Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes don't point in the same direction, also called "squint." It occurs in between 2% and 5% of all children, both boys and girls, and sometimes runs in families. About half of affected children are born with the condition, which causes one or both eyes to turn:

• Inward (crossed eyes)
• Outward (wall eyes)
• Upward (hypertropia)
• Downward (hypotropia).

Crossed eyes are the most common type of strabismus in infants. One type of this problem develops in children under age 2 who cross their eyes when focusing on nearby objects. This usually happens to children who are moderately to extremely farsighted. Another common form of strabismus (wall eyes), may only be noticeable when a child daydreams, looks at far-away objects, or is tired or sick.

Sometimes the eye turn is always in the same eye, but sometimes the turn alternates from one eye to the other...