What is Squint Eye?
Squint eye, medically known as strabismus, is a condition where the eyeballs point in different directions. Most of the time, this condition is observed in children. The misalignment of the eyes happens when there is an issue with the movement of the eye muscles, causing the eye to turn inward, outward, upward, or downward.
A common misconception is that squint eyes cannot be corrected and are a permanent condition. However, there are several surgical and non-surgical options available to treat squint eyes at any age. The intent of this guide is to debunk such myths and help you understand everything about squint eyes, from their causes to the cost of surgery.
Causes of Squint Eye
Several factors contribute to the development of squint eyes. Here is a list of different causes responsible for strabismus:
- A major cause of squint eye is congenital factors, wherein a baby has a squint eye due to developmental issues during pregnancy. Such issues can arise due to the abnormal formation of eye muscles or the nerve supply connecting the eye to the brain.
- Individuals with a family history of squint eye are more likely to develop the condition due to genetic predisposition, which may involve the inheritance of abnormalities in visual pathways or eye muscles.
- In many cases, brain or eye injuries or trauma can result in the misalignment of the eye, leading to strabismus. Such injuries may affect the visual cortex, resulting in sudden squint eyes.
- Approximately six muscles need to work in coordination to maintain the alignment of the eyes. The inability of these muscles to function properly due to improper nerve signaling can cause squinted eyes.
- Many people struggle with refractive errors or vision correction problems, where the eye cannot focus light properly. The extra effort required to focus light on the retina can trigger excessive convergence of the eye, leading to strabismus.
- Sometimes, neurological conditions such as tumors or cerebral palsy can interfere with the coordination between the eye and the brain, leading to nerve damage responsible for eye alignment.
Benefits of Squint Eye Surgery
Squint eye surgery is a wonderful procedure which gives very good results when performed by experienced and skilled surgeons. Here’s a list of benefits that squint eye surgery offers:
- Helps in correcting the alignment of the eye
- Helps in elevating appearance hence boosts confidence
- Helps in enhancing the perception of depth
- Helps in reduction of strain on the eyes
- Helps in prevention of lazy eye in children
- Improve psychological well-being of people
- Enhances the ability to use both eyes together or binocular vision
Potential Risks of Squint Eye Surgery
Like other surgical procedures, squint eye surgery carries its fair share of risks, which include:
- Redness and slight swelling around the eyes
- Under-correction or over-correction
- Bacterial infection at the surgical site
- Issues with double vision
- Scarring of the eye tissues
- Damage to surrounding eye tissues
What are Different Treatment Options for Squint Eye?
Different treatment options are available for squint eye before opting for surgical means. These include:
- Many ophthalmologists prescribe glasses to reduce the strain on eye muscles. Based on the type of squint, bifocal lenses or progressive lenses may also be recommended for some patients.
- Various ortho-optic exercises are available to improve binocular vision and strengthen the coordination of eye muscles. These may include convergence exercises, divergence exercises, and focus-shifting exercises, which are performed daily for several months to stimulate the brain’s visual processing centers and improve nerve signals to the eye muscles.
- In many cases, doctors also prescribe wearing eye patches to cover the dominant eye so that the weaker eye can be stimulated, thereby strengthening the signals to the eye muscles.
- Temporarily weakening the overactive eye muscles can also be achieved using botulinum toxin injections or botox.
- Different surgical treatments are available for different people depending on the severity and type of squint. For squint correction, recession and resection procedures are used to detach the overactive eye muscles and reattach them for better alignment. In addition to that, adjustable suture surgery is also used for fine-tuning the alignment of the eyes. Other procedures, such as posterior fixation sutures and muscle transposition procedures, are also used for repositioning the eye muscles.
As the world’s fourth JCI-certified eye hospital, Grewal Eye Clinic has established a strong reputation for quality and excellence in treating eye disorders such as squint eye surgery using advanced technologies.
Who Should Undergo Squint Eye Surgery?
The following criteria make people ideal candidates for squint eye surgery:
- People with persistent squint eyes that are not corrected by glasses
- People experiencing excessive pain in the head or headaches caused by misalignment
- People seeking cosmetic improvement to correct the misalignment of the eyes
- People with squint eyes that affect visual development
- People experiencing double vision due to squint eye
To ensure functional and aesthetic success, this surgery is performed by a skilled and experienced ophthalmologist. Being one of the top clinics in Chandigarh, Grewal Eye Clinic offers high-quality and effective treatments and surgeries for squint eyes under the expert guidance of a team of best eye doctors.
What is the Cost of Squint Eye Surgery in India?
The cost of squint eye surgery in India can vary depending on several factors, including:
- Clinic and surgeon expertise
- Technology used, such as conventional or femtosecond laser technology
- Comprehensive eye evaluations conducted before surgery
- Location and credibility of the clinic
- Hospital facilities and availability of different amenities
- Surgeon’s reputation, which may result in higher consultation and surgical fees
- Extent of vision correction, which may vary based on prescription differences
- Post-operative care, including follow-up visits, medications, and recovery support
- Insurance coverage and available discounts
- Personalized corrections and enhancements based on individual needs
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is possible to correct strabismus when the condition is detected early and the condition is relatively small. Non-surgical options include correction glasses, eye exercises, etc.
The squint eye surgery is considered quite effective. The success rate depends on the type of squint, age of patient, treatment option, and squint angle.
Most patients can return to normal activities within 1-2 weeks, though complete healing may take several weeks.
Yes, there are slight chances of recurrence of strabismus which may require additional treatment.