At the same time, it is possible to determine, even in the small infant or newborn, if the child is nearsighted or farsighted. If a high degree of farsightedness is noted during the exam, the deviation may be corrected with the proper glasses. Glasses can be helpful in children as young as six months of age. They are most effective in treating the esotropic child, whose eyes turn in, and about one third of all such children will have their deviation corrected with glasses alone. Usually the child with exotropia or hypertropia will require surgery to correct the deviation.
Eye exercises can be helpful once the eyes have been straightened with glasses or surgery.
However, with the tendency toward early surgery, eye exercises have played a lesser role in the treatment of strabismus and are usually unnecessary. Furthermore, most children have to be at least four years of age before they can benefit from any type of eye exercise. A great deal of progress has been made in the surgical treatment of strabismus. It is no longer the frightening experience it once was. The child is brought to the hospital on the day of surgery, is operated on, and is able to go home the same day.