SQUINT TREATMEN
Overview A squint, also called strabismus, is where the eyes point in dierent directions. It's 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 it's 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: your child has a squint all the time your child is older than 3 months and has a squint that comes and goes – in babies younger than this, squints that come and go are common and are not usually a cause for concern you have any concerns about your child's vision – signs of a problem can include regularly turning their head to one side or keeping one eye closed when looking at things you develop a squint or double vision later in life 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:
Glasses – these can help if a squint is caused by a problem with your child's eyesight, such as long-sightedness. Eye exercises – exercises for the muscles that control eye movement may sometimes help the eyes work together better. Glasses – these can help if a squint is caused by a problem with your child's eyesight, such as long-sightedness. Eye exercises – exercises for the muscles that control eye movement may sometimes help the eyes work together better. 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
It's 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: Persistent blurred or double vision A lazy eye – where the brain starts to ignore signals coming from the aected eye, so your child does not develop normal eyesight Embarrassment or low self-esteem 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: Short-sightedness – difficulty seeing things that are far away Long-sightedness – difficulty seeing nearby objects Astigmatism – where the front of the eye is unevenly curved, causing blurred Rarer causes of a squint include: Some infections, such as measles Some genetic conditions or syndromes, such as down's syndrome Developmental delays Cerebral palsy
Causes of squints 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.
What happens during squint surgery The exact cause of a squint is not always known. Some people are bothe eye is held open using an instrument called a lid speculum – sometimes it may be necessary to operate on both eyes to get the alignment right. The surgeon detaches part of the muscle connected to the eye and moves it into a new position so that the eyes point in the same direction. The muscles are fixed in their new position with dissolvable stitches – these are hidden behind the eye so you will not be able to see them afterwards.
What happens during squint surgery You may experience some of the following side effects: Eye pain – this tends to last at least a few days and often feels like grit or sand in the eye; taking simple painkillers such as paracetamol can help, although children under 16 should not be given aspirin Red eyes – this can last for a couple of months; you may also have blood in your tears for a day or two Itchy eyes – this is caused by the stitches and it may last a few weeks until they dissolve; try not to rub your eyes Double vision – this usually passes after a week or so, but can last longer You'll be asked to attend visits with an eye specialist after surgery. Contact your Doctor if you have any severe or lasting side effects from surgery.