Squint is a misalignment of the two eyes so that both the eyes are not looking in the same direction. That is, when one eye looks straight ahead the other eye is pointing inwards, outward, up or down. This condition is also known as crossed-eyes or strabismus.
Strabismus can occur at any age, but is most common in infants and young children. Most squints develop sometime in the first three years of life. Some develop in older children and adults. Squints that develop in children usually have different causes to squints that develop in adults. In some cases of childhood squint (and most cases of adult squint) the squint occurs because of a disorder of the eye, eye muscles, brain or nerves.
Angle of squint
A concomitant squint means that the angle (degree) of the squint is always the same in every direction that you look. That is, the two eyes move well, all the muscles are working, but the two eyes are always out of alignment by the same amount no matter which way you look.
An incomitant squint means that the angle of squint can vary. For example, when you look to the left, there may be no squint and the eyes are aligned. But when you look to the right, one eye may not move as far and the eyes are then not aligned.
Treatment
Constant strabismus at any age or intermittent strabismus that persists beyond 3 months of age usually needs prompt referral to an ophthalmologist.
Treatment typically involves the following:
- Treating amblyopia (visual loss) if this is present.
- Wearing glasses to correct any refractive error, if this is present
- Surgery is often needed to correct the appearance of the squint itself, and may help to restore binocular vision in some cases.
- Forcing a child to use the weaker eye can improve sight by reinforcing the connection between the eye and the brain.
