Pseudostrabismus refers to a condition of the eyes, in which the patient appears to be suffering from ‘crossed eye’ or strabismus, but does not actually have the condition. It can be understood by breaking it into ‘pseudo’, which stands for ‘false’, and ‘strabismus’, which is the medical term for crossed eyes. This means that the eyes are not actually misaligned, but appear to be, usually due to the misalignment of certain facial features. It is most commonly found in infants and young children.

While strabismus is considered to be a serious medical condition which requires medical intervention, pesudostrabismus is a self-limiting disorder, and does not require any professional help. However, it is important to ensure that the condition is pseudostrabismus, and not strabismus. Pseudostrabismus can be of three types:

• Pseudoesotropia: This is the most common form of the disorder, in which the eyes appear to be crossed.
• Pseudoexotropia: In this form of the disorder, the eyes appear to be outwardly deviated.
• Pseudohypertropia: This refers to the condition in which the eyes are vertically misaligned.

Causes:

Pseudostrabismus is usually caused by a distortion in facial morphological features. Prominent folds of skin on top of the inner folds of both eyes are the most common cause of the disease. Other causes include:

• A flat nasal bridge
• Either too large or too narrow a distance between both eyes
• Different color of both eyes
• Abnormality in either the volume or the viscosity of reterobulbar tissue
• Facial asymmetry
• Chorioretinal infections
• Orbital trauma
• Orbital tumors

Symptoms:

The first symptoms of the disorder are usually observed by astute parents, or during a pediatric examination. A visit to the eye specialist confirms the disorder. The most common method to differentiate pseudostrabismus from strabismus is by flashing a light at the child’s eyes. If the reflection from the pupil is from the same spot in both eyes, the condition is pseudostrabismus, while if it is from different spots, it is likely to be strabismus.

Treatment:

Pseudostrabismus does not require any treatment, and the main purpose of a diagnosis is to attain peace of mind, and to know that the child does not have a real squint. As the bridge of the nose narrows and the epicanthal folds in the eyes disappear, the appearance of strabismus will gradually diminish. This will happen as the eyes begin to look wider.

To know more about Pseudostrabismus or for any information on eye care, please contact us at Killeen Eyecare Center. We are located at 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, and Downtown Killeen. You can also contact us at 254-634-7805.

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Nystagmus is a condition of the eyes involving involuntary movement of the eyes, resulting in a jittery feeling in the eyes. The movement is aggravated while gazing in a particular direction. The inability to look at a particular distant scene for long is caused by failure of the brain to control eye movements. In most cases, Nystagmus is associated with reduced vision, which might need to be corrected with glasses. In severe cases, patients report a false perception of stationary objects moving, and a failure to perceive depth. In certain cases, such as in patients with a viral infection of the ear, nausea and vomiting might occur. The disease affects the nerves behind the eyes, while the eyes remain unaffected.

Causes:

• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Consumption of certain medicines e.g. Lithium, anti-seizure drugs etc.
• Infection of the inner ear
• Head injuries, or trauma to the body’s motor system
• Eye diseases, or visual disorders since infancy
• Heredity- The disease has been observed to run in some families.
• Disease caused- Tumors, Meniere’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Stroke are some of the diseases which can cause the disorder.
• Albinism
• Bilateral cataracts

Symptoms:

• Circular, vertical, horizontal, diagonal and other involuntary movements in both eyes
• Movements usually vary in speed
• Inability to make necessary adjustments, resulting in all objects being treated as stationary
• Improper balance and coordination
• Involuntary tilting of head and nodding as an attempt to compensate abnormal movements
• Partial or complete impairment of sight, resulting in difficulty while driving
• A null point, at which patients can see relatively clearly, with reduced movement
• Specific posture while performing daily activities, such as watching television, as a result of clearer vision at a specific point

Treatment:

• Removal of cause- Alcoholics and patients whose disease is caused due to the consumption of certain drugs experience immediate relief when the cause is removed.
• Reduced vision is corrected with the help of glasses or contact lenses
• Eye muscle surgery or use of lenses with prisms helps the patient in viewing all objects from the null point, without having to tilt their head or alter body posture.
• Low vision rehabilitation is gaining popularity as a treatment option for the disease
• Certain drugs, such as baclofen, gabapentin, memantine, levetiracetam, and acetazolamide have been shown to alleviate symptoms of congenital nystagmus to a certain extent.

To know more about Nystagmus, visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, and Downtown Killeen or call us at 254-634-7805.

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Astigmatism is one of the most common eye disorders, in which the curvature of the eye is distorted, causing the patient’s vision to be blurred. Patients with astigmatism are unable to see clearly from all distances. A normal eye is curved just enough to refract the incoming light, and focus on both distant and near objects. In astigmatism, the eye is not completely round, but instead, adopts an oblique shape, like a football or the back of a spoon. This causes an abnormality in the process of refraction, leading to light being refracted more in one direction, due to which only part of the object is focused.

Causes:
Every person suffers from some degree of astigmatism. It is a naturally-occurring disorder, and has no specific cause. Some people are born with astigmatism, while some develop it later, along with near-sightedness or far-sightedness. It is also believed to arise as a result of certain eye surgeries.

Symptoms:

• Blurred vision
• Fatigue
• Eye strain
• Headache

Diagnosis:

Astigmatism is easily diagnosed by a regular eye examination. Eye doctor conducts a refraction test to diagnose the disease. No special examinations are required. Children or patients with special needs who are unable to respond to a refraction test can undergo a special examination that examines the refraction with the help of reflected light. This procedure is referred to as retinoscopy. The disorder usually remains undiagnosed in school-going children. This can be avoided by conducting regular eye examinations and encouraging children to report any abnormality in their vision.

Treatment:

Before beginning treatment for astigmatism, all underlying disorders like cataracts, retinitis, corneal scars etc. must be treated. The disorder can then easily be treated by using contact lenses or eye glasses. Special lenses known as ‘toric lenses’ are used in the treatment of astigmatism. These lenses have the ability of bending light more in one direction, which helps to cure the disorder.

While an optometrist is trained to diagnose the disease and provide contact lenses or eye glasses to correct vision, an ophthalmologist can carry out a surgical procedure to cure the disease completely. This is done by refractive surgery, commonly referred to as ‘laser treatment’. The surgery is performed after taking into consideration the needs of the individual, and after ensuring that the vision has reached a stable point and is no longer deteriorating. If left untreated, astigmatism in one eye may result in ‘amblyopia’ or ‘lazy eye’.

To know more about Astigmatism, visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, and Downtown Killeen. You can also call us at 254- 634- 7805.

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Cranial nerve palsy is a neurological condition in which the functioning of one or more of the cranial nerves is affected. Palsy basically refers to the paralysis of a muscle or a group of muscles. In cranial nerve palsy, these muscles are the facial muscles, over which the patient loses control. This results in erratic movements, lack of control over facial expressions and involuntary jerks. A patient with cranial nerve palsy might find it difficult to perform simple facial movements like smiling and rolling the eyes.

This disorder is usually easily identifiable, since it is accompanied with a distinct change in the facial expressions and general appearance. Other symptoms include:

• Double vision (Diplopia) - This is caused due to the fact that while the unaffected eye remains straight, the affected eye tilts outward, resulting in double vision.
• Drooping eyelid in affected eye
• Permanently dilated pupil
• Sudden severe headache
• Drowsiness
• Decreased responsiveness

If one experiences any of these symptoms, it is advisable to immediately consult a neurologist. The neurologist will then carry out an examination of the cranial nerves, to identify which of these nerves is damaged, and to ascertain the extent of damage. The patient must provide detailed information regarding his history to the neurologist, since at times, facts that one might consider insignificant, might be imperative in pinpointing the cause of the disorder.

The various causes that can result in cranial nerve palsy are:

• Facial or head trauma
• Inadvertent damage to cranial nerve during surgery
• Degenerative conditions (e.g. multiple sclerosis)
• Certain health complications (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure, meningitis etc.)

Before treatment of cerebral palsy can be begun, it is important to identify the cause of the condition in the particular patient. The aim of treatment for the disorder is to reverse the damage caused to the cranial nerve and restore its function. While this is not possible in a few cases, most patients regain some level of control with the help of a physical therapist. Regular sessions with a therapist help to develop coping skills in a patient, making it easier to live with a condition. Along with this, it is also essential for patients with the disease to consult their neurologist regularly, so that any further damage to the cranial nerves can be diagnosed and dealt with in time.

For more information about Cranial Nerve Palsy or to know about any other eye disease, visit us at Killeen Eyecare Center 416, North Gray Street, Killeen, TX 76541, and Downtown Killeen. You can also call us at 254- 634- 7805.

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