The work of John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) Professor and Clinical Chair of Ophthalmology Malcolm Ing, MD, was featured this week on KITV-4 News. Dr. Ing, as the news station reported, is the “go-to” eye surgeon for parents hoping to correct esotropia, the medical condition that causes two to three percent of infants every year to be born with eyes that look “crossed.”
The problem is far more significant than just how the child’s eyes look, however. It actually affects the child’s ability to see using both eyes working together, providing overlapping vision that allows for depth perception. For example, the condition can cause a child to move dangerously, or avoid moving at all, because he or she might not safely navigate the space ahead.
FAST FACT: Most health insurance plans cover procedures to correct “crossed eyes”, because it’s important for a child’s safety to have good eyesight. The surgery is BEST performed before the age of two.
Dr. Ing has completed nearly 6,000 surgeries to correct esotropia. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed scholarly articles about his work, and has taught medical students throughout his long career.
