Introduction to Squint and Pediatric Surgery

There are many different types of squint and pediatric Surgery, but they all have one common goal: to improve the alignment of the eyes. This can be done for cosmetic reasons, to improve vision, or to correct an anatomic problem.

The most common type of squint surgery is called strabismus surgery. This operation is performed on children and adults who have misaligned eyes. The procedure involves making minor cuts in the muscles that control eye movement. These cuts weaken the muscles and allow them to be repositioned to align the eyes better.

Another type of squint surgery is called AESCulizer surgery. This operation is used to treat a particular type of strabismus called AESCulizer syndrome. AESCulizer syndrome occurs when the extraocular muscles are not appropriately attached to the eyeball. In this procedure, the surgeon incurs the tissue around the eyeball and reattaches the muscles to the eyeball.

Pediatric surgeons also treat other conditions affecting eye alignments, such as amblyopia (lazy eye) and ptosis (drooping eyelid). Amblyopia is treated with patching therapy, in which an adhesive patch is placed over the stronger eye to force the weaker eye to work harder. Ptosis surgery involves correcting the eyelid’s position to not droop down over the look and obscure vision.

What is a Squint?

A squint, or strabismus, is a condition in which the eyes are not aligned properly. This can cause one eye to turn in (esotropia), out (exotropia), up (hypertropia) or down (hypotropia). Squints can be constant or intermittent and can occur in any direction.

Squints can be caused by several factors, including refractive error, where the eye does not focus light correctly on the retina; muscle imbalance, where there is unequal tension on the extraocular muscles; nerve palsy, where there is damage to the nerves that supply the extraocular muscles; and some genetic conditions.

Most children with squints will require Surgery to correct the alignment of their eyes. This is usually done as a day case procedure under general anaesthetic. The type of Surgery will depend on the cause and severity of the squint.

What Causes a Squint in Children?

A squint, also called strabismus, is a condition in which the eyes don’t align properly. One eye may look straight ahead while the other turns in, out, or up or down. Squints can occur at any age but are most common in infants and young children. The causes of squints are varied and often unknown. However, they can be caused by a combination of factors, including:

• Genetics: A family history of squints increases the likelihood of a child developing one.
• Neurological conditions: Cerebral palsy or Down syndrome can cause squints.
• Premature birth: Children born prematurely are more likely to develop squints.
• Refractive error: This is when the eye can’t focus light properly, which can lead to a squint.

Types of Squint

• Congenital squint is where the eye condition is present from birth. It tends to run in families, so if you have a squint, there’s a good chance your children will too.

• Acquired squint – this is where the eye condition develops later in life, often due to an injury or another medical condition such as Graves’ disease. Both types of squint can be treated with Surgery. The kind of Surgery will depend on the severity of the squint and other factors, such as the patient’s age.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Squint

Most squints can be diagnosed with a comprehensive eye examination. If a child has a squint, the eyes will not move in the same direction when trying to look at an object. One eye may turn in (congenital esotropia) or out (congenital exotropia). The amount of turning can range from mild to severe. A mild squint may only be detectable by an eye care professional using special instruments. A moderate or severe squint is usually easy for parents to detect.

A complete ophthalmologic evaluation is necessary to diagnose and treat a squint. This should include cover testing, which assesses how well the eyes move when covered alternately; determination of the refractive state of each eye; assessment of ocular motility; and examination of the fundus with dilated pupils. Once the type and severity of the squint have been determined, treatment can be planned.

In some cases, glasses may be all needed to correct a small-angle squint. If glasses do not fix the problem adequately, Surgery may be recommended. Surgery aims to align the eyes to work together as a team. This usually results in improved binocular vision and cosmesis. Surgery can be performed on one or both eyes, depending on the type and severity of the squint.