Title: Abnormal Head Position - American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus
Headings: Abnormal Head Position
Abnormal Head Position
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What is an abnormal head posture?
What are some of the ocular causes of an abnormal head position?
Can my child see when the head is in an abnormal position?
Can a longstanding head turn lead to any permanent problems?
What are some of the non-ocular causes of an abnormal head position?
Are there any treatments for abnormal head postures?
Updated 04/2021
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Content: 1) Eye misalignment: Sometimes when a person has a crossed eye, the amount of eye misalignment varies with different gaze positions. The person will typically place his or her head in a position where the eyes are best aligned. This will help to eliminate double vision and/or relieve eye strain. For example, if a superior oblique muscle is weak ( such as in a fourth nerve palsy) a person will tilt the head away from the affected eye because the eyes are most straight in this position. Similarly, a sixth nerve palsy results in a weakened lateral rectus muscle and a face turn toward the affected eye. Sometimes the eyes are straighter in up or down gaze and a person will tilt the head up or down depending on where the eyes are best aligned. Other causes of abnormal head posture from strabismus include Duane’s syndrome, Brown’s syndrome, orbital wall fractures, and restricted eye movement associated with thyroid eye disease. 2) Nystagmus: Some patients with nystagmus (jerky eye movements) will acquire a head turn or tilt if the nystagmus slows down with a certain head position.