A squint (also known as a strabismus) is a condition that arises because of an incorrect balance of the muscles that move the eye, faulty nerve signals to the eye muscles. If these are out of balance, the eye may turn in, turn out  or sometimes turn up or down, preventing the eyes from working properly together.

Squint can occur at any age. If treatment is needed, the sooner it is started the better the results.

Causes of squint -

• Congenital
• Hereditary
• Due to Refractive Error
• Due to eye injury or eye disease
• Due to nerve/ brain disease

Types of squint - 

The squint may be manifest, called 'tropia' or latent, called 'phoria'.

Esotropia - one eye is turned inwards. Commonly called, Crossed Eye.

Exotropia -one eye is  turned outwards. Commonly called, Wall Eye.

Hypotropia - one eye is directed downwards.

Hypertropia -one eye is directed upwards.

The squint may be intermittently present or may be constant. A squint can become more obvious at the end of the day, when the eyes are tired.
  
Management/Treatment

Treatment varies accordingly to the type of squint. An operation is not always needed. The main forms of treatment are:

Spectacles - to correct any sight problems, especially long sight.

• Occlusion - patching the good eye to encourage the weaker eye to be used. This is usually done under the supervision of an orthoptist.
• Eye drops - certain types of squint can be treated with the use of special eye drops.
• Surgery - this is used with congenital squints, together with other forms of treatment in older children, if needed. Surgery can be performed as early as a few months of age.