A clinical condition in which both the eyes do not align properly is called squint, or strabismus One of the eyes turns inwards, upwards, downwards, or outwards, while the other one focuses at one spot. When the muscles that control the movement of the eye and the eyelid do not work together, such a phenomenon happens. Thus, both the eyes do not look at the same spot at the same time. It can also happen because a disorder in the brain means that the eyes cannot correctly coordinate. Strabismus also makes binocular vision difficult hence making it very difficult for a person to appreciate depth perception.
There are different types of strabismus. They can be described by the cause or by the way the eye turns.The following terms describe strabismus by the positions of the eye:
An early diagnosis of strabismus will enable more effective treatment. While treatment up to the age of 6 years is believed to be most effective, strabismus can be treated at any time.
Squint in the eye is quite obvious from an early age in life. One can observe that one of the eyes does not look straight ahead. However, minor squint may be less noticeable. If a child has one eye closed or turns their head when looking at you, this could be a sign of double vision and a possible squint. It is a good idea to visit a Paediatric Ophthalmologist. Strabismus is normally either present at birth or it develops in the first 6 months after birth.
Squint, when left untreated, can lead to amblyopia, or “lazy eye,” which is a condition in which the brain starts ignoring input from one of the eyes to avoid double vision. If there is poor vision in the affected eye, a child may benefit from wearing a patch over the other eye to encourage the vision to develop. In some adults, squint treated successfully in childhood returns later in adulthood. This may lead to double vision in the adult because, by that time, the brain has been trained to gather data from both eyes, so it cannot ignore one of them.
Before Squint Surgery
After Squint Surgery
Strabismus can be:
Other causes can be:
It is advisable that children should have routine eye checks as they develop. If there are any early signs of strabismus, the peadiatrician or physician should refer the child to a Paediatric Ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist will probably use eye drops to dilate the pupils before doing the Hirschberg test, or Hirschberg corneal reflex test, which is used to assess whether the patient has strabismus. The ophthalmologist shines a light in the eye and observes where the light reflects from the corneas.
If the eyes are well-aligned, the light will go to the center of both corneas. If it does not, the test can show whether the patient has exotropia, hypertropia, esotropia or hypotropia. Some people may have more than one tropia at the same time.
Prompt treatment reduces the risk of complications, such as amblyopia, or lazy eye. The younger the patient is, the more effective treatment is likely to be. Eye drops are one solution for certain types of squint.
Treatment options include:
If no other treatments are effective, then Surgery is used. Surgery can realign the eyes and restore proper binocular vision. During the surgery, the operating surgeon will move the muscle that connects to the eye to a new position. Sometimes both eyes need to be operated on to get the right balance.
Follow these steps:
Ensure a clearer and healthier vision for your child and prevent it from fading out at Arohi Eye Hospital by the most renowned Squint Specialist in Mumbai.
For an expert opinion on Child Eye check-up and Squint treatment in Mumbai, Call: +919820111315
MBBS, DNB in Ophthalmology
( Paediatric & Squint Specialist )
Expertise in: Paediatric & Squint Specialist
Dr Kruti Shah is a Pediatric Ophthalmologist and Strabismus Specialist.
She completed MBBS from MGM Medical College, Navi Mumbai (MUHS University) in 2010 and pursued a DNB in Ophthalmology from NAB Eye Hospital, Sangli in 2014.
She also completed a Fellowship in Paediatric Ophthalmology & Adult Strabismus from Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai in 2017.
She won a Gold medal for the best E-poster presentation in AAPOS – SPOSI joint international conference and has published papers in ophthalmic journals.