Introduction to Squint and Pediatric Surgery

A squint, or strabismus, is a condition in which the eyes are not aligned properly. This can cause one eye to turn in (esotropia), out (exotropia), up (hypertropia) or down (hypotropia). Squints can be constant or intermittent and can occur in any direction.

Squints can be caused by several factors, including refractive error, where the eye does not focus light correctly on the retina; muscle imbalance, where there is unequal tension on the extraocular muscles; nerve palsy, where there is damage to the nerves that supply the extraocular muscles; and some genetic conditions.

Most children with squints will require Surgery to correct the alignment of their eyes. This is usually done as a day case procedure under general anaesthetic. The type of Surgery will depend on the cause and severity of the squint.