{"id":3745,"date":"2026-08-26T18:29:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T16:29:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/?post_type=glossary&#038;p=3745"},"modified":"2026-08-26T18:46:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T16:46:04","slug":"monofixation-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"glossary","link":"https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/en\/glossar\/monofixation-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"Monofixation Syndrome"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Monofixation syndrome is a particular form of eye alignment disorder in which the eyes are almost straight, a small degree of depth perception is present, but one eye shows mild reduced vision (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/en\/glossar\/amblyopia\/\">amblyopia<\/a>). It is a frequently encountered condition that can arise spontaneously or appear as the result of successful squint treatment.<\/p>\n<h2>What does monofixation mean?<\/h2>\n<p>In normal binocular vision both eyes fixate the same point simultaneously, and the brain fuses the two images into a single three-dimensional impression. In monofixation syndrome, by contrast, only one eye fixates the viewed point sharply, while the other eye looks in a similar direction but \"sees\" the point with a small deviation. The brain suppresses the central image of the weaker eye within a small area, but uses the peripheral fields of both eyes for a limited form of depth perception.<\/p>\n<h2>Causes<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Primary monofixation syndrome:<\/strong> arises without any identifiable cause, already in early childhood<\/li>\n<li><strong>Secondary monofixation syndrome:<\/strong> develops after squint surgery, when the eyes are not quite perfectly aligned, or as a consequence of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/en\/glossar\/anisometropia\/\">anisometropia<\/a> (differing refractive power of the two eyes)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Characteristics<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The eye misalignment is small (often only a few degrees) and is barely noticeable from the outside<\/li>\n<li>One eye has slightly reduced visual acuity<\/li>\n<li>Depth perception is limited, but present<\/li>\n<li>Peripheral fusion works, whereas central fusion does not do so completely<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Diagnosis<\/h2>\n<p>Diagnosis requires a careful orthoptic examination. Special tests such as the Worth four-dot test or the Bagolini striated glass test show that the brain suppresses the central image of one eye while the peripheral images are merged. A cover test can reveal a small eye deviation (microtropia).<\/p>\n<h2>Treatment<\/h2>\n<p>Many of those affected need no treatment, since the eye position is cosmetically unremarkable and vision is sufficient for everyday life. In certain cases the following measures can be useful:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Correction with glasses:<\/strong> to compensate for an underlying refractive error<\/li>\n<li><strong>Amblyopia therapy:<\/strong> if the reduced vision of the weaker eye is more pronounced, occlusion treatment (patching) or atropine penalisation can improve visual acuity<\/li>\n<li><strong>Prism lenses:<\/strong> for troublesome double vision in particular situations<\/li>\n<li><strong>Eye muscle surgery:<\/strong> only where there is a marked deviation that is cosmetically or functionally disturbing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Prognosis<\/h2>\n<p>Monofixation syndrome is a stable condition and is often regarded in ophthalmology as a good functional result after squint treatment. Those affected have depth perception that serves them well in daily life and usually manage without restrictions. Regular <a href=\"https:\/\/www.first-sight.ch\/en\/angebot\/visit-to-the-pediatric-ophthalmologist\/\">ophthalmological check-ups<\/a>, particularly during childhood, ensure that amblyopia is treated in good time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Monofixation syndrome is a particular form of eye alignment disorder in which the eyes are almost straight, a small degree of depth perception is present, but one eye shows mild reduced vision (amblyopia). It is a frequently encountered condition that can arise spontaneously or appear as the result of successful squint treatment. What does monofixation [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_wpce_doc":"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","inline_featured_image":false,"fo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