Squint
What Is Squint ?
A squint is a condition where a person’s eyes are not aligned properly – while one eye looks straight ahead, the other eye points in a different direction. This misalignment can be constant or intermittent.
Symptoms
If your child has any of the following symptoms, you should consult with a doctor as early as possible.
Crossed Eyes
Tilting of The Head While Looking
Uncoordinated Eye Movements
Double Vision
Difficulty in Reading
Hesitating to Participate in Sports
Stumbling while Walking
Complaining of Frequent Headaches
Causes of Squint/ Crossed Eyes
The exact cause of a squint is not always known.
There can be many reasons. Causes of squint can be::
- Congenital (a child may born with squint)
- Hereditary (running in families)
- Result of an illness (squint may also develop because of viral fever, measles, meningitis etc.)
- Refractive error , astigmatism or an injury
- Other conditions (Children with conditions such as cerebral palsy and Down syndrome may also be more prone to develop a squint)
Risk Factors
Factors associated with an increased risk of Squint include:
- Premature birth
- Small size of baby at birth
- Family history of lazy eye
- Developmental disability in the child
What Happens If Left Untreated
It’s important not to ignore a squint. It could lead to further problems if left untreated:
- The patient may suffer from double vision.
- Squinting of eyes may become permanent.
- The child will not develop normal eyesight
- The patient will suffer from embarrassment or low self-esteem.
Treatment Option
It’s important to start treatment for lazy eye as soon as possible in childhood.
- The doctor may suggest eye exercises for the treatment of the squint depending on the condition of the eye.
- If the patient suffers from squint due to refractive error or astigmatism, the doctor may suggest eyeglasses.
- The doctor may suggest a surgery depending on the eye condition.
- Wearing an eye patch over your dominant eye can help strengthen your weaker eye. The doctor may suggest the patient using an eye patch on the dominant eye.