the eyes to straighten.
Medication in the form of eye drops or ointment may be used, with or without glasses.
Surgery may be performed on eye muscles to straighten the eyes.


Adult Strabismus
Most adult strabismus is simply persistent childhood strabismus. Strabismus which occurs in adulthood without a history of childhood strabismus should be carefully evaluated for medical or neurological causes. In adults, strabismus can occur after a traumatic injury or stroke.
Eye muscle surgery is the most common treatment for strabismus at any age. Dr. Ludwig has done extensive research on muscle disorders and has had great success with remodeling of previous eye muscle scars. Click on Dr. Ludwig’s article for more information.