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Squint · Strabismus
Squint (strabismus)
A squint is a misalignment of the eyes affecting children and adults. Miss Kasbekar assesses and treats squint with glasses, prisms, botulinum toxin and surgery — including complex and revision cases.
What is a squint?
A squint, known medically as strabismus, is a misalignment of the eyes: one eye may turn in, out, up or down while the other looks straight ahead. It can be constant or come and go, and it affects both children and adults.
Symptoms
- An eye that visibly turns or drifts
- Double vision (more common in adults)
- A child closing or covering one eye, or turning their head to look
- Eye strain or difficulty with depth perception
- Concerns about appearance and confidence
How it is assessed
Assessment includes a full eye examination and a detailed orthoptic assessment of eye alignment and movement. This identifies the type and size of the squint and whether it is affecting vision, so that the right treatment can be recommended.
Treatment options
Treatment is tailored to the individual and may include:
- Glasses to correct an underlying focusing error
- Prisms to help with double vision
- Botulinum toxin injections to rebalance the eye muscles in selected cases
- Eye muscle (squint) surgery, including adjustable-suture and revision techniques for more complex cases
Common questions
Can adults have squint surgery?
Yes. Squint surgery is effective for adults as well as children, whether the squint is longstanding or recent. It can improve alignment, relieve double vision and restore confidence.
Is squint surgery done under general anaesthetic?
It is usually performed as a day-case procedure. The anaesthetic approach is discussed with you beforehand and depends on your individual circumstances.
My child has a squint — is it urgent?
A new or constant squint in a child should always be assessed promptly, as it can affect the development of vision (amblyopia, or “lazy eye”). Early assessment gives the best outcomes.
This page provides general information and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Content is a first draft prepared for Miss Kasbekar’s review and will be refined with her clinical input.
Arrange an assessment
Appointments are available privately at The Park Hospital, Nottingham.