Cure For Squint or Cross-eye

The earlier the treatment begins, the better are the results. Making a trip to a specialized eye clinic will be well rewarded. There is no cure for superstition, fear and ignorance except education and awakening, but for cross-eyes there is definitely a cure.

The cross-eyed child needs sympathy and rational handling by his guardians and carefully planned therapy from ophthalmic surgeons. This branch of ophthalmology has taken big strides during the last ten years, and the majority of squinters who did not delay their treatment have reverted to normal eyes.

The cooperation of the parents and the cross-eyed child is of paramount importance. Here are the fundamental principles that all concerned must grasp.

Babies’ Tendency: All newborn babies have a tendency to appear a little cross-eyed till they reach the age of two or three months. This must not cause any alarm. However, a big degree of cross-eye at this stage certainly needs a visit to the eye clinic.

Pre-squint Symptoms: The presence of an occasional squint or squint of any kind after the age of three months must not be left to nature cure. The advice of a specialist should be sought forthwith. Squints in children are usually preceded by high fever, typhoid, epileptic fits, etc.

False Squinters: A false impression of a squint is not an uncommon phenomenon in children. A worried mother might come to an eye clinic saying her child squints when looking sideways. On examination it turns out to be false-impression cross-eye. Children with very broad bridge of the nose have small opening of the eye. When they look close the ball gets behind the skin fold, giving a false look of ‘squint’. The ophthalmic surgeon’s assurance that there is no squint is a great relief. Such a false look is also produced in people with very shortsighted or long-sighted eyes. This needs no treatment it is only a passing phase. As the child grows, the appearance of cross-eyes disappears. There is no cause for alarm. But an early visit to the eye clinic is rewarding