Squint Eye Correction: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment For Squint Eye
Discover causes, symptoms, and treatment for squint eye correction. Learn how early intervention can improve vision, and alignment, and boost confidence effectively.
Written by Dr Shreya Sarkar
Last updated on 11th Mar, 2025
Squint eye, or strabismus, is a medical condition where the eyes fail to align properly. This misalignment leads one eye to focus in a different direction from the other. This optical condition hampers the daily life of the affected individual as he/she struggles with proper vision and depth perception. Additionally, it also affects the self-esteem and lowers the quality of life of the sufferers. Therefore, understanding this condition, its impact, and its cure is crucial to improving visual function and restoring confidence in individuals of all ages.
Causes of Squint Eye
There are congenital and acquired causes for squinting eyes. Some common causes include:
Genetic Factors: A child is at a higher risk of developing strabismus if one or both parents have the condition, highlighting the possibility of hereditary predisposition.
Neurological Conditions: Certain neurological disorders, such as cerebral palsy or Down syndrome, can increase the likelihood of strabismus by affecting the coordination and control of eye movements.
Eye Muscle Abnormalities: Dysfunction in the muscles or nerves controlling eye movement can result in misalignment, leading to strabismus.
Poor Vision in One Eye: Reduced vision in one eye can make it difficult for the weaker eye to maintain proper alignment, often causing it to turn inward or outward.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Common symptoms of squint eye include:
Visible Eye Misalignment: While one eye may turn inward, outward, upward, or downward, the other remains focused. This misalignment can be constant or intermittent.
Eye Fatigue: Prolonged focus on objects, particularly during activities like reading or using a digital screen, can strain the eyes, leading to a feeling of tiredness or heaviness.
Double Vision: Misalignment often causes the brain to perceive two different images from each eye, resulting in double vision. As a result, the affected individuals face difficulty combining the two pictures into a single, clear one.
Difficulty with Depth Perception: Strabismus can impair the ability to judge distances accurately, affecting everyday tasks such as driving, playing sports, or navigating uneven surfaces.
In terms of diagnosis, a comprehensive eye examination is required to understand the extent of the condition. This process assess the visual acuity, alignment and overall health of the eye muscles to determine the type and severity of the condition. Additionally, early diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and to prevent complications such as amblyopia (lazy eye).
Types of Squint Eye
Squints can be categorised based on the direction of the patient's eye movement. Below are the 4 different types of squints:
Esotropia: When one eye is directed towards the nose, it is known as an esotropia.
Exotropia: When one eye turns in the outward direction, the condition is called an exotropia.
Hypertropia: When one eye turns upward at times, it is referred to as hypertropia.
Hypotropia: When one eye turns downwards, it is referred to as hypotropia.
Treatment Options
The treatment for squint eye involves different methods. Some of the most prevalent ones are –
Eyeglasses and Contact Lenses: Eyeglasses and contact lenses can treat one of the root causes of squint eye, refractive errors such as near-sightedness or farsightedness. The right eyewear helps improve focus and decrease eye strain, which also helps in improving alignment. Additionally, in some cases, special prism lenses may be required to correct the eye alignment.
Vision Therapy: Vision therapy is a non-invasive procedure that combines specially prescribed activities for the improvement of muscle strength and coordination of the eyes. It is sometimes used for mild to moderate squint eye and tailored to fit the patient. Vision therapy works well under the professional supervision of an optometrist.
Surgical Intervention: Surgery is considered when other treatments do not help rectify a squint eye. In this process, specific eye muscles are rearranged and adjusted to achieve proper alignment.
Consult Top Ophthalmologists For Squint Eye Treatment Options
The Surgical Procedure for Squint Eye Correction
The surgical process of correcting the squint eye involves three phases. Here are the details –
Preoperative Preparations
Prior to the surgery, a comprehensive eye exam is conducted to check vision, eye alignment, and the current health of the eyes. The surgeon will also review the patient’s medical history, allergies to specific medications, and smoking and drinking habits to avoid any undue complications. This preoperative phase also includes stopping regular medications and fasting before the surgery.
Surgical Techniques
There are two main techniques used in squint eye surgery:
Recession: This entails moving the eye muscle backwards to reduce its effect and misalignment.
Resection: A section of the eye muscle is excised to strengthen the muscle for proper alignment.
These procedures are done on one or more eye muscles depending on the type and extent of squint in the eye.
Postoperative Care
Most commonly, individuals can leave the hospital on the same day after the surgery is done. Mild swelling, redness, and discomfort are the usual side effects which can be controlled with proper medications. It is recommended that patients avoid any form of contact that can harm the eyes. Also, they need to make follow-up appointments to assess the progress of the surgery and decide the future course of treatment.
Risks and Complications of Surgery
While squint eye surgery is generally safe, there are some potential risks and complications:
Infection and Inflammation: Postoperative infections and inflammations are rare, but they can be treated with antibiotics.
Overcorrection or Under-Correction: At times, one may develop complications that lead to overcorrection, where the eyes become misaligned in the opposite direction, or under-correction, where the eyes do not align fully. Such occurrences may require another procedure to be conducted.
Scarring: Scarring is rare but possible. In some cases, it might influence the movement or alignment of the eyes. This will demand further treatment.
Double Vision: Double vision is a temporary problem that gradually goes away after surgery.
Limitations on Eye Movement: After surgery, some patients experience trouble with their eye movements. But it improves with regular therapy.
Dry Eyes or Irritation: A few people may develop dry eyes or a burning feeling in their eyes after the surgery is done. This is normally a temporary condition and can be treated by the use of eye drops, which help lubricate the eyes.
Success Rates and Long-Term Prognosis
Squint eye surgery generally has a high success rate. Most patients can see a remarkable change. However, the overall outcome mainly depends on the patient’s compliance with the advice given and subsequent follow-up appointments.
Several factors can influence the success of squint eye surgery:
Age: Young patients often experience better outcomes.
Type and Severity of Squint: The severity and the duration of the disorder influence the potential results.
Surgical Technique: The choice of the particular surgery technique is a major determinant of the results.
Postoperative Care: Postoperative care plays an important role in the surgery's success.
Follow-Up and Rehabilitation: Follow-up visits are critical in assessing the recovery and ensuring proper alignment. Rehabilitation, including vision therapy, also stimulates progress.
Non-Surgical Alternatives
The non-surgical alternatives to cure this problem are:
Use of Prisms: To relieve symptoms of double vision, a particular type of glasses called prism glasses can be useful. They are a temporary solution to the mild squint eye. However, they will not correct the fundamental problem of muscle alignment.
Botox Injections: Botox injections can be used to relax particular eye muscles, reduce misalignment and improve coordination. As an alternative to surgery, botox is normally used for moderate squints.
Conclusion
To conclude, squint eye correction is a transformative process that changes life. Besides improving vision, it also boosts self-esteem and elevates the quality of life of the sufferers. However, the process of recovery starts with a thorough understanding of the condition and seeking timely medical intervention. With multiple treatment options, surgical and otherwise, individuals can now overcome this condition without any worries and enjoy clear vision.
Consult Top Ophthalmologists For Squint Eye Treatment Options
Dr. S Venkateswaran
Ophthalmologist
35 Years • MBBS, PGD (OPTHALMOLOGY)
Tiruvannamalai
Shiva Eye And General Hospital, Tiruvannamalai
Dr. Syed Saifullah Bokhari
Ophthalmologist
4 Years • MBBS, MS(Ophthalmology)
Bengaluru
Vasan Eye Care, Bengaluru
Dr. Balakrishna Balaka
Ophthalmologist
6 Years • MBBS, MS Ophthalmology
Visakhapatnam
Balakrishna eye clinic, Visakhapatnam
Dr. Kakarla Roopa
Ophthalmologist
3 Years • MBBS MS Ophthalmology
Tirupati
Anna Gowri Hospital, Tirupati
Dr. Jyoti Dhaka
Ophthalmologist
9 Years • MBBS, Dip in (OPHTHALMOLOGY),DNB (OPHTHALMOLOGY)
Jhujhunu
Dr.Jyoti Dhaka Eye Clinic, Jhujhunu
(25+ Patients)
