Squint is a condition when the eyes are not aligned and look in different directions.Although most common in infants and children, this condition can be experienced by anyone of all age groups.
Crossed eyes or in medical terms known as strabismus occurs due to impaired coordination of the muscles that move the eyeball. The disorder can make one eye look forward, while the other eye looks up, down, or sideways.
The misalignment of the eyes causes both eyes to be unable to focus on seeing the same object. If left untreated, a squint can cause a number of complications, and one of them is blindness.
Cross eye type
Based on the shift in the direction of the eye, crossed eyes are divided into several types as follows:
- Esotropia, which is a squint that shifts inwards
- Exotropia, which is a squint that shifts outwards
- Hypertropia, which is a squint that shifts up
- Hypotropia, i.e. squint eyes that shift downward
Causes of Squint Eyes
It is not clear what causes disorders in the eye muscles that trigger the occurrence of squint. However, there are several factors that can increase the risk of crossed eyes in children, including:
- Suffering from nearsightedness or farsightedness (plus eye)
- Suffering from astigmatism
- Suffering from cerebral palsy
- Having an infection, such as measles
- Have a family history of squint
- Having a genetic disorder, such as Down's syndrome
- Suffering from diabetes
- Suffering from retinoblastoma eye cancer
- Born prematurely
In contrast to children, factors that can increase the risk of cross-eye as an adult are:
- Experiencing botulism
- Have an eye or head injury
- Suffering a stroke
- Suffering from lazy eyes
- Suffering from Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Suffering from diabetes
- Suffering from Graves' disease
Squint Eye Symptoms
The following are the symptoms that can be experienced by people with squint:
- Eyes look out of alignment
- Ability to estimate the distance of an object decreased
- Double vision
- Both eyes don't move at the same time
- Tilts head when looking at something
- Frequent blinking or squinting
- Eyes feel tired
- Headache
When to go to the doctor
Immediately see a doctor if you or your child experience the symptoms mentioned above and include those who are at risk of suffering from a squint.
Children are not always able to express what they feel. Therefore, you need to be more sensitive to changes in children. Children who have vision problems can usually be recognized by frequently closing one eye or tilting their head when they see something.
Squint Eye Diagnosis
To diagnose a squint, the doctor will ask questions about the symptoms and complaints experienced by the patient, the patient's medical history, and the patient's family medical history. Next, the doctor will perform a physical examination of the eye.
The doctor will also perform the following series of follow-up examinations to confirm the diagnosis:
- Eye vision check, to determine visual acuity
- Corneal light reflex test, to determine eye disorders
- Retinal test, to check the condition of the back of the eye
- Eyes closed and open test, to measure movement and detect eye abnormalities
If a squint is accompanied by other symptoms, your doctor may perform an examination of your brain and nervous system to detect other possible conditions.
Newborns can have crossed eyes, but if the squint persists after the baby is 3 months and older, consult a doctor immediately.
Squint Eye Treatment
Squint eye treatment aims to align the eyes and improve visual acuity. The type of treatment given by the doctor will be adjusted to the cause and severity of the condition.
The following are some types of squint eye treatment:
- BlindfoldIf lazy eye occurs, the doctor will advise the patient to use an eye patch to cover the healthy eye. This is done to encourage the weaker eye muscles to work harder.
- EyeglassesThe use of glasses aims to treat crossed eyes caused by visual disturbances, such as nearsightedness.
- eye dropsEye drops, which contain atropine, are given to blur the vision of the stronger eye, so that both eyes have the same focus while making the weaker eye work harder. The effect of these eye drops is only temporary.
- Botox injectionsBotox injections are used to weaken the stronger eye muscles, thereby training the weak eye muscles. However, the effects of Botox usually only last less than 3 months.
- Eye exercisesExercises on the eyes are done so that the muscles that control eye movement can work better.
- OperationSurgery aims to tighten or relax the muscles that control eye movement. Sometimes, additional surgery is needed to fully align the eyes.
Squint Eye Complications
If not treated immediately, crossed eyes can cause several complications, namely:
- lazy eyes
- Blurred vision
- Permanent vision loss in one eye
Squint Eye Prevention
Cross eyes generally cannot be prevented. However, the prevention of cross eye complications can be done with early detection and appropriate treatment. Newborn babies should also always be monitored for eye health.