A cross eye is medically called strabismus or, more specifically, esotropia when the eye turns inward.
Strabismus is a condition where the eyes are misaligned, meaning they don't look in the same direction at the same time. This misalignment can occur in different directions:
- Esotropia: The eye turns inward, towards the nose (crossed eyes). This is the most common understanding of "cross-eyed."
- Exotropia: The eye turns outward.
- Hypertropia: The eye turns upward.
- Hypotropia: The eye turns downward.
Strabismus affects roughly 3-5% of the population. Early detection and treatment of strabismus are important to prevent vision problems like amblyopia ("lazy eye"). Treatment options may include eyeglasses, vision therapy, prisms, or surgery to align the eye muscles.
