Can squint be corrected? Types & treatments

Squint or strabismus is when the two eyes are misaligned where one eye is turned inside, outward, upward, or downward. Usually, this condition is caused by the extraocular muscles, the eye muscles that control the movement of the eyes, being unable to function together. It can also be caused by damage to the nervous system. Squint eyes are mostly a childhood eye problem but can also happen to adults due to trauma or lesion in the brain. Most squints in young children may be associated with weak eyesight while adults report double vision. The earlier the patient gets the treatment, the better and faster the results.

Types of squint

Based on the direction of deviation

Esotropia: One eye deviating
Exotropia: One eye deviating
Hypertropia: One eye deviating
Hypotropia: One eye deviating

Based on the duration of the squint

Constant squint – Squint that is always
Intermittent squint – Squint that occurs occasionally

Causes & risk factors of squint

Squint or strabismus can be congenital, meaning a person is born with it, or it can be hereditary. This condition can also happen due to other factors like having refractive errors or any other illnesses. Brain trauma or lesions in the cranial nerve can also cause this eye condition. The treatment for squint varies with the cause and age.

Treatment for squint

Eye exercises & vision therapy

Since most cases of squints are associated with weaker eye muscles, eye exercises are an effective way to correct mild squint conditions. Home bases pencil push-ups are a standard strabismus exercise.

Hold a pencil at arm’s length and focus on
Move the pencil closer to the nose while maintaining
Keep it moving till double vision
Hold the pencil at the closest point where you can see it as a single
When the image starts splitting, start
Do this 20 reps a day for 12 weeks and observe the

Many other eye exercises can help with squint. Your eye doctor will guide you to more if needed. These exercises are a cost-effective and organic way to fix the problem.

Eyeglasses & eye patches

If the squint is caused by refractive errors such as nearsightedness, longsightedness, or astigmatism, prescription eyeglasses may fix the problem. Prism eyeglasses are also prescribed for double vision caused by squint eye.

Eye patches are another way to train the weaker eye to perform better. The good eye is closed with a patch, and the patient is encouraged to do focus required activities such as coloring to improve performance in the weaker eye.

Surgery

Squint surgery is suggested when other treatment options fail to improve the condition. Your doctor will discuss the possibility of needing more than one surgery to correct the issue depending on the severity of deviation. It is a fine-tuning of the eye muscles, and it is not uncommon to require more than one surgery to fix squint eyes.

If you or any of your loved ones are living with squint eyes, our experts in squint treatment can help. There is no age limit to getting treated for squint eyes, and most patients get a good outcome from treatment. Fixing squint eyes is not just a cosmetic issue. It can give you better eyesight and better life quality!

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