Uniocular strabismus is a medical condition that affects one eye's alignment and leads to double vision. The word is spelled as /juːnɪˈɒkjʊlər strəˈbɪzməs/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The "u" at the beginning is pronounced as in "you," while "i" makes the sound of "ih." "Oc" is pronounced as "ok," and the "u" in "ocular" is pronounced as in "under." "Strabismus" is spelled as it sounds, with emphasis on the second syllable. This medical term can be hard to spell and pronounce, but it is essential to know for anyone dealing with visual issues.
Uniocular strabismus, also known as monocular strabismus or heterotropia, is a medical condition characterized by the misalignment of one eye with respect to the other. It is a form of strabismus that involves the deviation of only one eye, while the other eye maintains correct alignment.
This condition occurs due to an imbalance in the extraocular muscles responsible for controlling the movement of the eyes. The misaligned eye can deviate in various directions, such as inward (esotropia), outward (exotropia), upward (hypertropia), or downward (hypotropia).
Uniocular strabismus can be caused by several factors, including muscle weakness or paralysis, damage to the nerves controlling the eye muscles, or refractive error. It can also be a result of neurological conditions, such as stroke or brain injury.
The misalignment of the eye can lead to visual disturbances and amblyopia (lazy eye) if left untreated, as the brain may suppress the input from the deviated eye to avoid double vision. Therefore, early detection and appropriate treatment are essential to prevent long-term vision problems.
Treatment options for uniocular strabismus include the use of corrective lenses, patching the stronger eye to force the weaker eye to work, and vision therapy exercises to improve eye muscle coordination. In more severe cases, surgery may be recommended to realign the eye muscles and restore binocular vision.
See squint.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "uniocular strabismus" is a combination of two different terms: "uniocular" and "strabismus".
1. Uniocular: The term "uniocular" is derived from the Latin word "unus", meaning "one", and "oculus", meaning "eye". It refers to something related to or affecting only one eye.
2. Strabismus: The term "strabismus" is derived from the Greek word "strabismos", which means "squinting". It is a medical condition characterized by the misalignment of the eyes, where they are not properly coordinated in looking at the same object.
Therefore, the etymology of "uniocular strabismus" suggests a condition where only one eye shows misalignment or squinting.