What is squint (strabismus)?
Strabismus is caused by a lack of coordination between the eyes, causing the eyes to point in different directions. The eyes do not focus simultaneously on a single point. Most cases of strabismus in children are of unknown cause. More than half are present at or shortly after birth (congenital strabismus). Strabismus in children is frequently associated with amblyopia, or lazy eye. Children with esotropia, or eyes turning in, are often farsighted. Strabismus in children may also occur in cerebral palsy, or in children who have diminished vision from any other cause. Acquired strabismus in adults may result from injuries to the orbit or brain, including closed head injuries and strokes. Persons with diabetes often have loss of circulation to muscle which turns the eye outward, causing an acquired paralytic strabismus. Loss of vision in one eye from any cause will usually cause the eye to gradually turn outward (exotropia). A family history of the disease is a risk factor. Farsightednes
