Strabismus and Passport Photos: Understanding the Guidelines

Strabismus, also known as "crossed eyes," "squinting," or "strabismic gaze," is an eye condition in which the eyes do not align in the same direction.

Causes of strabismus can include high degrees of farsightedness or nearsightedness, excessively long eye muscles, or hereditary factors.

Types of Strabismus

There are two types of strabismus:

• Manifest strabismus: The visual axes of the eyes are not focused on the same point. If the eye deviates outward, it is called exotropia, while inward deviation is known as esotropia. Downward deviation is referred to as hypotropia, and upward deviation is termed hypertropia.
• Latent strabismus: The eyes align properly when both eyes are open. However, when one eye is covered, the covered eye assumes a resting position. This can involve outward deviation (exophoria), inward deviation (esophoria), or upward deviation (hyperphoria). Most individuals have a slight degree of exophoria.

Rules for Strabismus in Passport Photos

The guidelines for passport photos do not specifically address strabismus. However, the section on facial expression mentions the requirement of a neutral expression and looking directly into the camera. This poses a challenge for individuals with strabismus, as achieving perfect alignment may be difficult.

The discretion of the official reviewing the passport application plays a role in determining whether the expression is considered neutral. This evaluation is subjective. In practice, passport photos featuring individuals with strabismus are often accepted, even though it is not explicitly mentioned as an exception in the requirements.