Squint is a common eye disorder, the patients of which are often labelled cross-eyed. The scientific name for squint is Strabismus, or hypertropia relayed by Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM), stating that if strabismus is not corrected on time, it can lead to amblyopia, or lazy eye, ‘a condition in which the brain starts to ignore signals sent by the weaker, misaligned eye that leads to vision problems.’
Squint is the most common eye disorder in children, shared the Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH), which affects 2-4% of the population, which makes it crucial for people to be aware of this condition. To achieve the same, the team of OnlyMyHealth spoke to scientist Dr N Soumittra, Disease Head, Ophthalmology, MedGenome, to create awareness about the precautions and treatment associated with strabismus.
Strabismus Treatment
“Generally speaking, you should start the treatment of squint as soon as possible, ideally before the child crosses 2-4 years of age,” recommended Dr Soumittra. “It is extremely crucial that you get the treatment as early as possible to prevent permanent vision problems. Adults can also receive treatment for squint correction, but the approach will differ in that scenario,” she added.
Stating that the squint correction is dependent on factors including the type and severity of the condition, the age of the patient, and the underlying illnesses, she listed some treatment methods:
- For squints caused by near-sightedness or far-sightedness, prescription eyeglasses are the best course of treatment.
- Eye exercises supervised by a specialist can help to improve eye coordination.
- In the case of small squints, prism lenses are usually recommended to align the eyes.
- Patch therapy, in which the stronger eye is covered to enable the weaker eye to develop, can also be beneficial.
- Injecting Botox into the eye muscles can help improve alignment when other treatments prove ineffective.
- In the case of chronic strabismus, surgical correction may be necessary.
Preventing Ambylopia
Dr Soumittra shared that usually, the best course of action for correcting a squint is following a combination of the therapies mentioned above. Reiterating her original statement, she said, “Early intervention is crucial, particularly for children, as they tend to respond more effectively to treatment.”
“Regular follow-up appointments and ongoing eye care are essential to monitor progress and maintain proper eye alignment,” she concluded.
Also Read: Eyes Do Not Align Properly? Expert Explains Squint Eyes, Its Causes And Treatment Measures
In conclusion, the treatment of squint to prevent amblyopia depends on the type and severity of the squint. If the squint is detected early, non-surgical methods like eye exercises and vision therapy can be extremely helpful to improve eye alignment and coordination. However, for more severe or long-standing squints, surgery is often the most effective way to achieve proper alignment.