THE EYE IS
ATTACHED TO SIX MUSCLES
These muscles work together to control where we look. If they do not work in sync, a squint can result.
Squints affects about 1 in 20 children. Up until around three months of age, many babies occasionally squint as their vision is developing. It usually appears before the age of five, but can also begin later in childhood, or even during adulthood. Untreated, a child’s squint can lead to lazy eye, as the brain learns to ignore the signal sent by the weaker eye. If your child has a squint after this age you should consult your GP.
How to spot it - One eye looks straight ahead, while the other turns in, out, up or down. The brain receives two visual images as a result, so a person with a squint might experience blurred or double vision. A squint can be constant or intermittent and is usually detected during a routine eye examination. The eyes may cross when trying to focus on an object that’s near or far away. An outward-turning eye might be more pronounced with tiredness.
Treatment - A squint should be treated as early as possible. Glasses, eye exercises, patches, botulinum toxin injections or surgery can be used to treat squints. Contact your nearest Eye Care Professional if you or your child show symptoms.