At PES Adult Strabismus Center, we understand that strabismus in adults can be more than just a cosmetic issue—it can lead to real, lasting vision problems. Misaligned eyes can cause double vision, eye strain, and difficulty with everyday tasks. Many adults don’t realize that untreated strabismus can continue to worsen over time. In this article, we’ll explain how untreated adult strabismus can affect not only your vision and why timely treatment matters. If you’re dealing with symptoms, schedule a consultation with PES Adult Strabismus Center to explore your options.
What happens when adult strabismus goes untreated?
Untreated adult strabismus can result in serious vision problems that impact daily life and long-term eye health. At PES Adult Strabismus Center, we see many patients who experience diplopia, or double vision. While some children can suppress or ignore conflicting images from misaligned eyes, many adults cannot. This often leads to eye strain and a loss of depth perception, both of which affect essential visual tasks like driving, reading, or working. In some cases, the brain begins suppressing input from the misaligned eye, which can disrupt binocular vision and depth perception. While timing is often more critical in a child, there can be ramifications for delay in care for adults.
Can untreated strabismus make your eye alignment worse?
Untreated strabismus in adults can lead to worsening misalignment that may eventually become permanent or more difficult to correct. Misalignment typically involves issues with the extraocular muscles or the nerves that control them, which may deteriorate further without treatment. Some patients begin with small-angle esotropia or exotropia and notice a gradual progression over time. In severe cases, underlying conditions like a stroke, thyroid disease, or a neurological disorder may contribute to declining eye motility or nerve control. The longer the condition is left untreated, the greater the risk that therapy or strabismus surgery will be less effective.
How does strabismus affect depth perception?
Strabismus interferes with the brain’s ability to merge images from both eyes, leading to poor or absent depth perception. Accurate visual perception depends on aligned eye movement and healthy communication between both eyes and the brain. When the eyes don’t work together, patients often lose the ability to perceive three-dimensional space correctly. At PES Adult Strabismus Center, we evaluate each patient’s visual acuity and perception to determine whether vision therapy, prisms, or surgical intervention may restore proper function and improve safety in daily life.
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Can strabismus cause eye strain or fatigue?
Eye strain is a common result of untreated strabismus, especially for adults trying to compensate for misalignment. The human eye works hard to maintain clear vision, and constant effort to focus or avoid diplopia can cause discomfort, headaches, and visual fatigue. These symptoms are often made worse by screen use or reading, where precise eye movement is required. PES Adult Strabismus Center helps patients understand the signs and symptoms of strain and offers customized treatment plans including prism glasses, vision therapy, or corrective lens adjustments.
Is there a risk of vision loss from untreated adult strabismus?
Risk for permanent vision loss from untreated adult strabismus is rare. However, while untreated adult strabismus does not typically cause permanent vision loss in the same way it can in children, it can still lead to significant functional vision problems. Adults may experience symptoms such as double vision (diplopia), eye strain, and difficulty with depth perception. In rare or complex cases—such as those involving pre-existing visual impairment, injury, neurologic conditions (such as cerebral palsy), or a neoplasm—there may be secondary effects on visual function. Unlike a child or infant, adults do not usually develop amblyopia (lazy eye), as the visual system is already fully developed. However, prolonged suppression of one eye to avoid double vision may affect binocular vision and quality of life. A comprehensive evaluation at the PES Adult Strabismus Center allows for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning to preserve visual function and comfort.
Can untreated adult strabismus cause psychological issues?
Untreated adult strabismus is closely linked to psychological effects such as low self-esteem, social anxiety, and depression. Adults often feel self-conscious about eye appearance, especially in settings that involve face-to-face communication or nonverbal cues. At PES Adult Strabismus Center, we recognize that strabismus can impact more than just visual health—it can affect overall well-being, relationships, and mental health. Studies across the United States suggest that adults with visible strabismus are more likely to report emotional distress, and some may even avoid work or social situations. Therapy and support should be part of comprehensive care.
What are the functional impacts of untreated strabismus?
Untreated strabismus can limit a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks that require accurate depth perception and eye coordination. Simple activities like driving, navigating stairs, or engaging in sports can become risky or uncomfortable. This limitation can be especially dangerous for adults who rely on visual precision in their work or hobbies. In some cases, corrective lens options or prism glasses may provide temporary improvement, but PES Adult Strabismus Center can offer surgical or therapeutic intervention to address the root cause. Patients who delay treatment may notice a gradual decline in functional ability over time.
Can medical conditions or medications worsen adult strabismus?
Yes, certain medical conditions and medications can increase the risk of strabismus or make an existing condition worse. Diseases that affect the brain, such as stroke, thyroid dysfunction, or a neurological disorder, can impair muscle control or nerve function, leading to strabismus. Some medications, including those that affect neurology or muscle tone, may also contribute. A thorough medical diagnosis is essential to identify contributing factors and develop an appropriate treatment plan. PES Adult Strabismus Center considers each patient’s full health history, including systemic diseases, eye drop use, and past surgeries.
Can untreated strabismus be confused with other conditions?
Yes, untreated strabismus in adults can sometimes resemble other eye conditions, such as pseudostrabismus, where the eyes appear misaligned but are actually properly aligned. A detailed medical diagnosis by the team at PES Adult Strabismus Center is essential to distinguish between true misalignment and conditions that only mimic it. Identifying whether a patient has true strabismus, a refractive error, or another source of visual disturbance is key to selecting the correct treatment plan.
Can untreated strabismus present in different forms?
Adult strabismus can appear in different forms, including esotropia, exotropia, and less commonly, hypertropia, which involves a vertical misalignment of one eye. Each variation may have different causes and symptoms and may respond to different types of therapy or surgical intervention. At PES Adult Strabismus Center, identifying the specific form of misalignment helps guide treatment planning and improves the likelihood of a successful outcome.
What are the treatment options for adult strabismus?
Treatment for adult strabismus depends on the cause and severity of the condition but may include glasses, prism lenses, evidence based vision therapy, or strabismus surgery. At PES Adult Strabismus Center, each patient undergoes a comprehensive eye examination, often guided by both optometry and ophthalmology principles, to evaluate alignment, motility, and perception. For some, exercises can help strengthen or retrain the extraocular muscles, while others may need surgical realignment by a skilled surgeon. Prism lenses can improve comfort by shifting light to align images, especially for patients with diplopia. When appropriate, surgery can offer lasting correction by repositioning the eye muscles, improving both function and appearance.
Why is early treatment important?
Early treatment of adult strabismus improves the chances of successful alignment and prevents complications that affect both vision and quality of life. The longer a patient waits, the more resistant the eyes may become to therapy or surgery, and the greater the risk of permanent suppression or visual impairment. PES Adult Strabismus Center emphasizes the importance of timely intervention to preserve eye health, support binocular vision, and reduce the need for more invasive treatment later. Addressing the condition early also helps patients avoid long-term psychological distress and functional limitations.
Clearer Vision Starts Today
Untreated adult strabismus can impact more than just your eyesight—it can affect your daily life, confidence, and overall well-being. The good news is that effective, personalized treatment is available. At PES Adult Strabismus Center, we’re here to help you regain comfort, clarity, and control over your vision. Schedule your exam today and take the first step toward better alignment and improved quality of life.