Myopia Control and Children's Eyes
What is a squint in a child?
A squint is a misalignment where one eye turns in, out, up or down rather than pointing with the other. It may be constant or come and go, and is often more obvious when a child is tired. A squint needs assessment because it can lead to lazy eye and, rarely, signals a problem inside the eye that must be excluded.
Why early assessment matters
When the eyes point in different directions, the brain receives two images. In a young child it suppresses the image from the turning eye, and that eye's vision then fails to develop, which is amblyopia or lazy eye. Treated early, vision usually develops well. Left until the school years, the loss becomes harder and eventually impossible to reverse.
A squint that appears suddenly, or one with a poorly seeing eye, also needs examination of the retina and optic nerve, because a problem inside the eye can be the reason the eye has drifted.
Types parents may notice
- An eye turning inwards, which is the commonest pattern in young children
- An eye turning outwards, often intermittent and more obvious when tired or unwell
- A squint linked to significant long sightedness, which improves considerably with glasses
- An apparent squint caused by a wide nasal bridge in a baby, where the eyes are in fact aligned
- A sudden squint with double vision at any age, which needs prompt assessment
Treatment
- Glasses, which correct the underlying prescription and can straighten a squint caused by long sightedness
- Patching the stronger eye, or using drops to blur it, so the weaker eye is used and its vision develops
- Exercises for particular patterns of intermittent outward drift
- Surgery on the eye muscles to improve alignment, considered once vision has been treated, and sometimes needed more than once
What to expect
Treatment for lazy eye is measured in months and depends on consistent wear of glasses and patching. Surgery improves alignment and appearance and can help the eyes work together, but it does not by itself improve the vision of an amblyopic eye, and a further adjustment is sometimes needed. Realistic goals are set with you at the outset.
When to seek urgent assessment
- A squint appearing suddenly, especially with double vision, headache or a drooping lid, which needs urgent assessment
- A white or grey reflection in the pupil, or an eye that looks different in a flash photograph, which needs urgent assessment
- A squint with a red, painful eye or obvious loss of vision
Frequently asked questions
- Will my child grow out of a squint?
- A true squint does not simply resolve, and waiting risks lazy eye. Babies can have a false appearance of squint from a wide nasal bridge, which examination distinguishes.
- Is patching still used?
- Yes. Patching the better eye, or blurring it with drops, remains the main treatment for lazy eye, usually for a set number of hours a day over several months.
Concerned about these symptoms?
Arrange an eye examination with our consultant ophthalmologist in Garki, Abuja.