Detection and Diagnosis

A child should be examined by the family doctor, pediatrician, or an ophthalmologist during infancy and preschool in order to detect any potential eye problem, particularly if a relative has had strabismus or amblyopia. Even the most observant parent may not discover strabismus without a doctor’s help. It is often difficult to determine the difference between eyes that appear to be crossed and true strabismus.

Young children usually have a wide, flat nose and a redundant fold of skin at the inner eyelid that tends to hide the eye during side gaze and cause concern about strabismus. An ophthalmologist can readily distinguish this from true strabismus.