Squint (Strabismus) in Children and Adults: Causes and Treatment
Strabismus, or squint, occurs when the eyes don't align properly. Here's what causes it in children and adults, and the treatment options available today.
What Is Strabismus (Squint)?
Strabismus, commonly known as squint, is a condition where the eyes are not properly aligned with each other. One eye may turn inward (esotropia), outward (exotropia), upward (hypertropia), or downward (hypotropia) while the other eye focuses normally. This misalignment can be constant or intermittent.
Causes of Squint
- In children: Often related to problems with eye muscle control, significant refractive errors (especially farsightedness), or family history.
- In adults: Can result from nerve damage, stroke, head trauma, thyroid eye disease, diabetes, or decompensation of a squint present since childhood.
- Genetic factors — squint often runs in families
Why Early Treatment Matters in Children
In children, the brain can learn to ignore (suppress) input from the misaligned eye to avoid double vision. Over time, this can lead to amblyopia (lazy eye), where vision in the suppressed eye fails to develop properly. The visual system is most adaptable before age 7-8, making early detection and treatment critical during this window.
Symptoms in Adults
- Double vision (diplopia)
- Eye strain or fatigue
- Difficulty with depth perception
- Head tilting to compensate for misalignment
- A noticeably crossed or wandering eye
Diagnosis
Diagnosis involves a comprehensive eye exam including assessment of eye alignment and movement, visual acuity testing, and sometimes tests to measure the degree of misalignment and binocular vision function.
Treatment Options
- Glasses: Correcting underlying refractive errors can sometimes fully correct certain types of squint, especially in children.
- Eye patching or atropine drops: Used to treat associated amblyopia by forcing the brain to use the weaker eye.
- Vision therapy: Eye exercises to improve coordination between the two eyes in certain cases.
- Prism lenses: Help manage double vision in some adult cases.
- Eye muscle surgery: Adjusts the muscles controlling eye position to realign the eyes; safe and commonly performed in both children and adults.
- Botulinum toxin injections: A temporary, non-surgical option used in certain cases to weaken an overactive eye muscle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my child outgrow squint?
Some intermittent squints in very young infants can resolve on their own, but a persistent squint beyond a few months of age requires evaluation and typically does not resolve without treatment.
Is squint surgery only cosmetic?
No. While improved appearance is a benefit, squint surgery primarily aims to restore proper eye alignment, improve binocular vision, and in children, prevent or treat amblyopia.
Concerned about your eyes?
Book a comprehensive eye check-up with Dr. Sailli Gulavanii at Drishyam Netralaya.
Schedule Your Visit on WhatsAppDisclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified ophthalmologist for diagnosis and treatment tailored to your condition.