What is lateral strabismus?

Lateral strabismus, also known as exotropia, is a condition where one or both eyes deviate outward, away from the nose. This misalignment results in an eye that is turned more towards the side of the head than is normal, creating a noticeable appearance of the eyes not being properly aligned.

The manifestation of this condition can lead to double vision or difficulties with depth perception as the brain struggles to coordinate the input from both eyes. Understanding this term is key in fields related to ophthalmology and vision therapy, as it emphasizes the importance of eye alignment for optimal visual function.

In contrast, the other options describe different eye conditions or movements. Medial eye deviation refers to strabismus where the eye turns inward towards the nose, excessive blinking is generally related to other conditions like blepharitis or stress, and involuntary eye movement pertains to terms like nystagmus, which is distinctly different from the types of strabismus. Thus, the characterization of lateral strabismus specifically aligns with the definition of outward eye deviation.