Squint A squint, also called strabismus, is where the eyes point in different directions. Its particularly common in young children, but can occur at any age. One of the eyes may turn in, out, up or down while the other eye looks ahead. This may happen all the time or it may come and go. Treatment is usually recommended to correct a squint, as its unlikely to get better on its own and it could cause further problems if not treated early on. When to get medical advice Get advice if:
A GP, health visitor or local opticians service can refer you to an eye specialist for some simple tests and treatment if necessary. Treatments and surgery for a squint The main treatments for a squint are:
If your child has a lazy eye as a result of their squint it may need to be treated first. Treatment for a lazy eye usually involves wearing a patch over the unaffected eye to help improve vision in the affected eye. Problems that can occur if a squint is not treated Its important not to ignore a squint that happens all the time or occurs after 3 months of age. It could lead to further problems if left untreated, such as:
Surgery can help improve the alignment of the eyes even if a squint has been left untreated for a long time, but any vision problems may be permanent if they are not treated at a young age. Causes of squints The exact cause of a squint is not always known. Some people are born with a squint and others develop one later in life. Sometimes they run in families. In children, a squint is often caused by the eye attempting to overcome a vision problem, such as:
Rarer causes of a squint include:
A squint can also sometimes be a symptom of a rare type of childhood eye cancer called retinoblastoma. Take your child to see a GP if they have a squint to rule out this condition. BestCareCompare | ||||||
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