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Risk Factors for Strabismus (Crossed Eyes)
Causes of Strabismus (Crossed Eyes)
Some people are born with strabismus (crossed eyes), which is known as congenital strabismus. Others may develop the condition as children or young adults because of neurological conditions or refractive errors (vision problems). Some adults may develop strabismus related to neurological conditions, or they may develop worsening strabismus that was present since childhood.
Causes of Strabismus in Adults
In adults, the causes of strabismus include:
- Blood vessel damage in or around the eyes
- Cataract
- Eye, brain or facial trauma
- Eye or brain tumor
- Graves' disease, also known as thyroid eye disease
- Meningitis
- Muscle or nerve disorder
- Stroke
Some of these conditions can be life threatening and require urgent medical attention. It's important to see your physician immediately if you suddenly develop double vision or eye misalignment. Learn more about strabismus (crossed eyes) treatment.
Causes of Strabismus in Children
Most childhood strabismus is present at birth, but its causes are often unknown. The condition can run in families, which means that it may have a genetic cause. Some of the known causes of strabismus in children include:
- Brain disorders such as cerebral palsy
- Down syndrome
- Hydrocephalus (fluid buildup in the brain)
- Premature birth
- Refractive errors such as hyperopia and presbyopia (farsightedness and nearsightedness)
Find out more about our pediatric care for strabismus (crossed eyes) in children at Stanford Children's Health and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.
Risk Factors for Strabismus (Crossed Eyes)
A risk factor is anything that increases your chances of developing strabismus (crossed eyes). For adults, some factors that can put you at higher risk include:
- Brain disorders such as cerebral palsy
- Brain tumor
- Diabetes
- Family history of strabismus
- Damaged retina
- Stroke
- Traumatic brain injury
- Eye and vision conditions such as lazy eye (amblyopia), hyperopia (farsightedness) or vision loss
Read more about strabismus diagnosis.