• Who is the best doctor for strabismus correction in Iran?
  •  What is the cost of treating strabismus in children in Iran?
  • Which hospital is the best for strabismus correction in Iran?
  •  Where can I seek treatment for strabismus in Iran, Tehran, Shiraz, Mashhad, Isfahan?

Appointment reservation for strabismus surgery in Shiraz, Iran.

What does strabismus mean?

Strabismus is a condition where there is a lack of alignment between the eyes when looking at an object, and each eye moves differently. It is a common vision problem in children but can also affect adults.

What are the causes of strabismus?

Strabismus occurs due to a defect in one of the six muscles that control eye movement through nerve signals from the brain. This defect causes the eyes to misalign and deviate inward, outward, upward, or downward. This deviation can be constant or intermittent. When the brain receives two different images, it tries to overcome them by ignoring one of the images.

What are the types of strabismus?

Types of strabismus can be classified based on various reasons including the direction of eye deviation.

About Esotropia:

Inward deviation of the eye occurs when the eye turns towards the nose.

You will find initial information about this type below. This type of strabismus arises from infancy due to the imbalance in eye alignment as both eyes turn inward.

A type of childhood disease that occurs in the first year of life and is accompanied by other problems such as binocular and tremor, and can be successfully treated if followed up in the early stages. Crossed eyes (strabismus) create a problem for those affected, where one eye looks inward while the other eye looks outward and towards the nose. Eye deviation can affect individuals in a way that one eye looks inward and directly forward while the other looks towards the nose.

Eye deviation can be acquired, meaning it may develop in later stages after childhood due to medical conditions like diabetes.

Internal eye deviation can be constant or intermittent. It is worth mentioning that convergence insufficiency is the most common type of internal eye deviation and occurs when the eye tries to focus on near or distant objects and is accompanied by a tendency to tilt the head or cover one eye when approaching objects.

External eye deviation (Exotropia):

Eye deviation towards the outer ear.

More information about outward eye deviation:

This type of eye deviation occurs towards the outside. It can occur at any age and may be accompanied by headaches, blurred vision, and double vision.

Intermittent deviation may occur when the eyes deviate alternately outward.

Other types of eye deviation:

  • Superior oblique: In this type, the eye deviates upwards. Inferior oblique: This type includes eye deviation downwards. Symptoms of inferior oblique: Reading difficulties Balance problems Eye imbalance Other problems
  • Pseudostrabismus:This type of eye deviation is very common in infants due to the excess skin covering the eye and nose, which gradually disappears with the child's full growth.
  • Lazy eye: This older term is no longer widely used, as it is now known that weak vision in one eye (amblyopia) is due to underuse of that eye due to eye deviation or other vision problems.

Eye imbalance causes the eyes to turn inward and outward, creating two different images.

Eye deviation may appear intermittently and occasionally or be permanent. Eye deviation can occur in one or both eyes, so that sometimes the right eye and sometimes the left eye deviates.

Some common types of eye deviation that may occur in children are:

  • Internal eye deviation in children: In the early months of a child's life, this type of eye deviation, also called convergent strabismus, is identified by the rotation of the eye inward and may initially occur intermittently and then become permanent.

Convergent deviation occurs when the child tries to focus on distant objects.

A type of eye deviation called pseudostrabismus may occur in children, in which it seems that the child has eye deviation in both eyes, while in reality, the eyes are aligned. Pseudostrabismus in children is caused by the width of the nasal bridge or covering the inner corner of the eye by the upper eyelid and usually disappears with the child's growth.

What are the main causes of eye deviation?

In many cases, the cause of eye deviation is unknown, but in some cases, it may result from nerve damage and muscle weakness responsible for eye movement, leading to eye deviation.

Causes of strabismus:

  • Congenital defects: Occurs before the birth of the baby. Genetic factors: Increase the risk of developing eye deviation.
  • Severe refractive errors: Such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Eye strain: Can temporarily cause eye deviation.
  • Eye or head injury: Can damage eye muscles or nerves. Hydrocephalus: Accumulation of fluid in the brain.
  •  Viral infections: Such as measles or meningitis. Cerebral palsy: A movement disorder caused by brain damage.
  •  Stroke: Interruption of blood flow to a part of the brain.
  • Symptoms of eye deviation (strabismus) Deviation of one or both eyes: Asymmetry in their movement when looking at objects.
  • Double vision: Seeing two images of one object.
  • Lack of depth perception of objects: Difficulty estimating the distance between objects.
  •  Quick eye fatigue: Feeling tiredness in the eyes after focusing for a short period.
  •  Tilting the head to a specific angle: Trying to see objects clearly.
  • Closing one eye when looking at something: Ignoring the vision of one eye.
  •  Headaches: Pain in the head. Loss of vision in one eye: In severe cases.
  •  Diagnosis of eye deviation (strabismus) Gathering medical history and physical examination: For symptoms and overall eye health assessment.
  • Comprehensive eye examination: Including various tests to evaluate vision, eye muscles, and overall eye health.
  • Treatment of eye deviation (strabismus) Glasses: To correct refractive errors and aid in eye alignment. 
  • Eye exercises: To strengthen eye muscles and improve their coordination. Surgery: To straighten eye muscles and place them in the correct position.
  • Botox injection: For temporary paralysis of eye muscles and assistance in straightening them.
  • Eye drops: For treating lazy eye (amblyopia). 
  • Prevention of eye deviation (strabismus) Regular eye check-ups: Especially for children, for early detection and treatment of eye deviation.
  • Control of refractive errors: Such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
  • Prevention of eye or head injuries: By using protective glasses during sports activities or work with hazardous materials.
  • Prompt treatment of eye infections: To prevent damage to eye muscles or nerves.
  • Complications of eye deviation (strabismus) Blurry or double vision: And the associated problems.
  • Lazy eye (amblyopia): Weak vision in one of the eyes due to underuse.
  • Decreased self-confidence: Due to the impact of eye deviation on facial appearance.
  • Reduced visual interaction with others: Due to difficulty in direct eye contact.

There are various methods for treating eye deviation in Iran, including:

  • Glasses: To correct refractive errors and aid in eye coordination.
  • Eye exercises: To strengthen eye muscles and improve their coordination.
  • Surgery: To straighten eye muscles and place them in the correct position. 
  • Botox injection: For temporary paralysis of eye muscles and aiding in their alignment.
  • Eye drops: For treating lazy eye (amblyopia).

The choice of treatment method depends on the type and severity of eye deviation as well as the patient's age.

Symptoms of eye deviation

Eye deviation refers to the misalignment of one or both eyes and the lack of symmetry in their movement when looking at objects. Symptoms of eye deviation may appear continuously or intermittently and during eye fatigue.

Other symptoms of eye deviation include:

  • Double vision: Seeing two images of one object.
  • Difficulty perceiving object depth: Trouble estimating the distance between objects.
  • Quick eye fatigue: Feeling tiredness in the eyes after focusing for a short period.
  • Tilting the head at a specific angle: Trying to see objects clearly.
  • Closing one eye when looking at something: Ignoring the vision of one eye.
  • Headaches: Pain in the head. Loss of vision in one eye: In severe cases.

How is eye deviation diagnosed?

The diagnosis of eye deviation is based on collecting medical history, physical examination, and comprehensive eye examination. During the comprehensive eye examination, the doctor may use various tests to determine the cause of eye deviation and evaluate its severity. These tests may include:

  • Refraction test: To examine the refractive power of the eye and determine whether the individual needs glasses or contact lenses.
  • Visual acuity test: To assess visual clarity in each eye.
  • Cover test and uncover test: To examine the movement and coordination of the eyes when looking at objects.
  • Fundoscopic examination: To examine the health of the retina, optic nerve, and other parts behind the eye.

How can eye deviation be prevented?

There is no definite way to prevent eye deviation. However, regular eye examinations, especially for children, can help diagnose and treat eye deviation early and prevent it from worsening and causing complications.

Complications of eye deviation

If eye deviation is left untreated, it can lead to the following complications:

  • Permanent blurriness or double vision: and the problems that follow.
  • Lazy eye (amblyopia): Reduced vision in one eye due to lack of use.
  • Decreased self-confidence: Due to the effect of eye deviation on facial appearance.
  • Decreased visual interaction with others: Due to difficulty in making direct eye contact with people.

 

Is eye deviation treatment possible at any age?

Some people believe that eye deviation surgery is only possible in childhood, but this is a misconception. Eye deviation surgery is possible at any age, even for adults.

In some cases, eye deviation or lazy eye that was not treated during childhood may appear in adulthood. This problem may be due to other diseases such as type 2 diabetes, Graves' disease, or head injury. Sometimes, this problem may be caused by eye or surrounding muscle surgery.

Types and common degrees of eye deviation

Eye deviation can be classified into different types based on the direction of eye deviation and the number of muscles involved. Common types of eye deviation include:

  • Inward eye deviation (esotropia): Eye deviation inward.
  • Outward eye deviation (exotropia): Eye deviation outward.
  •  Vertical eye deviation (hypertropia): Eye deviation upward.
  • Torsional eye deviation (cyclotropia): Eye deviation around its axis.

Degrees of eye deviation are also classified based on the amount of eye deviation. Common degrees of eye deviation include:

Mild eye deviation: Eye deviation less than 10 degrees. Moderate eye deviation: Eye deviation between 10 to 20 degrees. Severe eye deviation: Eye deviation more than 20 degrees.

Can eye deviation be a problem?

Eye deviation can be very unpleasant or even disabling, especially in cases where constant and permanent double vision is caused by eye deviation.

How can I tell if I have eye deviation?

Some symptoms may indicate eye deviation, such as:

  • Eye fatigue
  • Double vision
  • Blurred vision Eye
  • Deviation 
  • Difficulty focusing on objects
  • Headaches
  • Difficulty perceiving depth

If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to visit an ophthalmologist for an eye examination.

Is there a treatment for lazy eye in adults?

Generally, treatment for lazy eye (amblyopia) after the age of 8, when the visual system is fully developed, is not effective. Therefore, specific treatment for lazy eye in adults is not recommended. However, eye deviation surgery may improve the appearance, depth perception, and visual field of the patient, but it does not correct lazy eye that is untreated from childhood.

Cost of eye deviation surgery in Iran

The cost of eye deviation surgery in Iran depends significantly on various factors, including:

Type and severity of eye deviation Patient's age Place of residence Type of health insurance

Generally, the cost of eye deviation surgery in Iran is much lower compared to Western countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, and even neighboring countries.

Stages of eye deviation surgery in Iran

Eye deviation surgery in Iran is usually performed in a well-equipped operating room. This surgery can be done under local or general anesthesia, depending on the patient's condition and the surgeon's preference.

After eye deviation surgery, the patient may experience mild to moderate discomfort in the eye area, which can be relieved with common pain relievers. Conjunctival redness may also be common and normal for several weeks after eye deviation surgery.

In general, patients recover within a few days after eye deviation surgery and can resume their normal activities. However, the recovery time may vary depending on the complexity of the specific case.

It should be noted that in some cases, several surgical procedures may be needed for complete eye deviation correction.

Why is Iran a suitable destination for strabismus surgery?

Every year, a large number of patients travel to Iran for strabismus surgery. The reasons for this are as follows:

Skill and experience of Iranian surgeons: Iranian surgeons have a high level of skill and experience in the field of strabismus surgery and have a successful track record in this area. Cost-effectiveness: The cost of strabismus surgery in Iran is significantly lower than in Western countries. Quality of medical care: Iran has advanced eye care centers equipped with the latest technology and equipment. Recreational and tourist facilities: Iran has numerous recreational and historical attractions that patients can enjoy during their trip.

How can I schedule an appointment for strabismus surgery in Iran?

To schedule an appointment for strabismus surgery in Iran and receive free consultation with our specialists, you can contact us via WhatsApp. Our coordination and translation team will respond to you promptly and arrange an appointment before your trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can undergo strabismus surgery?

Strabismus surgery can be performed on individuals of any age who are suffering from this condition. However, generally, strabismus surgery is recommended during childhood for best results.

Is strabismus surgery painful?

Strabismus surgery is usually performed under local or general anesthesia, so the patient won't feel any pain during the procedure. There might be mild to moderate discomfort in the eye area after the surgery, which can be alleviated with common pain relievers.

How long does it take to recover after strabismus surgery?

Generally, patients recover within a few days after strabismus surgery and can resume their normal activities. However, the recovery time may vary depending on the specific complexity of the case.

Is strabismus surgery permanent?

Yes, the results of strabismus surgery are usually permanent. However, in some cases, additional surgical procedures may be necessary to maintain the results.

How much does strabismus surgery cost in Iran?

The cost of strabismus surgery in Iran depends on various factors such as the type and severity of the condition, the patient's age, and the location. However, generally, the cost of strabismus surgery in Iran is significantly lower than in Western countries.

Can I travel to Iran for strabismus surgery?

Yes, you can travel to Iran for strabismus surgery. For more information on visa and other travel requirements, you can contact the Iranian embassy in your country.

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