What Causes a Squint?

A squint, or by its other name a turn in the eye, is the situation in which the eyes are not aligned where they should be and point in various directions. It is generally known as the eyes looking in different directions. People with this problem can generally meet disturbances in their vision. Through various treatments and methods, these disturbances in the eyes can be removed within a short time. Where there is a turn in the eye, one of the pupils can look inwards, outwards, upwards or downwards. Appearing at any age, this condition is generally met more often after birth. Where a squint forms after birth, it can be diagnosed early. Where there is a turn in the eye, the person's vision is generally affected, because for a person to see the objects around them clearly both eyes need to see the same point. In this defect of vision the eye cannot focus, because it is looking at two different points at once.

What Are the Causes of a Squint?

The causes of a squint generally appear in many people at birth and during the years of growth. That means a person is born with a turn in the eye because of genetic factors. In some situations a turn in the eye can be met in later life. There are six muscles in the eyes that help them move and focus. One muscle is used to move the eye to the right and one to move it to the left. The other four allow it to move upwards, downwards and at an angle. In some people a turn in the eye arises as a result of these muscles being short or developing incorrectly. Alongside that, it can arise through a problem occurring in the nerves that carry information to the muscles or through a problem in the control centre in the brain. The other causes can be listed as follows:

• Diabetes
• Thyroid conditions
• Stroke
• Head injury
• Cerebral palsy
• Myasthenia gravis
• Cataract
• Premature birth
• Down syndrome
• Hydrocephalus
• Damage to the eye muscles

What Are the Symptoms of a Turn in the Eye?

The symptoms of a turn in the eye can appear in more than one form. Where the problem is present from birth, the symptoms generally begin to appear at three or four months of age. The most common symptom is eyes that cannot look at the same point and that are noticeable from the outside. With that symptom, the signs of a squint begin and check-ups with a doctor become necessary. The other symptoms are these:

• A sense of weakness in the eyes or around them
• The feeling that something is pulling around the eye
• Double vision
• Blurred vision
• Trouble focusing while reading or looking at something
• Lazy eye (amblyopia)
• Loss of depth perception
• Moving the head to the right, left, up or down in order to see clearly

In some situations the signs of a turn in the eye are met in children although no disturbance of vision occurs in the eyes. This can be called a false squint. In these people the eyes generally look as though they are misaligned, but the reflection of light falls in the same place in both eyes. No disturbance of vision is therefore experienced in these children. Where a true squint is not treated, however, problems such as headache, tiredness of the eyes and lazy eye appear.

What Are the Types of Squint?

Types of squint are classified by doctors as inward, outward or vertical. The type appearing most is the turning of the eyes inwards, known as esotropia. Esotropia has more than one variety of its own. They are:

• Accommodative esotropia: this generally occurs where a person's hyperopia is left untreated. The focusing system is a mechanism controlling where the eyes look. People with hyperopia have to make more effort in order to see images clearly. That causes the person to move their head constantly in order to see clearly, or to see double.
• Intermittent esotropia: this is the situation in which a person cannot coordinate the movements of their two eyes properly. In this kind of squint the person generally experiences symptoms such as headache, difficulty reading and tiredness of the eyes.

Although most turns in the eye are inward, outward turns can be met as well. In situations of that kind it takes the name exotropia. It is often possible to name which type of squint is present according to where the eyes focus.

How is a Squint Diagnosed?

A squint can generally be diagnosed through an examination by an ophthalmologist. Alongside that, the diagnosis can be made with alignment and focusing tests. Through the tests carried out, the specialist doctor can reach many conclusions, such as what type of squint it is, its degree and whether it can be treated.

How is a Squint Treated?

Treatment plans are generally drawn up for a person diagnosed with a squint as a result of their assessments. Where the diagnosis is early, treatment is generally carried out easily and within a short time. Treatment is carried out with glasses, prism lenses, vision therapy and squint surgery.

What is Squint Surgery?

Squint surgery, or eye muscle surgery, is one of the corrective treatments for a squint. The aim of the operation is to align the eye. With that alignment it is possible to improve vision and regain proper sight. In typical problems with a turn in the eye, the muscles around the person's eye are generally either too tight or too weak. According to the state of the eye, certain muscles around it can be loosened, tightened or moved. Once the muscles have been adjusted, a repositioning procedure is carried out so that the eyes point in the same direction. Repositioning can be carried out on a single eye and also where both eyes turn. Thanks to this operation a squint can be treated. What is the Macula?