Children's eyes squint is not just a blemish

Squinting should be treated
Squinting can severely damage the eyesight of children and lead to double vision - especially in babies who need to learn to see.

In the first few weeks, newborns learn to direct the eye movements - at birth they only see blurred.

Squinting weakens eyesight permanently (tahi / fotolia.com)

Squint prevents three-dimensional vision
If one eye has failed, we speak of squinting. Not only does it look unattractive, it also mismatches the images of the outside world processed in the eye.

Brain research knows today: the brain first combines the images received by both eyes into a three-dimensional structure. But it can only do that if the eyes are straight. If one eye goes awry, the perspective shifts so that the brain can no longer connect the received information into a single entity. We see double pictures.

What do the doctors say?
Doctors distinguish between inward and outward strabismus. A latent squint is the most common and rarely treated. The affected people do not always squint, but only when the eye is overloaded. However, the brain can usually compensate for vision, and only one in ten suffer from vision problems.

Concomitant squinting and paralysis squints, however, require treatment. The paralysis squint paralyzes the eye muscle and is usually acquired, for example, by an injury. The accompanying squint occurs especially in babies,

Latent squint is widespread. 7 out of 10 people know the symptoms when they stare at the screen for a long time or drink alcohol. The brain of drunks can no longer coordinate the eyes, and in alcoholism we therefore see things twice.

Concomitant squint, however, is either congenital or occurs in the first two years - in 4 out of every 100 children.

double vision
The result is double sightedness. Instead of a uniform image, the brain processes the images separately. The brain is always working to repair malfunctions, but when it comes to double vision, this process leads to consequential damage: It slows down the wrong image of the squinting eye, and as a result often weak eyesight develops on the now untrained organ.

Blindness can be the result
This acquired visual impairment on the squinting eye is getting worse, the more the brain suppresses its visual performance. The sufferers suffer from it until an ophthalmologist treats the malposition. Due to their poor eyesight, the career prospects of patients are limited. What's more, the risk of becoming blind forever.

prevention
The malposition of an eye can not always be recognized by laymen. Doctors therefore recommend having a child examined by an ophthalmologist no later than the age of three.

Squint only children?
Adults also suffer from acquired malalignment of the eyes - for various reasons. Often they do not know the signals for it. If you see a blur, have to read close to reading or watching TV, are extremely sensitive to light or often pinch your eyes together, you may be suffering from a squinting eye.

Various other causes may also be present, for example a stimulus due to chemical substances, a curvature of the cornea or declining eyesight. Anyone who has the appropriate complaints should, however, in any case go to an ophthalmologist.

Intentional squinting for eyes not bad
However, parents need not be afraid if their child intentionally squints when making faces. Here, the child deliberately uses the eye muscles, and the position of the eyes does not change thereby.

treatment
Strabismus can be corrected by a harmless operation of the eye muscle. The sooner surgery is performed, the better the chances that the viewing angle adapts. Such an operation is the only way to permanently eliminate strabismus. (Dr. Utz Anhalt)