Squint

What is a squint

If both eyes do not point in the same direction, you have a squint. Inward turning eyes, called a convergent squint or ‘cross eyes’ usually occur in young children. A divergent squint, when the eyes turn outwards, is less common.

If your child has a squint, an orthoptist who is specially trained to monitor children’s vision will test the sight and movements in each eye. Often the squinting eye has poor vision.

Some long-sighted children with cross eyes may have their squint completely or partially corrected with glasses.

Eye Examination for Squint

Eye drops will be put into your child’s eyes on the day of the test to widen the pupils and paralyse the focussing muscles inside the eye. Your child’s vision will be blurred during this period and for a few days after. The optometrist will perform the sight test for glasses. The ophthalmologist will then examine the eye to check that the lens, the retina and the optic nerve are normal.

We have comprehensive children's and orthoptic services at our iSIGHT clinics.

If your child has been diagnosed with a squint, it will be managed or treated by one or more of:

• Glasses
• Surgery
• Patching

 

For further information please contact us

or call 0845 602 2517