A squint is a misalignment of the eyes. This can be horizontal or vertical or both. Squints happen in both adults and children. Some of the symptoms of a squint include double vision, and ‘eyestrain’. In children, the squint may be noticed by parents or teachers. There are many causes of a squint.
In children, it is mostly due to an eye muscle imbalance, although it can also be from a weak or damaged nerve that supplies an eye muscle (a paralytic squint). Squints can also be caused by tight or restricted muscles around the eye.
In adults, a squint may have been present since childhood (congenital), but can also be from a cranial nerve palsy (a paralytic squint).
Squints are treated by one or a combination of glasses, prisms, botulinum toxin (injected into eye muscle), and squint surgery.