Dr. Grossman’s Blog

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Being accepted as a kid can be tough sometimes, especially if you have a “squint.”

According to a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, young children whose eyes are obviously affected by conditions like strabismus are less likely to be invited to birthday parties than their unaffected identical twins.  The preference was much stronger after the age of six when nearly 50% of kids looking at pictures of children with squints noticed immediately that they were “different.”

The results of this study lead researchers to conclude that “schoolchildren with strabismus seem less likely to be accepted by their peers, so corrective surgery for strabismus should be performed before the age of six years, when negative social implications may arise.”  Source: http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=17753

Learn more about other binocular conditions that can affect adults and children.

Astigmatism is caused by irregularities in the shape of the cornea or lens.  It can be treated through the use of corrective lenses, including contacts.

Symptoms include:

- Blurred or distorted vision at all distances
- Photophobia – sensitivity to light
- Headaches
- Excessive squinting.
- Constantly closing of the eyes
- Eye strain – occurs more often when the eye has to focus for long periods, as in reading from paper or a computer monitor

Computer eye strain is associated with this condition: computer eye strain can cause or exacerbate astigmatism or astigmatism may worsen the symptoms of computer eye strain.  For more on computer eye strain and how to prevent it, click here.

Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158810.php