Eye Muscles

Eye movements are controlled by eye muscles, much like reins control a horse’s head. There are six eye muscles attached to the outside of each eye, which control its movement. In each eye, two muscles move the eye to the right or left side; the other four muscles move the eye up or down, and control tilting movements. In order to line up and focus both eyes on a target, all eye muscles of each eye must be balanced and working together with the corresponding muscles of the opposite eye. When the eye muscles do not work together, then misalignment of the eyes or strabismus results.