About Adult Strabismus DFW
What is Adult Strabismus?
Adult strabismus, often called lazy eye, is a condition in which eyes do not point in the same direction. This misalignment can occur in one or both eyes, leading to issues with vision. Strabismus affects the brain’s ability to coordinate visual input from both eyes, making it a challenge to see clearly and accurately. In adults, this condition can develop either as a recurrence of childhood strabismus or as a result of an injury or illness.
At PES Adult Strabismus Center, located in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area, we specialize in treating adult strabismus. Our team of board-certified ophthalmologists and certified orthoptists has received the highest training available to help correct your misaligned eyes. Regain your visiual function and your confidence. With over 70 years of combined experience and thousands of successful cases, we offer the latest advancements in strabismus treatment to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients.
Why Choose PES Adult Strabismus Center in North Texas?
- Elite specialists: Globally recognized strabismus expertise with highest-level training available
- Tailored solutions: Cutting-edge surgical and non-surgical treatments
- Proven track record: 70+ years of collective experience, thousands of successful cases
Five Convenient locations: Fort Worth, Denton, Mansfield, Southlake, and Prosper.
- Affordable: Major insurance, HSA, and FSA accepted.
- Dedicated support: In-depth consultations for informed, confident decisions
Your new future is a phone call away.
817-618-0511
Request Your Consultation TODAY!
Talk with our Senior Leadership Team. Discover your pathway to a clear future.
What are the Causes of Adult Strabismus?
Strabismus in adults can have several causes. For some, it’s a condition they’ve lived with since childhood, while others develop it later in life due to various health issues or injuries. The most common causes of adult strabismus include:
Residual Childhood Strabismus: Many adults who had strabismus as children find that their condition returns in later years. This is often due to the weakening of eye alignment over time, a dynamic known as decompensation.
Stroke: A stroke can affect the brain’s control over eye muscles. This reduced control can cause one or both eyes to deviate.
Diabetes: Diabetes can cause poor blood circulation. Inadequate blood flow can affect the nerves and muscles responsible for controlling eye movement.
Thyroid Eye Disease (Graves’ Disease): This autoimmune disorder can cause eye muscle inflammation, creating eye misalignment.
Trauma or Injury: Physical trauma to the eyes or head can damage the muscles or nerves controlling eye movement, causing strabismus to develop suddenly.
Neurological Disorders: Nerve dysfunction associated with conditions like Myasthenia Gravis, brain tumors, or Multiple Slerosis can disrupt the brain’s control of the eye muscles, resulting in strabismus.
At PES Adult Strabismus Center, we carefully assess each patient to determine the root cause of their strabismus. We consider your underlying conditions and symptoms to create a customized treatment plan that ensures the best possible outcome.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Adult Strabismus?
Adult strabismus can reveal itself in several ways, with symptoms ranging from visual disturbances to psychological and/or social discomfort. Common symptoms include:
Eye Misalignment: The most visible symptom of strabismus is that your eyes appear to point in different directions. Sometimes, this is more noticeable when you focus on close objects.
Double Vision (Diplopia): You might see two images instead of one because your eyes are not aligned properly. Depending on the severity of the misalignment, you might experience this constantly or intermittently,
Blurry Vision: While many people have blurry vision, if you have difficulty focusing on near or far objects, it might be caused by strabismus.
Loss of Depth Perception: Strabismus can make it difficult for you to judge how near or far objects are. Poor depth perception can lead to challenges with walking downstairs, driving, or reaching for objects.
Eye Strain and Headaches: The constant effort to align your eyes or compensate for double vision can cause significant eye strain, leading to headaches and fatigue.
Head Tilting or Turning: You might find yourself unconsciously tilting or turning your head to align your vision better. Tilting only temporarily alleviates symptoms and is not a solution.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to know that treatment is available. Strabismus doesn’t typically get better on its own. At PES Adult Strabismus Center, we offer a range of treatments that can help you reestablish eye alignment and the associated benefits.
What Treatment Options Exist for Adult Strabismus?
At PES Adult Strabismus Center, we provide the broadest treatment options, including surgical and non-surgical approaches. We will offer a customized treatment plan that meets your needs.
Surgical Treatments:
Strabismus Surgery on Eye Muscles: This is the most common treatment for adult strabismus. Your surgeon adjusts the position of the eye muscles to correct the alignment. The procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis, and most patients experience significant improvement in their visual function and eye alignment. Local anesthesia or general anesthesia may be used, depending on your case.
Adjustable Sutures: Our surgeons sometimes use adjustable sutures during surgery. These sutures allow for minor corrections to be made after surgery to fine-tune the alignment.
Muscle Strengthening or Weakening Procedures: Depending on the direction of the misalignment, our surgeons may strengthen or weaken your eye muscles to achieve proper alignment.
Learn more about strabismus surgery for adults.
Non-Surgical Treatments:
Prism Glasses: Wedge-shaped lenses correct double vision by bending light before it reaches your eye, allowing your brain to visually perceive two images as one. Prism glasses are often an option if you have mild or intermittent strabismus.
Botox Injections: Botox can be injected into the eye muscles to temporarily weaken them, helping to improve alignment. This less invasive option can provide temporary relief or be part of a longer-term treatment plan.
Eye Muscle Exercises: Eye exercises can help improve muscle coordination and alignment for certain types of strabismus. Our on-staff Orthoptist specialize in teaching fusional exercises, when appropriate.
At PES Adult Strabismus Center, we work closely with each patient to determine the best treatment option based on their specific condition and lifestyle to improve their visual experience, visual functions, and self-confidence.
What are the Emotional, Social, and Psychological Impacts of Adult Strabismus?
Strabismus doesn’t just affect vision—it can also impact your psychologic well-being and social interactions. Many adults with strabismus feel self-conscious or embarrassed about their eye misalignment. This can lead to social anxiety or withdrawal from personal and professional interactions.
Self-Esteem: You might feel uncomfortable with the appearance of your eyes, lowering your self-confidence.
Social Interaction: Often, you might feel that your misaligned eyes make others uncomfortable (especially when first meeting someone.) Whether true or not, your perception can become a reality, causing you to withdraw socially.
Work and Professional Life: Strabismus can interfere with professional opportunities, as you may feel you are not taken seriously or are judged based on your appearance.
At PES Adult Strabismus Center, we know the psychologic toll strabismus can take on your life. We strive to provide treatment that improves your eye alignment and psychosocial well-being.
Take the Strabismus Self-Assessment
Take this 2 minute self-evaluation to see if you might be a good candidate for treatment,
What are the Complications and Risks of Untreated Strabismus?
If left untreated, adult strabismus can lead to several complications, including:
Permanent Double Vision: Double vision can become a constant issue without treatment, making everyday activities difficult.
Loss of Depth Perception: Strabismus can impair depth perception, increasing the risk of accidents, especially when driving or navigating stairs.
Eye Strain and Fatigue: Over time, the effort required to compensate for misalignment can lead to chronic eye strain and headaches.
Treating strabismus sooner rather than later can help prevent these complications. At PES Adult Strabismus Center, our experienced team is dedicated to diagnosing and treating strabismus quickly as possible to minimize its impact.
Does Insurance Cover Adult Strabismus Treatment?
Many adults falsely believe that strabismus treatment is cosmetic and not covered by insurance. This is NOT true.
Adult strabismus is considered a medical condition that can significantly impair your visual health and quality of life. Most health insurance plans cover strabismus treatments, including surgery, prism glasses, and other therapies.
At PES Adult Strabismus Center, we want to make treatment affordable. We accept most major insurance plans, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). We will work with you to determine the best payment options for your treatment and help you navigate the insurance process.
What is the Prognosis and Recovery Like After Treatment?
The prognosis for adults undergoing strabismus treatment is generally excellent, especially when treated by an experienced team like ours at PES Adult Strabismus Center. Most patients experience significant improvements in both their vision and quality of life.
Surgical Recovery: Most surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis, allowing patients to return home the same day. Recovery times are usually short, with most patients resuming normal activities within 5-7 days.
Non-Surgical Recovery: Non-surgical treatments, such as prism glasses or Botox injections, require little to no downtime and are often effective in providing immediate relief from symptoms.
Our team will work closely with you to monitor your progress and make any necessary adjustments to ensure optimal results.
Fort Worth Main Office
PES Adult Strabismus Center
321 S. Henderson St.
Fort Worth, TX 76104
DFW Locations
More Convenient North Texas Locations
Prosper Office
4200 W University Dr Suite 320
Prosper, TX 75078
Southlake Office
105 River Oaks Drive
Southlake, TX 76092
Mansfield Office
1106 Alexis Court
Mansfield, TX 76063
Denton Office
2212 Emery St.
Denton, TX 76201
One Convenient Phone Number
Request Your Consultation Today!
Receive a call from our senior leadership team before your appointment.