NCLEX Uworld Practice Test

Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes are not properly aligned and point in different directions relative to the object of focus. This misalignment means the visual axes do not meet at the same point, so one eye may turn inward, outward, upward, or downward. In common terms, this is often described as “crossed eyes,” which is why that option is the best answer. Strabismus can be present from birth or develop later in childhood or adulthood. If not corrected in childhood, one eye may be suppressed by the brain, leading to amblyopia and potential permanent vision loss. Therefore early detection and treatment are important, with approaches such as corrective lenses, patching the stronger eye, vision therapy, prisms, or surgery in some cases. Although diplopia (double vision) can occur when the misalignment is present, the defining feature is the eye misalignment itself, not the symptom of seeing two images. Color vision deficiency and cataracts are unrelated to eye alignment; color vision issues come from retinal/optic problems, and cataracts cloud the lens rather than misalign the eyes.