Our eyes are moved by six muscles called ocular muscles. Two muscles move the eye up and down, two more move the eye left and right, and two more move the eye to rotate. When eye muscles are working properly, our eyes can keep a single point of focus. However, when ocular muscle activity is impaired, the eyes do not move together. The medical term for this is strabismus or squint. It is possible for the squint (Misalignment) to be horizontal, divergent (outward), or convergent (inward) (Up or Down). Brain disorders can occasionally cause squinting. Binocular vision is also affected by squinting, which makes it difficult for someone to comprehend the stereopsis, or depth or distance, of an object.
Causes of Strabismus or Eye Squinting
Types of Squint:
• A condition that a person is born with is referred to be innate. premature infants who have an eye tumour or retinal damage.
• Hereditary: When a disorder, such as Down syndrome, is connected to or associated with a certain gene.
• Six ocular muscles have problems being regulated and functioning properly, which leads to squinting. This illness could be brought on by any form of issue with the nerves and brain areas that control the extraocular muscles.
• Several eye conditions, including myopia, hypermetropia, and astigmatism. Brain tumors, hydrocephalus, and cerebral palsy are a few more diseases that might contribute to squinting (fluid in the brain).
• Squinting can be a symptom of some viral diseases, such as measles.
Squint prevention
Early detection and diagnosis are essential. The child’s eyes must be checked between the ages of three months and three years. If glasses are required, they should be prescribed as soon as possible. Before the age of three months, an infant with a family history of amblyopia should have their eyesight examined. The retina, the corneal light reflex, and vision should all be tested in order to diagnose squint eye.
Treatment of the squint eye
Squint issues like lazy or amblyopic eyes can be avoided if it is correctly recognized and treated. Treatment for squints is necessary since they can harm a person’s career and confidence. Depending on the severity of the squint, the patient, and the type of squint, many treatment methods for strabismus are taken into consideration.
Treatment options for squints
Treatment or a squint usually involves some or all of the following:
• Treatment for lazy eyes ( amblyopia)
• Use corrective lenses to address refractive problems in one or both eyes.
Squint in children must be treated properly.
Vision, the need for glasses (if you have refractive error), and a thorough eye exam are all required. Up until adulthood, the strength of the glasses and the level of squinting will be measured. With eyeglasses, any squint that still exists must be surgically fixed. Treatment for the lazy eye includes patching or occluding the healthy eye, as well as Orthoptek exercises, a recent discovery in Macula stimulation (the best-seeing part of the eye). While the patch is on, this will assist eyes with impaired vision in focusing on visual tasks like reading and color recognition.
ALSO READ:
What is Posterior vitreous detachment?
Diabetic retinopathy- cause, symptoms, and treatment
