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Chalazion, The Lump in Eyes

There is a meibomian gland at the edge of your eyelid. The job of this gland is to produce lubricating oil for the eye surface. But when this gland gets blocked, minor swelling or a lump on your eyelid appears. This lump is known as chalazion and chalazia if you have multiple lumps over your eyelid. This condition is pretty common.

Let’s look at the symptoms, causes, diagnosis of chalazion, and chalazion treatment as well.

Signs & Symptoms of Chalazion

You might have chalazion if you are facing the following prevalent signs and symptoms of chalazion:-

  • The inflamed, small, and red area mostly over your upper eyelid in the beginning stage.
  • Your eyes are feeling watery, along with irritation, discomfort, or pain.
  • Blurry vision in case of an enormous lump on the eyelid.
  • The skin surrounding your eyelid might also appear red.
  • When the inflammation increases, the lump on your eyelid feels firm and hard when touched.

Chalazion Causes & Possible Risk Factors

As mentioned earlier, chalazion happens when the oil-generating gland in your eyes gets blocked. It happens due to various reasons like:-

  • Underlying Inflammatory Conditions
  • Chronic Blepharitis
  • Seborrheic Dermatitis
  • Acne Rosacea
  • Viral Conjunctivitis

Here are the possible risk factors associated with chalazion in your future which you should watch out for:-

  • Diabetes
  • Viral Infections
  • Skin Cancer
  • Tuberculosis
  • Return of Chalazion

Diagnosis of Chalazion

An Eye doctor can diagnose chalazion through performing a physical examination. They might also ask for your detailed medical history. In the physical examination, they will test the vision of both the eyes individually. The eye doctor will also check the eyelid, face, and eyes closed for any symptoms.

If you are repeatedly suffering from chalazion, your eye doctors may refer you to an ophthalmologist. They will test you for other serious eye infections as well. In case of repetitive chalazion, your health care provider might also suspect underlying severe illnesses like diabetes. They might prescribe a blood test to conclude.

Home Chalazion Treatments

You can try these simple home chalazion treatments, which are effective according to the doctors also.

  • Warm compress is a traditional remedy for many ailments. It is effective for chalazion also. Apply and hold a warm compress on the affected eyelid for 15 minutes. Do that at least 3-4 times a day.
  • Give a gentle massage on the impacted eyelid and eyes after the warm compress. Massage and compress combined will unblock the gland.
  • Practice more patience because sometimes the lump on your eyelid might take weeks or months to disappear.
  • Don’t make any desperate attempts like poking, stabbing, popping, or trying to pinch the lump out. You might get scratches and inflammation on your gland. As a result, it may reclog.

Signs That You Should Call Your Doctor

The above home remedies should be enough to minimize the impact of chalazion. And the lump should also be gone in few days. However, if it doesn’t happen, your degree of infection might need advance medical treatment. So you should call your physician or ophthalmologist at the earliest.

Some other warning signs which call for immediate action are fever, headache, protruded eyes, blurry or double vision, eye pain, and redness. If a child is facing these symptoms, you must soon get an appointment with the doctor.

Key Takeaway!

A chalazion is a common eye problem, and mostly it goes away in some time. But you should not take your eye health for granted. Keep a watch on the symptoms explained in this article. If the lump on your eyelid doesn’t go away after trying all the home chalazion treatments, you should not delay contacting your doctor to schedule an eye exam. And remember to be extra careful if a child is affected with chalazion.

eye care tips for summer

Summer is finally here, which means you’re going to be putting away your sweaters, boots and winter cream and replacing them with sunscreen and summer clothing. Summer also means that you’re going to be spending a lot more time outdoors now that there’s no snow. Along with summer skincare, you need to make sure you take care of your eyes too.

Here are some essential eye-care tips for summer:

1) Wear sunglasses when you’re outdoors.

Just as going out without sunscreen can give you sunburn, going out on a sunny day without sunglasses can give you photokeratitis — which is sunburn of the cornea. This condition is caused when the cornea is exposed to harmful UV rays of the sun. Symptoms include dryness, discomfort and tearing up. It’s best to wear sunglasses if you’re going to be outdoors more often in the summer.

2) You need to wear sunglasses even if you are wearing contact lenses.

While several contact lens brands are made with UV protection, they only cover the centre of the eye and not the area around the cornea, which means you might still be susceptible to sun damage if you’re wearing contact lenses but are planning on going outdoors. In addition to this, the sun might cause dryness and irritation if you’re wearing contact lenses without sunglasses.

3) Wear hats to protect your eyes and skin.

Sunglasses don’t offer protection from UV light on their own, so minimize your risk with a hat with a brim that is at least 3 inches wide. This mandatory protection can reduce the risk of getting harmful UV radiation on your eyes and will help save you grave eye problems in the long run.

4) It is important to wear sunglasses and a hat.

Long-term sun exposure can cause debilitating eye issues in the long run, like cataracts and macular degeneration.

Symptoms of macular degeneration include not being able to see properly.

Additionally, the skin around your eyes is extremely sensitive and can be prone to skin cancer if you don’t take proper care and protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UV light. Sunscreen can be very helpful in protecting your skin from sun damage. Wearing sunglasses and a hat can save your eye health in the long run.

5) Wear goggles if you’re going to take a swim.

If you’re planning on spending time in the pool, don’t forget to take your goggles. The pool’s chlorinated water, which also might be full of germs, can be dangerous to your eyes in the long run. On the plus side, goggles will enhance your vision for underwater swimming.

6) Protect your eyes while doing outdoor activities.

Wearing eye protection is not only important to avoid sun exposure. You should also wear eye protection when you’re doing outdoor activities like mowing the lawn or woodwork outside, where there’s a risk of something going into your eye and causing long-term injury. Always make sure to wear protection like glasses, goggles or other protective equipment to shield your eyes and face from potential damage.

Wearing protective eye gear is also a good idea if you’re going to be playing sports like baseball or basketball, where there’s a risk of an eye injury.

Taking a proactive approach to eye care can go a long way in keeping vision problems at bay. If you are looking for an expert for a general eye check-up, call Insight Vision Center to get your eyes tested and treated, if needed.

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Eye Doctor in fresno

Since its inception, InSight Vision Center has been on a mission to provide compassionate and personalized care to our patients in Fresno.  Our team of eye doctors offer comprehensive ophthalmology services, which also includes the most compassionate and convenient surgical care setting for our patients.

InSight Vision Center’s team of eye doctors in Fresno, CA is happy to help you see clearly in 2021. Backed by a team of qualified, certified, competent and award-winning doctors, we are confident that we can address all your eye health concerns to help you see better in 2021 and experience many more years of happiness.

Read on to learn more about our eye services offered in Fresno, CA.

LASIK

InSight Vision Center provides world-class eye care. Dr. Poulsen, a K. Alexander Dastgheib Award winner for Surgical Skill & Judgment, performs LASIK surgery at InSight Vision Center.

Laser Treatment

The eye surgeons at InSight Vision Center uses the most advanced laser treatment technology and techniques to ensure you receive the care and outcomes you have come to know and trust.

Cataract

InSight Vision Center aims to provide personal attention to our cataract surgery patients, offering them superior options and outstanding personal care.

Glaucoma

Our team is qualified to treat all forms of glaucoma – primary and secondary. Our eye surgeons are experienced with both standard and complex treatment procedures for glaucoma.

Cosmetic Eye Care Procedures

InSight Vision Center offers a full range of cosmetic eye care services to help you look your best. Our cosmetic eye surgeons assist you with your decision making and execute cosmetic eye care procedures safely and in an affordable manner.

Retinal Disorders Treatment

InSight Vision Center has some of the most highly trained and experienced doctors, who use the latest technologies to examine, diagnose and treat all types of retina-related problems

Annual Eye Exam

Our eye doctors in Fresno can provide a fast, painless annual eye exam to ensure that everything looks good. If something doesn’t seem alright, we’ll make the right diagnosis and provide the most effective solutions.

Contact Lenses and Eye Glasses

Regardless of your visual challenges or preferences, our eye doctors in Fresno are happy to find the right products – contact lenses or eye glasses – and work out the most cost-effective approach for better vision.

Why Choose InSight Vision Center? 

  1. InSight Vision Center provides facility care credit which is North America’s leading patient payment program.
  2. InSight Vision Center, your eye doctor in Fresno, CA, is a full-service eye care practice. From comprehensive eye exams to prescriptions, our experienced staff takes care of all your needs at your convenient location in Fresno, CA.
  3. Our comprehensive ophthalmology solutions through experienced practice and referral network are what set the center apart.
  4. Our team of doctors has the technology and experience that is necessary to evaluate and treat retinal disorders.

Winter Eye Care tips

Winter weather can be especially problematic if you already have a sensitive body. The skin gets dry, hands and feet get cold, and eyes get teary – these are some of the many problems most people face during the winter months.

Winters can cause several different eye problems. Exposure to harsh winds during the winter months can result in itchy and dry eyes. While it may not be possible to avoid dry eyes altogether, here are some eye care tips to consider this winter.

1. Keep Yourself Hydrated

To maintain healthy eyes, it is essential to keep yourself hydrated during winters. Consuming healthy fluids like water, green tea, lemon water instead of caffeine-rich beverages like coffee and tea is ideal. This will prevent the body from getting dehydrated.

2. Use Warm Washcloth Compression to Soothe Dry Eyes

People with dry eyes typically experience tear secretion. A warm washcloth compression on the eyes can reinstate the moisture in your eyes. This further helps soothe itchy, irritated and swollen eyes and significantly improves your vision.

3. Reduce Excessive Tearing of Eyes

The cold wind and air make some people tear excessively, which can cause blurry vision. Excessive runny eyes and tearing is usually due to seasonal allergies, cold air and biting winds.

Tips to reduce excessive tearing of eyes:

  • Wipe and swab your eyes with a clean tissue or a soft cloth.
  • Protect your eyes while being outdoors by wearing sunglasses.
  • Try an allergy medication or over the counter eye drops to reduce the effect of seasonal allergies.

4. Prevent Dry Eyes in Winter

Dry eye is a condition that happens when a person cannot produce enough tears to lubricate the eyes. The external and internal air tends to be drier in the winter. As the eye needs moisture, this can be challenging, and it results in dry eyes.

Tips to prevent dry eyes:

  • A great way to protect eyes from winter dryness is wearing sunglasses.
  • Avoid dryness by using over the counter eye drops and keeping your eyes moisturized at all times. But be mindful of the fact that overusing these products might damage your eyes.

Read more about Dry Eyes in Winter here!

5. Reduce Eye Redness

Extreme winter conditions can cause inflammation, tenderness and redness in the eye area. This may result in decolorization of eyes or swollen eyelids, causing seasonal allergies, snow blindness or dry eyes.

Tips to prevent redness:

  • Apply a cool compress like a damp washcloth and take an over-the-counter pain killer to reduce the soreness and redness.
  • If your symptoms persist, consult an eye doctor to determine the cause of the irritation.

6. Protect Your Eyes from Reflected UV Rays

Ultraviolet light injures the eye’s surface, which results in inflammation of the cornea. This may require antibiotic eye drops to treat the infection. Symptoms may include pain, sensitivity to light or redness, pain, and sensitivity to light. Prolonged exposure to UV light is also a major contributing factor in the formation of clouding of the lens or cataracts clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision.

Tips to prevent eyes from reflected UV rays:

  • Wear polarized sunglasses with at least UV400 protection and shield the eyes with eyeglasses.
  • If you’re hitting the icy slopes, make sure your sunglasses and goggles have polycarbonate lenses with UV protection.

We don’t often think of winter as the time of the year when our eyes need superior protection, but unfortunately, they do. Wind, dry air, and reflected UV light create unique challenges that make it essential to take the extra precaution of our eyes while being indoors and outdoors. And while COVID-19 prevails with its undeterred infectious rage, it is critical to be more cautious about other winter-induced seasonal flu by keeping the level of immunity up.

If you’re facing problems during winter, it’s best to see your eye doctor soon. Don’t delay! Contact the eye experts at Insight Vision Center to get your eyes tested and treated, if needed.

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Vision acuity test

Do you suspect the credibility of your vision or your kid’s vision? Read on to know what eye tests you can undergo to clear your doubts?

Visual Acuity Test

A visual acuity test is an eye test designed to test your vision accuracy. It checks your ability to see letters from a distance. It will assess if you can clearly see shape and details from a specific distance or not.

Your color vision, peripheral vision, and depth vision can also be tested if required. A licensed optician will conduct the test. Experts recommend getting kids tested regularly. Early detection is growing years can lessen the severity of the issue.

Your test results will come in the form of a fraction. That is the comparison of your vision to an average person. Understand better by reading the parameters as mentioned below:

What does 20/20 vision mean?

This time you would not regret being called an “average.” This test result means what an average person can see in an eye chart from 20 feet away; you can see the same thing from 20 feet of distance. Which means, you have good vision.

What does 20/10 vision mean?

If 20/10 is the result of your vision test, congratulation! You are amongst the 1% of the population with superior vision. What an average person can see from 10 feet, you can see the same thing from 20 feet away.

Just a caution here that our vision changes with age. Next year your vision can deteriorate, and you might not always find yourself in the 20/20 or 20/10 category.

What does 20/30 vision mean?

Now, this is not good news. 20/30 vision means you need to be 20 feet away from the same object which an ordinary person can see from 30 feet away.

What does 20/40 vision mean?

It means you need to be 20 feet away from an object to see it correctly, which most people can see from even 40 feet away.

No need to panic with 20/30 or 20/40 results. However, you must consult an eye doctor if you are facing:

  • Difficulty in vision
  • Blurry vision
  • Headaches
  • Dry eyes
  • Any other discomfortin your eyes

If you have 20/30 or 20/40 vision, you can still get a driving license and do your daily chores smoothly, you probably just need to wear glasses or contact lenses. You also have an option to get your vision corrected.

There are several treatments and gadgets available which can support and enhance your vision.

  1. Eye Glasses

    Eyeglasses can be your friend if you need them occasionally. They are ideal for people who might find it challenging to read a menu or movie subtitles but can do their regular activities without any hassle. Glasses are easy to put on and remove. They are a style statement nowadays. They are the easiest way to correct your vision.

  2. Contact Lenses

    If you need to wear glasses all the time, contact lenses can be your go-to solution. You can put them on in the morning and remove it before sleeping only. It would be best if you are careful with their care to prevent any eye infection. Put them on with clean hands and disinfect them regularly. There are also use and throw lenses, and lenses you can keep on and change occasionally. Your eye doctor will be able to recommend the best option for you and instruct you on how to use them.

  3. LASIK Eye Surgery

    Light travels through the image of an object to your retina. The clarity of any object or its appearance depends upon the uniform movement of light through your eye. LASIK eye surgery shapes your eyes to obtain that objective to sharpen the image. It is a safe and convenient procedure to correct vision problems.

If you’re facing vision problems, it’s best to see your eye doctor soon and get the best advice on how to correct your vision related problems. Don’t delay! Contact the eye experts of Insight Vision Center to get your eyes tested and get appropriate treatment.

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man with eye glasses working on laptop from home

Our world has witnessed the outbreak of various epidemics and pandemics in the past. But digitalization has proved to be the biggest boon during this COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. It is because of digitalization that we have been able to adopt work from home as a lifestyle change and kept the economic wheel churning even during these tough times. But while digitalization has its positives, the downside of technology is our how it impacts our health in the long run.

Work from home has increased our convenience of being connected to our colleagues all the time, but it also keeps us glued to our screens ever more. And so, here are some work from home useful health tips that will help you reduce your eye strain and improve eye health.

1. Proper Monitor Position

The correct monitor position is to have the top of your monitor at / just below the eye level. Sufficient distance between the monitor screen and your eyes (about an arm’s length) ensures that there is no unnecessary strain being caused to your eyes.

2. The ‘20-20-20’ Rule

Ophthalmologists suggest that after every 20 minutes of staying connected to the screen, one should take a break for 20 seconds and look at something which is atleast 20 feet away.

3. Adjust Screen Brightness and Contrast

If you are in a dark room, it’s best to have low brightness; and when you are in a brightly lit room, you must have higher brightness. Screen brightness, if adjusted with the brightness of your surroundings, helps improve the contrast which is soothing to your eyes.

4. Limit Glare from Your Monitor Screen

Monitors reflect a certain amount of light which causes glares. An anti-glare protector or a matt screen is useful to reduce the glare that is reflecting back from the computer screen.

5. Choose the Right Eyewear

Ultraviolet light rays which are emitted from screens are harmful for the eyes. And hence, if you wear spectacles, ensure that the lens has an anti-glare coating which limits atleast 99% of both UVA and UVB light rays.

6. Do Eye Exercises

Like your muscles need exercise to stay in form, your eyes also need exercise to stay fit. Here are a few eye exercises that will not just relax your eyes from computer screen strain, but also have the potential to improve your vision.

7. Don’t Forget to Blink

When we are deeply involved in our work, we forget to blink. This is why, there has been a drastic increase in the number of people who are complaining of dry eyes today. Blinking helps lubricate our eyes and moistens them. So whenever you are working in front of the screen, make a conscious effort to blink as often as you can.

8. Eat Healthy

A diet plays an important role in maintaining eye health. Foods that are good for the eyes include green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, asparagus as well as legumes, nuts and beans.

As work from home becomes the new work culture worldwide, let’s increases our productivity and protect our eye health from the harmful side effects of our devices in the long run.

Don’t let your eyes suffer while working from home. Take the first step towards healthier vision—book an appointment for eye care services at InSight Vision Center today and ensure your eyes get the care they deserve!

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Blepharoplasty surgery

If you are encountering droopy eyelids that come with age, making you look older, you might wonder if an elective blepharoplasty, also known as eyelid surgery, is right for you.

Research has shown that about 6% of eyelid surgery patients are between the ages of 30 to 39, while 42% are between 40 and 54.

In your late 30s or early 40s, your eyelids start to lose elasticity and begin to stretch, resulting in excess folds of skin hanging down over the edge of the upper eyelids.

What is Blepharoplasty?

It is a cosmetic eye surgery requiring the removal of excess skin, muscle, and fat from eyelids. The usual blepharoplasty before and after scenario consists of revived sagging upper eyelids and under-eye bags, an increase in your field of vision due to the repositioning of fat, tightened muscles, and tendon support.

In upper blepharoplasty surgery, the surgeon creates an incision for the convenient removal of skin and fat. Later, a thin stitch allows for the creation of an eyelid crease.

Lower eyelid surgery involves incision of the skin directly below the lash line or inside of the eyelid. You can choose to combine this with laser resurfacing of the eyelid skin for further reduction of lines and incision.

Why is Blepharoplasty done?

A fat eyelid leads to an aged face, puffiness, loss of confidence, and even hampers the field of vision. People prefer blepharoplasty to get excess skin and fat removed for eyelid reduction, improve their vision, and lift their facial appearance.

The Procedure

After using a numbing agent for your eyelids, your surgeon will cater to the upper eyelids first. They will create a small cut to remove excess skin, muscle, and fat as required.

In the case of lower lid blepharoplasty, your surgeon will incise either the inside of the eyelid or underneath the lower eyelashes to reduce cut marks.

Risks Involved

While the typical risks from surgeries such as bleeding, bruising, and infection apply here, too, there are a few other dangers associated with blepharoplasty. For instance, you may experience blurry vision, damage due to excessive sun exposure, dry eyes, difficulty closing your eyes, or muscle damage.

Recovery

The recovery time for blepharoplasty may vary according to your case. Initially, your vision will be blurry. It occurs due to a thick antibiotic ointment used to protect eyes from drying. You have to continue using it for one week, four times a day, on the inside of the eye and the wounds.

Next, use ice packs 24-48 hours after the surgery while resting to reduce the swelling. After 48 hours, you can apply warm compresses to promote faster healing.

For a speedy eyelid surgery recovery, avoid strenuous activities, exercises, and eye makeup for at least seven days post-surgery. However, you do need to move, so walk at a gentle pace.

Who are the suitable candidates for Blepharoplasty?

If you are interested in blepharoplasty strictly for cosmetic purposes, then it is only fair to keep your expectations realistic. You need to understand that eyelid reduction will not eliminate dark circles or wrinkles.

The ideal candidate for an eye lift is healthy and does not bear possible surgical risk factors such as dry eye problems, thyroid eye disease, and diabetes. Because smokers are at an increased risk of surgical complications due to their slower healing capacity, they should quit smoking several weeks before the surgery.

Ideally, people who are thirty-five or older go for eyelid reduction surgery. But if droopy eyelids run in your family, you may get the surgery performed earlier too.

We hope this article helped you gain more clarity about blepharoplasty, to make an informed decision for yourself.

Strabismus

Like all medical operations, strabismus surgery, too, carries the ability to induce complexities. Although minimizing these risks is possible during or after surgery if the patient ensures to take some crucial steps. In case of a complication, it is vital to recognize it and then move on to managing it effectively to prevent further harm.

Minor risks of strabismus surgery include bleeding under the conjunctiva, abrasion of the cornea, or inflammation. To simply put it, if the condition of the strabismus case is highly complicated, it is going to be that much difficult to control the deviation of your eye. Our visual system is extremely complex due to the involvement of the brain. Thus, solely repositioning the relevant muscles cannot resolve all the problems.

Why is Strabismus Surgery needed?

Strabismus eye surgery corrects the eyes which don’t align properly. It is performed on the muscles of the eye to restore normal binocular vision. People with strabismus have an eye that consistently points in a different direction. Strabismus may alternate between eyes or come and go in-between. In some cases, special glasses, patches, or injections could be enough.

Immediately after Strabismus surgery

Eye muscle surgery typically lasts between thirty minutes and two hours. By the time your anesthesia wears out, and you wake up, your doctor keeps a check to make sure there are no after-effects. After surgery, few patients are undertaken for suture adjustment if need be.

What to expect post-surgery?

It is most likely that you will see blood surrounding the surgical area and experience some soreness. That is entirely normal, and the redness, as well as any damage that has happened to the blood vessels, will fade in two to three weeks.

Strabismus surgery patients tend to struggle with temporary dual visibility following the operation. That happens because your brain is getting used to the change in the position of your eyes. Your vision will get back to normal over the coming weeks.

The first indicator to recognize the success of the treatment is the noticeable improvement in your eye alignment. You will have to wait four to six weeks for more lasting results. In some cases, your surgeon will recommend using customized eyeglasses with special lenses to help fine-tune the working of both your eyes.

At-Home Care

You can expect to resume your everyday activities promptly after your strabismus eye surgery. In fact, if your body’s recovery is fast enough, you can even begin to move about your basic tasks within a few hours. The only thing to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t be experiencing discomfort due to any movement.

There are a few instructions you need to strictly adhere to including, keeping soaps and shampoos away from your eyes, avoiding swimming for a week, using ice packs, and attending follow-up appointments.

When to call your doctor?

Your doctor will share a detailed account of your post-surgical care. But you should call your doctor without any further delay if you encounter any symptom out od the usual. Below is a list of signs you should look out for:

  • An infection, pus or discharge around the eye
  • Sudden bleeding in the eye
  • An unexpected change in vision even after a considerable time post-surgery
  • Too much pain that the prescribed painkiller is unable to cure increased light-sensitivity, leading to the inability to open the eye in well-lit rooms.

Thorough research before any surgery is essential to avoid any misconceptions and regrets later on. To help you make an informed decision, we have collected additional details about the operation. Please refer to this helpful feature – What is Strabismus?

lazy eye in kids

Lazy eye is a visual impairment that is usually seen in early childhood years. In fact, 2 out of every 100 children are affected by this condition. Though this is concerning, lazy eye in kids can be treated. But first, it’s important to know what lazy eye is and how it can be cured.

What is lazy eye?

Also known as amblyopia, lazy eye is a visual condition in which the brain favors one eye more than the other. An eye is affected by amblyopia because of a number of conditions that prevent it from properly focusing and communicating with the brain. As a result, the brain ends up favoring the other eye.

The most common cause of amblyopia or lazy eye in kids is a weakness or an imbalance in the muscles responsible for positioning the eyes. It prevents the eyes from properly working together.

Effects of Lazy Eye in Kids

These are the signs you need to look out for if you think your kid may be affected by lazy eye or amblyopia:

  • A wandering eye
  • Misaligned eyes
  • Squinting
  • Poor depth perception
  • Rubbing one eye
  • Head tilting
  • Problems with reading and writing

As the kid grows and the condition progresses, they could be prone to more serious risks. In severe cases, lazy eye can also lead to loss of vision. Therefore, it is best to detect the problem as early as possible and understand your kids’ options for amblyopia treatment.

How can I tell if my child has amblyopia?

The signs of lazy eye in children can be easily noticed if you pay just enough attention. The first sign you should look for is misaligned or crossed eyes. This symptom indicates strabismus in which the brain bypasses the visual information that the lazy eye receives.

If you suspect the problem, you can get an eye patch for kids since children with lazy eye complain of blurry vision when their dominant eye is covered. To confirm the diagnosis, consult a certified and experienced optometrist, who may use the test called photo screening, which estimates the child’s eye alignment and helps look for a potential problem.

Lazy Eye Treatment

Glasses – Lazy eye in children can be corrected with glasses sometimes. Children with far-sightedness, near-sightedness, or astigmatism are usually prescribed glasses. The specialist monitors the improvement in vision and lazy eye, and suggests the course of treatment, if needed, after that.

Occlusion or Eye Patch – It is one of the most effective lazy eye correction method. In this treatment, the good eye is covered with a patch so that the lazy eye starts working. With the patch on, the brain will only receive information from the lazy eye, and hence, will not ignore it. The patch must be worn for a few hours every day. Also, children should be encouraged to read, color, write, or do other close-up activities while wearing the patch.

Atropine Eye Drops –Another effective amblyopia treatment, atropine eye drops are used to dilate the pupil and blur the vision in the good eye. It has the same results as an eye patch and is less awkward for children.

Vision Exercises – Vision exercises are really helpful and can be done in combination with other treatments.

Lazy Eye Surgery – Lazy eye surgery may be recommended when no other treatment works. It usually results in better eye alignment and also improves the appearance of the eye.

Amblyopia is a serious vision problem that can even lead to blindness. But the good news is that it is treatable in kids. Therefore, it is important to fix lazy eye in children as early as possible.

Consult the experts at InSight Vision Center and ensure the most comfortable and friendly lazy eye treatment for your child.

strabismus crossed eyes

What is Strabismus?

Strabismus, also called wall eye, squint, or crossed eyes, is a condition in which the two eyes are not properly aligned and fail to work as a team when looking at an object. According to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, approximately 4% of the US population has strabismus.

Types of Strabismus

There are many different types of strabismus, but they can be broadly divided as follows:

    • Exotropia

This type of strabismus is also called as wall-eyed. In Exotropia, one eye views at the object directly, and the other eye turns outward away from the nose.

    • Esotropia

This type of strabismus is also referred to as crossed eyes or cross-eyed. In Esotropia, one eye looks at the object directly, and the other turns inward toward the nose.

    • Hypotropia

Hypotropia is a type of strabismus, where one eye looks directly at the object while the other turns vertically downward.

    • Hypertropia

Hypertropia is a type of strabismus, where one eye looks directly at the object while the other turns vertically upward.

Causes of Crossed Eyes (Strabismus)

Each eye is made up of six external muscles (known as the extraocular muscles). These muscles control the eye position and its movement. In a normal binocular vision, these muscles of both the eyes must be coordinated perfectly.

Certain anatomical or neurological problems can interfere with the proper functioning of the extraocular muscles, thus causing strabismus. These problems can originate in the nerves or in the muscles itself. They can also occur in the vision centers in the brain that control the binocular vision.

Strabismus can also occur due to eye injuries or general health conditions.

Risk Factors of Strabismus

  • Family history: People whose parents or siblings have strabismus are at risk of developing it.
  • Medical conditions: People suffering from conditions such as cerebral palsy and Down syndrome or have had a head injury or a stroke are more likely to develop strabismus.
  • Refractive error: People who have uncorrected farsightedness or hyperopia may develop strabismus.

Signs and Symptoms of Strabismus

If you have strabismus, your eyes point outward or inward or focus in different directions. Other symptoms may include:

  • Impaired vision
  • Eyes that do not move together
  • Decreased depth perception
  • Unsymmetrical points of reflection in each eye
  • Double vision
  • Squinting with only one eye
  • Eyestrain or headache
  • Tilting the head to one side

Diagnosis of Strabismus:

A doctor of optometry conducts a comprehensive eye exam to diagnose strabismus. The diagnosis may involve the following steps:

  • Patient History:

The eye doctor will ask you about the symptoms. The doctor will also take a note of your general health problems, medications, family history, and other environmental factors that could contribute to the symptoms.

  • Eye Health Examination:

The ophthalmologist may use various testing procedures to observe the internal and external structures of your eyes to rule out any eye disease that could contribute to strabismus. The testing will help determine how the eyes respond under normal conditions.

  • Visual Acuity:

The eye doctor will measure visual acuity to determine how much vision is affected. The doctor may ask you to read letters (placed near and far) on the reading charts. Visual acuity is written as a fraction. A person with a normal vision has a visual acuity as 20/20.

  • Refraction:

The ophthalmologist may conduct refraction to find out the lens power needed to correct any refractive error (farsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism). The doctor uses an instrument called a phoropter and places a series of lenses in front of your eyes. How your eyes focus to the light is measured using a handheld lighted instrument called a retinoscope.

  • Alignment and Focusing Test:

Your doctor of optometry may assess how well your eyes work together as a team to view an object. This test will help determine the problem that prevents your eyes from focusing effectively.

Your eye doctor will diagnose whether you have strabismus after evaluating the information obtained from the tests mentioned above. If you have strabismus, the ophthalmologist will discuss the treatment options with you.

Strabismus Treatment Options

There are several treatment options for crossed eyes. They include:

  • Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses:

For some people, contact lenses and eyeglasses may be the only treatment needed.

  • Prism Lenses:

In prism lenses, one is thicker than the other. The prisms reduce the turning of the eye to view an object by altering the light entering it. Prisms can sometimes eliminate eye turning completely.

  • Vision Therapy:

Your eye doctor may prescribe a series of visual activities that can improve your eye coordination and eye focusing. These eye exercises reduce the problems with eye focusing, eye movement, and improve the eye-brain connection for effective eye teaming. These eye exercises can also be done at home.

  • Eye Muscle Surgery:

The length or position of the eye muscles can be made to appear straight through eye muscle surgery. Usually, vision therapy is prescribed for patients after the surgery to prevent the eyes from becoming misaligned again and to improve eye coordination.

The doctors at Insight Vision Center are the most experienced ophthalmologists in California that provide the best services and treatment options for strabismus and other eye problems.

Get the eye examination done as soon as possible at our eye clinic in Fresno, CA.

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Main Office

  • 1360 East Herndon Ave., Suite
    #103 & 201 Fresno, CA 93720
  • Phone:  (559) 449-5050

Chestnut Office

  • 7015 N. Chestnut Ave., Suite
    #101 Fresno, CA 93720
  • Phone:  (559) 492-3547

Madera Office

  • 509 South “I” Street, Suite C
    Madera, CA 93637
  • Phone:   (559) 674-2020

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