What is Heterophoria?
Heterophoria, unlike strabismus, refers to a condition where the eyes are not perfectly aligned, but both eyes are able to focus on a target without visible misalignment under normal conditions. In heterophoria, the eyes are typically aligned when both are open, but if one eye is covered or closed, the eyes may shift position
1. When both eyes are open, there is no misalignment, and the eyes are looking straight ahead.
2. When the left eye is covered, it moves outward and becomes misaligned, resulting in exotropia (outward strabismus).
3. When the cover is removed, the misaligned eye returns to its original position, and both eyes can focus on the object again.
Main Causes of Heterophoria
It is caused by a basic misalignment of the eyes, sometimes referred to as latent strabismus.
Main Treatments for Heterophoria
If double vision is present and the condition is severe, symptomatic treatment with corrective glasses featuring prisms is used. In more severe cases, surgery may be considered as an option. At our clinic, we provide treatments for heterophoria using eye patching or prism glasses. We do not perform surgery.*
