Squint Eye:
A recent study estimated that horizontal strabismus affects 1.81% of the global population, or about 138.5 million people.
- Squint Eye is medically known as strabismus.
- It is a condition in which the two eyes do not align properly.
- It can affect children and adults and, when it develops during childhood, can interfere with the normal development of vision.
- In this condition one eye may turn inwards towards the nose (esotropia), outwards (exotropia), upwards or downwards, while the other eye remains focused on an object.
- Strabismus occurs when the systems that control eye movement and alignment do not work properly together.
- Genetic factors can play a role, and children with a family history of strabismus are at higher risk.
- It is also more common in children with certain neurological or developmental conditions. Being born prematurely or with low birth weight are recognised risk factors.
- In adults, strabismus can develop due to conditions such as diabetes, thyroid eye disease, stroke, neurological disorders or trauma.
- Treatment: Glasses are often the first treatment when a refractive error contributes to the misalignment. Surgery may be needed when glasses and other treatments do not adequately correct the misalignment.
