What term describes misalignment of the eyes due to extraocular muscle imbalance?

What term describes misalignment of the eyes due to extraocular muscle imbalance?

• A. Amblyopia
• B. Nystagmus
• C. Ptosis
• D. Strabismus

Answer: (D)

The misalignment of the eyes caused by unequal pull from the extraocular muscles is called strabismus. The six external muscles around the eyeball work together to direct both eyes to the same target. When one or more of these muscles act stronger or weaker than the others, the eyes can end up pointing in different directions, so the visual axes don’t meet at the same place. This can be present all the time or only sometimes and may lead the brain to favor one eye to avoid double vision, which can result in reduced vision in that eye if not addressed (amblyopia) especially in children. Strabismus is distinct from amblyopia, which refers to diminished vision rather than misalignment itself; it’s also different from nystagmus, which is involuntary rhythmic eye movement, and from ptosis, which is drooping of the eyelid.

The misalignment of the eyes caused by unequal pull from the extraocular muscles is called strabismus. The six external muscles around the eyeball work together to direct both eyes to the same target. When one or more of these muscles act stronger or weaker than the others, the eyes can end up pointing in different directions, so the visual axes don’t meet at the same place. This can be present all the time or only sometimes and may lead the brain to favor one eye to avoid double vision, which can result in reduced vision in that eye if not addressed (amblyopia) especially in children.

Strabismus is distinct from amblyopia, which refers to diminished vision rather than misalignment itself; it’s also different from nystagmus, which is involuntary rhythmic eye movement, and from ptosis, which is drooping of the eyelid.