 |
 |
 |
Squint is a misalignment
of the eyes where the two eyes are pointed in different
directions. This condition can happen at any age.
Causes
Squint or Strabismus is caused by misaligned eye muscle,
but the exact reason for the misalignment of eyes is not
completely understood. It may be a familial tendency.
A brain tumor, cataract and certain diseases such as cerebral
palsy, Down’s syndrome and Hydrocephalus are associated
with strabismus because of the brain controlling the eye
muscles.
There are two most common types of strabismus
|
|
 |
1. Esotropia (an
eye turns in, or cross eye)
Esotropia is the most common type of strabismus in infants.
Infants born with esotropia will not learn to use their
two eyes together. Another form of esotropia occurs in
children after age two caused by farsightedness. One eye
will turn in when the children look at near.
2. Exotropia (an eye turns out, or walleye)
Exotropia occurs when a child focuses at distant objects,
particularly, daydreaming, ill or tired that eye will
turn out to the side. Furthermore, exotropia also occurs
in elderly who has cataract one eye more than the other
eye.
Symptoms
The symptom of strabismus is an eye that is not straight.
Some youngsters will squint one eye in bright sunlight,
or have faulty depth perception. Some children adopt an
abnormal head position when they have a squint to try
to keep both eyes aligned.
Treatment
Early surgery is needed to
align the eyes for an infant or a child. The purpose is
to adjust the muscle tension on one or both eyes in order
to pull the eyes straight. It is more difficult to treat
strabismus as the child gets older. Furthermore, wearing
glasses for farsightedness reduces the need to focus and
straightens their eyes.
|
|
|
|
