A squint is medically known as strabismus, a condition where one eye wanders either inwards or outwards, upwards or downwards, and may not work in coordination with the other eye. The quality of vision and stereopsis can be affected. This misalignment can be constant or intermittent, affecting either eye or alternating between them. It often leads to symptoms such as head tilting, blurred vision, double vision, or, in severe cases, even vision loss. Squints can sometimes indicate more serious underlying issues, such as undetected cataracts or other abnormalities including retinal detachment, intra-ocular pathology. This is especially true for children who suffer from squints who could have a developmental retinal disorder or tumour.
Treatment for strabismus includes a comprehensive ophthalmic and orthoptic assessment by that involves an orthoptist and medical consultation to diagnose the type and severity. Options range from non-surgical methods such as eye exercises, glasses and prisms to squint surgery.
Squint surgery involves delicately moving the eye muscles and reattaching them, sometimes with adjustable sutures for post-surgical refinement. Post-surgery care includes antibiotic steroid drops, with a success rate of around 80% and follow-up visits with the orthoptist and ophthalmologist to monitor progress.