What is Squint?
Squint is a misalignment of the eye where the two eyes are pointed towards different directions. The misalignment may be constant for a few, while it may be intermittently occurring for some others. The deviation of the eye may be in any direction – inward, outward, upward or downward. If the child is not treated at the appropriate time, a condition called Amblyopia (lazy eyes ) occurs, which eventually leads to permanent loss of vision.
Causes of Squint
Heredity
Weakness of the eye muscles or problem with the nerves in the eye muscles
Your vision can be seriously affected due to cataract, glaucoma, corneal scars, optic nerve disease, refractive errors, tumors of the eye, retinal disease etc.
Injuries
Symptoms of Squint
One eye or both eyes point to different directions
Children can have defective vision in one eye or both eyes
Children with squint, sometimes close one eye in bright sunlight
Children sometimes experience double vision or confusion in visualization. Some children tilt or turn their head and face in a particular direction for using their eyes together.
Squint Treatment
Squint due to refractive errors are corrected by prescribing suitable spectacles. Amblyopia treated with occlusion therapy.
Surgical Treatment
Children are treated based upon the improvement in vision by spectacles correction and patching therapy. It may require to continue with the glasses to maintain clarity of vision.
In this surgery, the muscles are detached from their original insertion and shifted to a different spot. The amount of shift is based on the measurement done with special prisms.
Stay in the hospital is only for a day.
Children are treated based upon the improvement in vision by spectacles correction and patching therapy. It may require to continue with the glasses to maintain clarity of vision. After a surgery, patching therapy may be continued for some time. If squint is treated as early as possible, (preferably before 2 years of age), loss if vision can be prevented in children.
Squint is not a sign of good luck. It affects your child’s vision and appearance.
As the child grows older, it becomes more difficult to treat squint and regain the lost vision. However, cosmetically straightening the eye is possible at any age.
