Strabismus and amblyopia are not diseases but visual conditions that affect the function of a person’s visual system which is composed of the eyes, the brain and the connections between the two. Strabismus , commonly known as crossed eyes or wall eyes, a person’s eyes are not in alignment . One eye may turn in or out, up or down, or may wander in several directions. The symptoms of strabismus may always be present , or they may appear only when a person is tired, ill, or concentrating intensely on objects. Amblyopia is also known as lazy eye because one eye stops functioning properly. The eye – brain connection in the non – functioning eye is poor and the brain ignores or suppresses most of its signals in order to make sense of what is seen.

Both strabismus and amblyopia can be treated, depending on the severity of the problem. The eyes need to be retrained to gain greater coordination and control and taught to work as a team. An orthoptist may use lenses and prisms along with some vision therapy to change the visual habits. At times , patching one eye may be necessary in people with amblyopia.