Squint

Overview

Normally, visual axis of the two eyes are parallel to each other in the primary position of gaze and this alignment is maintained in all positions of gaze. A misalignment of the visual axes of the two eyes is called squint or strabismus. This condition can happen at any age. It may run in families, but most patients with strabismus have no relatives with the similar problem.

Signs and Symptoms

Ocular deviation, Refractive error, Head tilting to focus better, Closing one eye to prevent double vision (in children)

Common Causes

Heredity, Weakness of the eye muscles or pathology in the nerves of the eye muscles, Blurred or poor vision caused due to cataract, corneal scar, Glaucoma, optic nerve disease, tumours of the eye, Injuries

Risk Factors

Heredity, Weakness of the eye muscles or pathology in the nerves of the eye muscles, Blurred or poor vision caused due to cataract, corneal scar, Glaucoma, Severe refractive errors, optic nerve disease, tumours of the eye, Injuries

Investigation Techniques

Eye examination, Cover test, Simultaneous prism and cover test (SPCT), Uncover test (UCT), Alternate prism cover test (APCT), MRI brain

Treatment and Prevention

Eye glasses , Eye exercises for the eye muscles, Patching makes the weaker eye work harder so that eye muscles and vision get stronger, Injections into the eye muscles these weaken the eye muscles which can help the eyes line up better, Eye alignment surgery