Strabismus (Crossed Eyes) Diagnosis

A doctor can often tell that a child has strabismus just by looking at the child's eyes. It may be obvious that the eyes don't look in the same direction at the same time.

The doctor may have the child look at an object while covering and then uncovering each eye. This allows the doctor to see which eye turns, how much it turns, and under what circumstances the abnormal turn occurs. These tests will also help the doctor find out if the child has amblyopia (lazy eye), which sometimes occurs with strabismus.

Experts recommend that children have regular eye exams. Vision tests may also be done to look for strabismus. If you have concerns about your child's eyes or vision, call your child's doctor, or take him or her to an eye doctor.