She mostly keeps to herself, but we love seeing her make a public appearance every now and then.
Read on to discover more about this rare condition and how Louise managed to overcome it.
What exactly is esotropia?
When a person has esotropia, these muscles and nerves don’t work in tandem.
This is what causes one or both eyes to turn inward.
There are various types of misalignment, which collectively fall under the umbrella term strabismus.
Esotropia is only one of these conditions and can affect one or both eyes.
For some, their esotropia might come and go, while others experience it permanently,Medical News Todayreports.
Symptoms might also present when the person is sick or tired.
She had to be born via an emergency caesarian section and only weighed 4 pounds 9 ounces.
Her mother Sophie, Countess of Wessex, almost died from excessive blood loss.
It is thought that Louise’s esotropia was a result of her premature birth.
“Louise was born with a squint.
People have called it exotropia.
It wasn’t ever exotropia that has been incorrect” (via Express).
Hello!reports that Louise first underwent surgery to correct her sight when she was only 18 months old.
This was likely because her esotropia was pretty severe.
She underwent a quick, 30-minute procedure, but unfortunately, the surgery wasn’t successful.
“It takes time to correct it.
Her esotropia didn’t keep Louise from living her life, however.
She still managed to do well in school and even took up horseback riding.
This time, the surgery was successful.
Infantile esotropia refers to esotropia diagnosed in children who are 1 year old or younger.
Acquired esotropia, on the other hand, refers to esotropia that develops later in a person’s life.
It’s typically triggered by other issues like being farsighted or having diabetes.
People with acquired esotropia typically deal with double vision.
According toWebMD, some people develop intermittent esotropia.
This means that the eyes sometimes struggle to cooperate together, making it challenging to focus.
This can lead to additional issues like struggling to read, headaches, and eye strain.
People who are farsighted and don’t wear corrective lenses often develop accommodative esotropia as a result.
Being born prematurely is another common cause of esotropia.
Issues with the eye’s optic nerve or retina can also lead to esotropia.
There are other ways to recognize that you might be dealing with this condition, however.
TheUT Southwestern Medical Centernotes that the most common symptom people with adult-onset esotropia experience is double vision.
Additionally, they might notice that their range of vision becomes smaller.
Experiencing blurry vision is also common.
You might also find that your depth perception starts to decrease.
In the case of children, however, symptoms are often not as obvious at least not to them.
How is esotropia diagnosed?
Typically, your visit will kick off with a discussion of your medical and family history.
The UT Southwestern Medical Center explains that the vision test consists of reading an eye chart.
A motor sensory exam will be conducted after the vision test.
This exam includes an extraocular muscle movement evaluation and an ocular alignment test.
You’ll also undergo Cycloplegic refraction tests.
They might also test how your pupils dilate to gauge whether your eye’s internal structures are functioning properly.
The difference lies in how it’s treated treatment varies depending on the patient’s age.
The esotropia can be intermittent or constant.
Experts can pick up any irregularities before they become a problem.
The earlier esotropia is detected, the sooner it can be treated to prevent any complications like vision loss.
In many cases, severe esotropia in children will be corrected through surgery.
Experiencing double vision is usually the first telltale sign.
Unlike children, adults who develop esotropia usually don’t require surgery.
Undergoing eye therapy or getting prescription glasses typically helps clear up the problem.
If esotropia is severe, a doctor will likely recommend surgery to correct the condition.
It’s not a common treatment option for adults, though there may be exceptions.
Surgery focuses on lengthening the muscles surrounding the eyes, which then helps to straighten them.
Another common treatment option is prescription glasses.
They can work to correct farsightedness and help to align the eyes correctly.
Another simple treatment is eye exercises.
This can result in improved alignment.
Some doctors prescribe eye drops and even ointments to help the eyes align properly.
Another, less common treatment is Botox injections.
This treatment option is only considered when the esotropia isn’t severe.
WebMD warns that forgoing treatment will only cause the condition to become worse over time.
They might also begin to complain of double vision and experience poor 3D vision.
It is vital that esotropia gets treated as soon as symptoms show up.
This is because esotropia which is left unchecked beyond the age of 9 can lead to permanent blindness.
If your newborn baby’s eyes seem to turn inward, chances are they may have esotropia.
The same rule applies if your child’s eyes start to look crossed after they sustain an injury.
