Strabismus Queens & Nassau County

Name: Strabismus
Brand: The Pediatric Eye Center
Rating: 4.8 (342 reviews)

Strabismus is the medical term that describes when the eyes are not aligned and point in different directions. This condition is relatively common, affecting about 2–3% of people to some extent. It’s often easiest to think about strabismus regarding whether the misalignment is horizontal or vertical.

Forms of Strabismus

Esotropia

Exotropia

Hypertropia

In some cases, vertical and horizontal misalignments occur together, and there may even be a rotational component. The degree and direction of the strabismus can also change depending on where the eyes are looking. And, as with most things in medicine, there are always a few exceptions to the rule.

Why It’s Never Just One Eye

Skilled strabismus specialists understand how to assess alignment and recommend appropriate treatment options for the eyes. The emphasis on “eyes”—plural—is intentional. While it may look like only one eye is out of place, strabismus actually affects both. Misalignment is always related to the position of one eye compared to the other.

When Does Strabismus Appear?

Strabismus may be noticeable all the time (tropia), only under certain conditions, such as fatigue, illness, or specific testing (phoria), or somewhere in between (intermittent tropia). For example, a person might have an esophoria, where the eyes turn inward toward the nose only when tired; an intermittent esotropia, where the eyes occasionally turn inward on their own; or an esotropia, where the inward turn is constant.

Why Do We Need Properly Aligned Eyes?

When the eyes are properly aligned (“straight”), both eyes are looking at the same object simultaneously. Because our two eyes are slightly separated naturally, two separate (and slightly different) images are perceived and sent to the brain. Within the brain, these two slightly separate images are fused into a single three-dimensional (3-D) perception. Depth perception is only possible when both eyes point in the same direction at the same time.

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What Happens When the Eyes Are Misaligned?

When someone has strabismus, their eyes are pointing in different directions at the same time, so their brain is presented with two very different images simultaneously. Our brain cannot fuse very different images into one, so depth perception (3-D vision) is not possible when strabismus is present.

For Young Children

When a young child has a very frequent or constant strabismus, their brain ignores one of the images, and normal depth perception cannot develop or is lost. Certain forms of strabismus (usually esotropias) can cause the brain to ignore an eye altogether, and vision will be lost (amblyopia).

For Older Children and Adults

Visually mature children (older than eight or so) and adults who develop strabismus cannot just ignore the second image, so they often develop double vision. Fortunately, nearly all forms of strabismus can be treated and made better.

I love how he treated the kids like it's their appointment and not the parents’.

Dr. E. is the sweetest and kindest pediatric ophthalmologist I've ever met.

... an excellent eye doctor, incredibly friendly and patient with my little one, making the entire visit smooth and stress-free.

Dr. Lichtenstein is the best! He’s funny, kind, and really knows his craft.

The best doctor I have ever seen.

The best doctor solved my son’s problem with patience and care.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Eric A. Lichtenstein for the exceptional care provided...

...I have nothing but kind things to say.

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Trusted by Pediatricians, Chosen by Families

We are honored to receive so many referrals from both local and regional pediatricians. We also appreciate that families recommend The Pediatric Eye Center to their relatives, friends, and business associates. Here’s why they recognize us:

We Offer Impeccable Medical Expertise

Since 1999, Dr. Lichtenstein has delivered exceptional pediatric eye care to tens of thousands of infants and children in the tri-state region. He brings over one quarter of a century of experience, along with compassion and humor (that has only matured like a fine wine), to every patient appointment.

We Offer Child-Friendly (and Even Fun) Eye Care Appointments

Dr. Lichtenstein pulls out all the stops to deliver a fun visit. For babies and younger kids, he uses toys and props, silly voices, singing, and his trademark Dad humor. For tweens and teens, he respects their existential angst and tries to avoid causing eye rolls and moans of annoyance. Gotta know your audience—and he does.

We Practice Sincere, Honest Communication

Dr. Lichtenstein believes in open, honest discussions with children old enough to understand and their parents. He is happy to explain his diagnostic approach and the treatment plan at the proper level, and he welcomes questions from kids and parents. He truly believes that well-informed families are key to successful treatment outcomes.

“Great office, great staff. Dr. Lichtenstein has a special way to connect with his patients. Even though they’re children, he involves them in the discussions about their vision care.”

Tania Lopez

Understanding Abnormal Head Position (AHP)

Certain eye movement problems will cause people to position their head in an abnormal manner. AHP typically appears as:

A face turn to the right or left
A head tilt towards the shoulder
Chin up or down
Combinations of turns, tilts, and chin-up/down positions

It is important to determine whether an AHP is caused by an abnormal eye movement. For very young children, uncorrected AHPs can cause changes in facial and neck bone development. In addition, if physical therapy is attempted for an undiagnosed AHP, this can lead to vision loss (amblyopia). As for older children and adults, AHPs can cause neck pain and/or self-esteem issues.

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Eye Conditions Linked to an Abnormal Head Position (AHP)

There are three generally accepted ophthalmic causes for AHP:

Strabismus (Misaligned Eyes)

Some forms of strabismus will vary depending on where the person is looking. By assuming an abnormal head position, these folks have learned how to make their eyes straight. They do this because it reduces/eliminates double vision and may even permit good 3-D vision.

Nystagmus (Shaky/Dancing Eyes)

Many forms of nystagmus are minimized when looking toward a particular direction. By assuming an abnormal head position, people with nystagmus are able to reduce their nystagmus and see better.

Ptosis (Droopy Eyelid)

When the eyelid blocks the pupil, vision is not possible, so these folks may lift their chin to “look under” the drooping lid and see things in 3-D.

What’s Behind Your Child’s Abnormal Head Position (AHP)?

Dr. Lichtenstein wants to know why your child’s head is positioned abnormally. To find out, he’ll perform a full eye exam and specialized tests to clarify what’s going on. He may also place a patch on one eye, noting if the AHP improves. Together, these findings help us determine whether a specific eye condition is behind an AHP.

Strabismus & Nystagmus Treatment Options in Queens & Nassau County

Abnormal head position treatment depends on the cause. If someone has strabismus, nystagmus, ptosis, or a combination of these, surgery may be a good option.

Pediatric eye surgeon Dr. Eric Lichtenstein has been performing infant (and adult) strabismus treatment in Queens and Nassau County for over a quarter of a century.

His rapport with children, high-level clinical and surgical skills, and open communication with parents drive his continued surgical success.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Queens and Nassau County parents seeking a pediatric strabismus specialist can easily schedule an appointment with Dr. Lichtenstein by calling (929) 588-8570.