A squint, also called strabismus, means the eyes do not consistently point in the same direction. In some children, misalignment can interfere with visual development, so an eye-care assessment helps determine whether treatment is needed.
Clear information to help you prepare for a conversation with an eye-care professional.
✳ Care explained with context
A clearer place to start
Understand the concern. Choose your next step.
Use this guide to learn what may be assessed and what questions to raise. It is educational information, not a diagnosis.
The guide
Squint (Strabismus): Causes and Treatment Options for Children & Adults
01
What a squint does
When the eyes are misaligned, each sends a different image to the brain. In children the brain may suppress one image, causing amblyopia (lazy eye); in adults, new squint usually causes double vision.
02
Causes
Childhood squint relates to focusing effort, refractive error or nerve-muscle control. Adult-onset squint can follow nerve palsy, injury, thyroid eye disease or decompensation of a childhood tendency.
03
Treatment ladder
Glasses for any refractive cause are step one. Patching or atropine drops treat associated lazy eye. Eye-muscle surgery aligns the eyes when appropriate; timing matters most in children.
04
Adult squint
Adults with double vision need evaluation for underlying causes; many acquired squints can be improved with prisms, botulinum toxin or surgery.
!
Do not wait
Please seek urgent assessment if you have
Sudden squint with double vision in an adult
Squint following head injury
These symptoms may need urgent care. Contact the hospital to check availability; if you cannot promptly reach an eye-care team, go to the nearest emergency service.
These answers are a starting point. Your clinician can advise based on an examination.
Does squint surgery improve vision?+
Surgery aligns the eyes; vision itself improves when lazy eye is treated with glasses/patching. Both goals are planned together.
Is squint surgery safe?+
Every operation has potential risks and benefits. Ask the surgeon which risks apply to the proposed procedure and your child or your own eye examination.
Jain Eye Hospital & Laser Centre
A clear next step starts with a conversation.
Book an appointment or contact the hospital if you need help planning your visit.
