Quick answer
What is squint (strabismus)?
A squint (strabismus) is when the eyes point in different directions — one eye may turn in, out, up or down while the other looks ahead. It is common in young children and can also start in adulthood. Treatments include glasses, eye exercises, patching and, in some cases, surgery to straighten the eyes. Getting a child's squint checked early is important to protect their sight.
What is a squint?
A squint, or strabismus, is when the two eyes are not aligned and point in different directions. One eye may turn inwards, outwards, upwards or downwards while the other looks straight ahead. It may be there all the time or come and go, for example when a child is tired.
Squints in children
Squints are common in young children. Because a child’s vision is still developing, a squint can cause the brain to ignore the picture from the turning eye, leading to a lazy eye (amblyopia). This is why early assessment matters — treatment works best while vision is still developing.
Squints in adults
A squint can also begin in adult life. This sometimes causes double vision and can be a sign of an underlying problem with the eye muscles or nerves, so a new squint in an adult should always be checked.
Treatments
Treatment depends on the cause and the person. Options include:
- glasses to correct long-sightedness, which can resolve some squints
- patching or eye drops to strengthen a lazy eye
- eye exercises for certain types of squint
- squint (strabismus) surgery to adjust the eye muscles when other treatments are not enough
When to see a doctor
Have any squint in a child assessed, especially if it is constant or still present after about three months of age. Seek urgent help for a sudden squint or sudden double vision in an adult.
Common questions
- Will my child grow out of a squint?
- Newborn babies sometimes have eyes that briefly drift in the first few weeks. A squint that is still present after about three months, or one that is constant, should always be checked rather than waited out.
- Can adults develop a squint?
- Yes. A squint can appear in adulthood, sometimes causing double vision. A new or sudden squint in an adult should be assessed promptly to find the cause.
- Does a squint always need surgery?
- No. Many squints are managed with glasses, eye exercises or patching. Surgery is considered when these are not enough, or to improve the alignment and appearance of the eyes.
- Is a squint just a cosmetic problem?
- Not only. In children a squint can affect how vision develops and lead to a lazy eye, so treatment protects sight as well as appearance. In adults it can cause troublesome double vision.