Exotropia
Exotropia is a type of squint, which is also known as strabismus and as heterotropia. A squint is an abnormal alignment of the eyes.
Exotropia is a divergent squint, meaning that one or both eyes are turned outwards - away from the nose.
There are several forms (classifications) of exotropia, including:
- Congenital Exotropia - meaning exotropia that has been present since birth.
- Intermittent Exotropia - as may occur in children.
- Secondary Exotropia - accomodative, or non-accomodative.
- Consecutive Exotropia - such as post-surgery for esotropia (which is the form of squint in which the eye/s are directed abnormally inward).
Exotropia can usually be treated. Management depends on the particular case. Examination may involve an ophthalmoscopy (a non-surgical, non-invasive procedure).
For comparison:
Terms used to refer to the main forms of squint include:
- Horizontal: Convergent Strabismus (also called Esotropia)
- Horizontal: Divergent Strabismus (also called Exotropia)
- Vertical: Hypertropia (an eye looks upwards)
- Vertical: Hypotropia (an eye looks downwards)
- Eyes twisted clockwise or anticlockwise relative to each other: Cyclotropia.
More about Ophthalmology:
This section includes short definitions
of many diseases, disorders, and conditions of the eyes and visual system.
For definitions of other terms in this category, choose from the list
to the left (but note that this is not a complete/exhaustive list).
Other related pages include
- A diagram of the eye
- Definitions and descriptions of the parts of the eye
- A concise description of the human retina
- Definitions of parts of the retina
- Clinical and surgical procedures re. eyes and human visual system
For further information see also our pages of books about ophthalmology.
The following books may also be of interest:
