In most cases, early surgery can align the eyes. During surgery for esotropia, the tension of the eye muscles in one or both eyes is adjusted. The tight inner muscles may be removed from the wall of the eye and placed further back on the eye. This adjustment weakens their pull and allows the eyes to move outward. Sometimes the outer muscles are tightened by shortening the muscle length to allow the eyes to move outward.
Glasses reduce the focusing effort and can straighten the eyes.
Sometimes bifocals are needed for close work. Eye drops, ointment or special lenses called prisms can also be used to straighten the eyes. Exotropia Exotropia, or an outward turning eye, is another common type of strabismus. This occurs most often when a child is focusing on distant objects. The exotropia may occur only from time to time, particularly when a child is daydreaming, ill or tired.