Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1112467
BY AMY GEISZLER-JONES THERE IS A MY TH WHEN IT COMES TO ADULT STR ABISMUS, COMMONLY KNOWN A S BEING CROSS-E YED, SAYS MICHELE RIGGINS, MD, A BOARD-CERTIFIED NEURO-OPHTHALMOLOGIST WITH GRENE VISION GROUP IN WICHITA SINCE 2012. "THERE HA S BEEN a fallacy that surgery to correct adult strabismus is considered cosmetic surgery, but it's not because it's helpful to the patient," Dr. Riggins says. Correcting adult strabismus can impact a patient's quality of life — from being able to read, watch TV or even drive again to psychosocial benefits such as improved self-confidence, better relationships and better employability, studies have shown. Strabismus is diagnosed when the eyes aren't prop- erly aligned and point in differing directions, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmolog y. The condition occurs when there is an imbalance in the brain's signals to the six muscles attached to each eye that control how it moves. A neuro-ophthalmologist can help diagnose and determine an appropriate treatment protocol. Dr. Riggins is one of about 400 such board-certified neuro-ophthalmologists in the U.S. and the only one in Kansas outside of the Kansas City area. Dr. Riggins, who specializes in adult strabismus, sees about 30 patients a week who have misaligned vision, she estimates. She often sees patients who have been seen or referred by other physicians, such as primary care physicians, neurologists, neurosurgeons or other specialists, or optometrists, in the patient's search of a diagnosis. "My job is to figure out — if it hasn't been already — why they have this misalignment," she says. She also helps offer solutions. Don't Cross Off Surgery for Adult Strabismus Michele M. Riggins, MD, is a fellowship-trained neuro-ophthalmologist at Grene Vision Group. 1 0 1 0❱❱❱❱❱ O P H T H A L M O L O G Y C O R N E R