A squint, also known as strabismus, is a condition in which the eyes are not aligned properly and point in different directions. One eye may look straight while the other turns inward, outward, upward, or downward. Squint can occur in children as well as adults and may affect vision, depth perception, confidence, and quality of life.
At Surgisafe Eye & Squint Clinic, Dr. Divya Wakodkar Tomar specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric and adult squint using the latest evidence-based approaches.
Squint can develop due to several reasons, including:
Weak or imbalanced eye muscles
Uncorrected refractive error (especially high farsightedness)
Poor vision in one eye (lazy eye/amblyopia)
Nerve palsy affecting eye muscles
Trauma or head injury
Neurological disorders
Thyroid eye disease
Congenital (present since birth) causes
Sometimes, the exact cause may not be identifiable.
Eyes that are not looking in the same direction
One eye turning inward, outward, upward, or downward
Closing one eye in bright sunlight
Tilting or turning the head to see clearly
Double vision (more common in adults)
Poor depth perception
Frequent eye strain or headaches
Difficulty focusing while reading
Children may not complain because their brain can suppress the image from one eye.
Esotropia – Eye turns inward.
Exotropia – Eye turns outward.
Hypertropia – Eye turns upward.
Hypotropia – Eye turns downward.
Intermittent Squint – Occurs only occasionally.
Constant Squint – Present all the time.
If a squint develops during childhood and is left untreated, the brain may ignore the image from the misaligned eye, leading to amblyopia (lazy eye) and permanent reduction in vision.
Early diagnosis helps preserve vision, improve binocular vision, restore depth perception, and achieve better cosmetic outcomes.
A detailed eye examination includes:
Vision assessment
Cycloplegic (dilated) refraction
Eye alignment measurement
Eye movement examination
Binocular vision and stereopsis testing
Assessment for lazy eye
Complete eye health evaluation
Additional tests may be advised when required.
