Starbismus vs. Duane's Syndrome

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Whay is it that if Duane's syndrome is considered a starbismus problem. Why Glasses wouldn't be a treatment for duane's syndrome. even a non prescription pair to help you try to focus better. My daughter has duane's syndrome type 1. But her eye does move sometimes, and sometimes it doesn't. I was thinking at least glasses would give her a goal to try and focus on.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[Bgirl36]

Glasses do help Duane's syndrome.  My son has glasses with prisms that help him focus without turning or tilting his head.  He turns his head so he doesn't get double vision when he's looking at something. The eye doc started out with a very low "dose" or prescription of prisms and has had to increase some this year.  My son is eight now - was diagnosed when he was five.  The glasses do not cure the problem but they do help with the head turn.  Also, he has perfect vision otherwise.  

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

1. Strabismus is the generic word for eye muscle and alignment problems (think "cars") Duane's Syndrome is a specific type of strabismus (think "Honda")
2. Glasses are for eyes that out of focus due to far- near- sightness or astigmatism. Some Duane's have that others don't. Thus some will need glasses some won't
3. Glasses will not help the eyes move better

JCH MD