SQUINT

A squint is where one eye turns inward or outward from its normal position while the other eye looks forward. Squints are common in young children, but they can occur at any age. It's also not uncommon for a squint to come and go, or even return. There are various types of squints and they can occur in isolation or in combination. It can be caused by an issue with the muscles in the eye, or by other factors, including trauma, tumors, and birth defects. Treatment is usually recommended to correct a squint, as it’s unlikely to get better on its own and it could cause further problems if not treated early on.

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Treatment of Squint 

Squints are often treated with glasses, but they can also be treated with eye exercises, surgery and injections. The aim of treatment is to make the eyes line up and work together properly. Available treatment options for squint are as below -

• Glasses – these can help if a squint is caused by a problem with your child's eyesight, such as long-sightedness.

• Eye exercises – these can help if your child has a squint that's caused by a problem with the eye muscles, such as a misalignment of the eyes.

• Surgery – this involves moving the muscles that control eye movement so the eyes line up correctly. This can sometimes be done by removing part of the muscle (or even the whole muscle) and then reattaching the muscle elsewhere in the body. If your child's squint is caused by a problem with the eyes (such as short-sightedness), glasses may not be able to fully correct it. Surgery may be recommended if glasses don't help. You can learn more about squint surgery.

• Injections into the eye muscles – these weaken the eye muscles, which can help the eyes line up better. But the effect usually lasts only about 3 months.