Vision conditions
Paediatric Strabimus (Squinting eye)
Strabismus occurs when one eye turns inward, outward, up, or down while the other eye looks straight ahead. It affects eye coordination and can lead to amblyopia if untreated during early childhood. Regular eye screenings help detect and manage it for proper binocular vision.
Why one eye wanders in children
Understanding eye misalignment
The brain coordinates six eye muscles to keep both eyes aligned on the same target. Strabismus develops when muscle imbalance, refractive error, or neurological factors cause one eye to drift. Constant misalignment prevents binocular vision development and risks permanent vision loss in the deviating eye.
Children under 6 — 2-4% prevalence
Strabismus affects about 1 in 30-50 preschool children, most commonly outward (exotropia) or inward deviation (esotropia) around 2-3 years old.
Untreated risk — Permanent amblyopia
Half of untreated cases develop lazy eye, with best treatment results before age 7 when brain plasticity allows binocular recovery.
Noticeable eye position changes
When to consider an eye evaluation
Recognizing the Symptoms of Paediatric Strabimus
- One eye consistently turning in, out, up, or down
- Head tilting or turning to fixate with both eyes
- Closing or covering one eye in bright light
- Poor depth perception during play or sports
Strabismus is often obvious to parents or teachers. Common signs include:
Does this sound like your child? Book an assessment today.
Managing paediatric strabismus effectively
Restoring eye teaming in childhood
Treatment aims to realign eyes and prevent amblyopia during the developmental window. After detailed assessment, your ophthalmologist may recommend:
Clarifying Your Concerns
Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that vision-related conditions can be potententially overwhelming. Here are honest, transparent answers to the questions we hear most often from our patients.
Paediatric strabismus, also known as a squint or crossed eyes, occurs when the eyes are misaligned and do not point in the same direction. One or both eyes may turn in, out, up, or down, disrupting normal vision development.
Common signs include one eye turning in, out, up, or down, head tilting to focus, squinting, or covering one eye in bright light. Poor depth perception during activities like play or sports can also be a sign.
Treatment options may include corrective glasses, patching or atropine drops for amblyopia (lazy eye), eye muscle surgery to realign the eyes, or vision therapy exercises to improve eye coordination and convergence.
If you notice that your child’s eyes are misaligned or they exhibit signs like squinting or difficulty focusing, it’s important to seek an evaluation. Early treatment can help prevent long-term vision issues like amblyopia.
If left untreated, strabismus can lead to amblyopia (lazy eye), where one eye becomes weaker than the other. This can cause permanent vision issues, so timely treatment is important.
Surgery may be recommended if non-surgical methods like corrective glasses or patching are not sufficient to realign the eyes. Typically, surgery is considered for children aged 2 and older to balance eye alignment.
Treatment duration depends on the severity of the condition. Early interventions such as glasses or patching may take several months, while surgery may require a longer recovery time. Your healthcare provider will give you an expected timeline based on your child’s specific needs.
Medisave can be used for certain treatments related to strabismus, such as eye muscle surgery, subject to eligibility. You should consult with your healthcare provider to confirm the details of what can be claimed.