Esophoria

[Chris20]

My daughter is 4.5 years old, a middle child of 3 and has recently been diagnosed with esophoria. She is currently seeing a speech therapist for 1.5 years and has progressed well.  She is also prone to regular fits (i.e. 1 to 3 x a day) where she becomes irrational and changes her demands.  My wife and I are currently planning to have her see a behavoralist.  Are these issues commonly associted with esophoria?

Furtheremore, I understand that typically young children out grow esophoria, it this true?

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

1. Your daughter does not have a "constant esophoria" there is no such thing. An esophoria is latent (shows up only when eye covered and/or fusion broken). What she has is an esotrophia.
2. You don't mention her age but it is not likely her depth perception will improve with surgery. this does not mean she will be awkward or poor in sports. Indeed there have been many one eyed Olympians and professional athletes.
3. Improving cosmetic appearance is huge especially in a female.
4. Her perhpheral vision may improve some.

JCH MD

[Aliceman]

My daughter has a constant esophoria and her unaided vision is R and L 6/6 at disiance and near. Cover test certainly shows the eso though she can do NPC to her nose. Motility revealed a hyper on adduction in boith the right and left, otherwise it appeared normal. Her depth perception is poor. Internal proved difficult as very sensitive to light. Her eye doctor suggests her to have surgery to align her eye for better function. I would like to know other than cosmetic appearance, will her depth perception be improved after the surgery? What other function will be improved by the surgery? Thanks!

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

Esophoria (a tendency for the eyes to cross that is controled by the fusion reflex) is exceedingly common and does not normally cause problems, doesn't normally need any treatment and isnot associated with any of your daughters health and development problems.

JCH MD