Find out what causes a squint and how it's treated. Also, read about the signs to look for in your child and when to see a doctor.





This page covers:

When to get medical advice

Treatments and surgery

Possible further problems


When to get medical advice

Get advice if:

  • your child has a squint all the time
  • your child is older than three months and has a squint that comes and goes – in babies younger than this, squints that come and go are common and aren't usually a cause for concern
  • you develop a squint or double vision later in life


Treatments and surgery for a squint

The main treatments for a squint are:

  • Surgery – this involves moving the muscles that control eye movement so the eyes line up correctly. It may be recommended if glasses aren't fully effective on their own. Read more about squint surgery.



Problems that can occur if a squint isn't treated



  • persistent blurred or double vision
  • lazy eye – where the brain starts to ignore signals coming from the affected eye, so your child doesn't develop normal eyesight
  • embarrassment or low self-esteem

Surgery can help improve the alignment of the eyes even if a squint has been left untreated for a long time, but any vision problems may be permanent if they're not treated at a young age.

Causes of squints

The exact cause of a squint isn't always known.



Rarer causes of a squint include:

A squint can also sometimes be a symptom of a rare type of childhood eye cancer called retinoblastoma. Take your child to see your GP if they have a squint to rule out this condition.


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