• Squint & Strabismus
• Refractive error
• Glasses for children
• Lazy eye (amblyopia)
• Treatment of amblyopia/lazy eye in children
• Surgery in children
• Orthoptic exercises in children

A squint is a condition in which the eyes are not straight. In most cases, one eye appears to look straight ahead, while the other eye turns inwards, outwards, upwards or downwards.

A child may need glasses if they are long-sighted (hypermetropic), short-sighted (myopic) or have astigmatism in one or both eyes.

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Long-sighted (hypermetropic)

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Astigmatism occurs when the shape of the eye is more like that of a ‘rugby ball’ than that of a ‘football’? Sight is blurred unless the astigmatism is corrected by glasses.

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Glasses will correct the refractive error and enable a clear image to be formed on the retina. In certain types of squint, glasses may straighten the eyes and surgery for the squint is not necessary.

Visual development occurs rapidly in the early years of life and continues until approximately 7 - 8 years of age. If the back of the eye and the brain do not receive a clear focused image during this time of visual development, the child’s vision will be reduced. Hence the term ‘lazy eye’. Amblyopia does not affect educational achievement etc BMJ.

• symptoms
• causes
• diagnosis
• treatment
• complications

Amblyopia is treated by patching (occlusion) of the good eye. As a result, the weaker eye is encouraged to work harder, and visual activities such as colouring, reading, and drawing are helpful while the patch is worn.

Occlusion (sometimes called 'patching') is helpful in younger children, but is not so effective over 5y.