Crossed Eyes - "Strabismus"

Strabismus is where the eyes do not line up straight.  If the turn in they are called crossed eyed. If they do that transiently then it is a sign of lazy eye and the doctor needs to know it.  If they are stuck that way all the time, it is from birth and they need surgery.  But the skin fold of the eye can cover the white of the eye and it appears to be crossed and it is not really turned in.  The first picture is a patient with true crossed eyes and the light reflects off the center of one pupil but off center of the other pupil.  In the second and third pictures you will see that the eyes may looked crossed but the light reflects off the center of both eyes.  The eyes are therefore straight and nothing needs to be done.

DR. Knapp