Squint

Squint, also known as strabismus, is a medical condition where the eyes are misaligned and point in different directions. This can cause the eyes to turn inward (esotropia), outward (exotropia), upward (hypertropia), or downward (hypotropia).

Causes

The causes of squint can be varied and include:

• Refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism
• Muscle imbalances in the eyes
• Nerve problems that affect eye movement
• Genetic conditions, such as congenital esotropia
• Injury to the brain or eye socket
• Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, or stroke

Symptoms

The symptoms of squint can include:

• Visible misalignment of the eyes
• Double vision (diplopia)
• Blurred vision
• Eye strain or fatigue
• Sensitivity to light
• Headaches

Types of Squint

There are several types of squint, including:

• Esotropia (crossed eyes): where one or both eyes turn inward
• Exotropia (wall-eyed): where one or both eyes turn outward
• Hypertropia: where one eye turns upward
• Hypotropia: where one eye turns downward
• Convergent squint: where the eyes turn inward when looking at a near object
• Divergent squint: where the eyes turn outward when looking at a far object

Treatment

Treatment for squint depends on the underlying cause and can include:

• Glasses or contact lenses to correct refractive errors
• Eye exercises (orthoptics) to improve eye alignment and coordination
• Surgery to repair or adjust the eye muscles
• Botox injections to relax the eye muscles
• Prism lenses to align the images seen by each eye

Complications

If left untreated, squint can lead to complications such as:

• Amblyopia (lazy eye): where the brain favors one eye over the other
• Depth perception problems
• Eyestrain and headaches
• Cosmetic concerns

Diagnosis

Squint is typically diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination, which may include:

• Visual acuity tests to assess vision clarity
• Cover tests to assess eye alignment
• Retinoscopy to assess refractive errors
• Ophthalmoscopy to examine the internal structures of the eyes