Question

My baby is 14 months old and has some crossed eyes. Some books say they can correct themselves after the age of two. Do I need to treat it? Thank you!

Answer

Hello: The possibility of spontaneous correction is almost non-existent. Strabismus, commonly known as crossed eyes, is medically termed esotropia and is related to ametropia and accommodation. It requires dilation and refraction, and the wearing of glasses. If there is no improvement after wearing glasses for 1-2 years, there may be amblyopia present. Since amblyopia is caused by strabismus, the only way to make the eyes normal is through surgery. However, the earlier the surgery, the better. Early correction can help restore the eye position normally, which may gradually improve the vision of the amblyopic eye; if surgery is delayed, due to the long-term suppression of the vision of the amblyopic eye, restoring vision becomes more difficult. As for when the best time to perform strabismus surgery is, most people believe it is best to do so around the age of two.