Question
A twelve-year-old girl was diagnosed with myopia at the age of six and has been wearing corrective glasses for two years. After removing her glasses, she began to exhibit the phenomenon of tilting her head to see, which was more pronounced when watching TV. Last October, a doctor at a hospital in Shanghai recommended surgery. As a parent, I am quite confused and unsure of what to do, so I came here for advice.
Answer
Firstly, thank you for your prompt response. Based on your description, your daughter’s condition has been diagnosed as strabismus caused by hyperactivity of the inferior oblique muscle. Typically, ophthalmologists would recommend surgical treatment for this situation. However, before deciding on surgery, you should consult with a professional ophthalmologist to determine if surgery is truly the only treatment option available. Sometimes, specific glasses or training can also help improve the symptoms of strabismus. Tilting the head to see may be due to strabismus, a condition known as ocular torticollis. In many cases, this phenomenon is caused by congenital muscle palsy of the eyes, leading to movement impairments in certain directions and resulting in diplopia. To avoid diplopia, children naturally tilt their heads to reduce discomfort caused by strabismus and protect their visual function. If there are no obvious abnormalities in the child’s neck muscles and the tilting persists, it should be considered as ocular torticollis. It is very important to consult and assess thoroughly before deciding on surgery. Surgery is an option, but not all cases of strabismus require surgical treatment. Sometimes, specific glasses or training can also help improve the symptoms of strabismus.