What is "strabismus"?

Strabismus refers specifically to the misalignment of the eyes, which can occur when the eyes do not properly coordinate their movements. This misalignment can be in the form of one eye turning inward, outward, upward, or downward while the other eye remains focused. Strabismus can impact vision and depth perception, as the brain may struggle to merge the images from each eye if they are not aligned correctly. This condition can lead to amblyopia, or "lazy eye," where the brain favors one eye over the other. Understanding strabismus is crucial in optometry for diagnosing and managing eye alignment issues in patients.