About squints or strabismus
Children with squints have eyes that seem to look in different directions. This is usually because their eyes aren’t working together.
Newborn babies can get squints that happen only occasionally. This usually sorts itself out when babies gain more muscle control, usually by about 2 months of age.
Sometimes children get squints later in childhood. Theses squints might happen occasionally at first and then become more constant over time. Older children usually don’t grow out of squints.
Some squints in children are caused by long-sightedness.
Rare causes of a squint can include a cataract in one eye or problems with the retina.
Premature babies or babies who have low birth weight commonly have squints. And eye problems like squints also tend to run in families.
A squint is also known as strabismus or ‘turned eye’.
Symptoms of a squint or strabismus
If your child has a squint, the eye with the squint might turn in towards the nose or outwards. Less commonly, the eye can turn upwards or downwards.
In general, squints become more obvious when children:
- are doing close activities like reading
- are tired or unwell
- have been outdoors.
The squint might also change depending on how much your child is concentrating.
A squint can lead to vision problems, particularly in young children. For example, your child might see double, or your child’s brain might ‘turn off’ one of their eyes to avoid double vision. If your child’s eye turns off constantly, it can lead to a lazy eye or amblyopia.
All children should have an eye test before they start preschool, when they’re 3½-5 years old. Most states and territories run free vision screening programs through local child and family health services or schools. Check with your child and family health nurse, kindergarten, child care centre or school about what’s offered in your area.
Medical help: when to get it for children and teenagers with squints
If your child is over 2 months and you notice they have a squint or you’re worried about your child’s vision, start by seeing your GP, optometrist or child and family health nurse. They might refer your child to an ophthalmologist for more tests and checks.
Tests for squints or strabismus
If your child goes to an optometrist or ophthalmologist about a squint, this professional will carefully examine your child’s eyes and test their vision. This is to diagnose the problem and work out what’s causing it.
Squint diagnosis involves various tests and tools. For example, the optometrist or ophthalmologist:
- will check your child’s vision using an eye chart that has letters or symbols on it
- might use medicine like eye drops to look into the back of your child’s eyes
- might use equipment like a retinoscope.
Treatment for a squint or strabismus
Early squint treatment leads to better outcomes for children.
Squint treatment aims to give good vision in both eyes, as well as straightening the eyes. But treatment depends on the cause of the squint.
Your child might need to wear glasses, particularly if their squint is caused by long-sightedness.
Sometimes the optometrist or ophthalmologist will recommend that your child regularly wears an eye patch. This can improve vision in the weaker eye. It can also help older children who’ve recently developed a squint and are having trouble with double vision.
Your child might need surgery to weaken or strengthen the eye muscles.
Your eye specialist might also work closely with an orthoptist to manage your child’s squint.