Strabismus is when your eyes don't line up properly. Usually, people's eyes look in the same direction at the same time. But if you have a squint, one eye (or both) moves in a different direction. If left untreated, it can really affect your vision.
To understand why people squint, it's useful to know about six eye muscles.
Has your GP said that you or your child might have strabismus? This might be worrying, but it might also start to explain visual problems you've noticed.
A squint or strabismus happens when there's a problem with one or both of your eyes. It means they don't line up with each other when you're trying to focus on something. This can make it harder to see things as clearly and you may experience issues like double vision. Squints most often affect children, but you can get adult strabismus too.
Many people mistake squint for 'lazy eye' (amblyopia). While they have some similarities ‑ and strabismus can lead to lazy eye ‑ they are different conditions, with different treatments.
Squints are usually present at birth or begin in the first six months of childhood. They are often related to vision problems like short‑sightedness or astigmatism. The squint develops because the eye is trying to overcome this problem. There are also other causes of childhood strabismus (read more below).
In newborns (up to three months), squinting is fairly common and not necessarily something to worry about. But if the squint keeps happening as they get older, speak with your child's GP or book them in to see an optometrist.
According to one study between 3% and 5% of Australians have a squint.
Some people develop squints later in life. They're often related to health problems such as diabetes, stroke or eye injuries.
Many people mistake strabismus for 'lazy eye' (amblyopia). While they have some similarities, they are different conditions, with different causes and treatments.
There are several types of squints, based on which way the eye with the squint is looking. Exotropia (eye looking outwards) and esotropia (eye looking inwards) are the most common. Here you can see how a few different types of squint might look.
Squint or strabismus – misaligned eye muscles
Exotropia – when the eye is directed outwards
Esotropia – when the eye is directed inwards
Hypertropia – when the eye is directed upwards
Hypotropia – when the eye is directed downwards
Cyclotropia – when the eye has rotated / torsion
Example of three types of Strabismus
The most obvious symptom of a squint is that the person's eyes don't line up. It might happen all the time, or it might come and go. However, squints can be subtle and it's not always possible to tell just by looking.
Squint symptoms are similar in children and adults. The big difference is that adults may be more aware of the change in their vision. Unlike very young children, they can also describe their symptoms more easily. Here are some of the main symptoms of strabismus.
One or both eyes may turn inwards (esotropia), outwards (exotropia), upwards (hypertropia), downwards (hypotropia) or rotated (cyclotropia).
People with strabismus may tilt their heads to help adjust their vision when trying to focus.
People with strabismus often experience double vision, blurred vision or difficulty judging depth. Adults are more likely to spot these changes themselves. In young children, a squint is often first noticed in photos.
Some people who have squints notice they get a feeling of weakness or pulling around their eyes.
People who have a strabismus often try to adjust for visual problems by closing the affected eye.
Book an eye testWe don't always know why an individual person developed a squint. Some people are born with them, while others develop them later in life. These are the common causes of child and adult strabismus.
Children and babies often develop squints because they're trying to overcome a sight problem. If a child has short‑sightedness or astigmatism one eye might turn to try and help focus on a blurry image.
Conditions like measles, meningitis or other viral infections can lead to children developing squints.
Weakness of the child's eye muscles may be the cause of their strabismus.
Children with genetic conditions like Down syndrome and Noonan syndrome are more likely to have strabismus.
Research shows that just over 30% of people with a squint have a close relative who also has strabismus.
Children with conditions like cerebral palsy or hydrocephalus may be more likely to have a squint.
You may develop strabismus after an injury to the eye or head which damages your eye muscles or nerves.
Research shows that over 16% of stroke survivors may develop a squint. The stroke may affect your eye muscles or nerves, resulting in a squint.
Some other medical conditions can cause adult strabismus, including Graves' disease, neurological conditions and diabetes.
Learn more about diabetic retinopathy
Having a squint can be challenging, especially for children. It might affect how they're treated by their peers and make it harder to see things clearly in school. This can lead to frustration or learning difficulties. Squint treatments are often very effective, particularly when started early. If you’re concerned about your child’s eyes, booking a test with an optometrist is a helpful first step.
A squint or strabismus can be diagnosed with a comprehensive eye exam. At Specsavers, our optometrists use a few different techniques to diagnose strabismus.
The optometrist will ask about your squint symptoms, and any family history of squint. They may also ask about related symptoms, such as headaches or double vision.
Your optometrist will inspect the eye to see if there is a noticeable squint or any other irregularities.
You or your child will wear special glasses so the optometrist can check eye alignment. Depending on where you are in the world, they may use tests like the Krimsky or prism bar cover test.
People with strabismus can struggle with depth (how far away 3D objects are). There are several stereoacuity tests where you will be asked to look at images or dots and say what you can see.
You or your child will focus on an object while one eye is covered. The optometrist checks how the uncovered eye moves to spot signs of a squint.
In this test, you look directly at a point of light. If your eyes are lined up correctly, the light should bounce straight back, but if they're not lined up, the light will reflect away.
Your distance and near vision are checked using a Snellen chart. The optometrist places different lenses in front of your eyes to find the right prescription.
Book an eye testIf your optometrist has diagnosed you or your child with strabismus, they'll work with you to develop a squint eye treatment plan.
It's really important to get strabismus treated by an optometrist, because it won't go away on its own and there aren't any 'home remedies' that can resolve it. Left untreated, it can get worse and lead to long term vision problems.
There are a few different kinds of treatment available, depending on what's causing the squint. Here are some common treatments for a squint.
Glasses can help to correct a squint if it is caused by a problem with your eyesight. Using glasses means your eyes don't need to work so hard to focus, so they will start to line up. The optometrist might also prescribe special prism glasses that are designed in a way that bends light for the eye with the squint, which can help with seeing things more clearly.
Exercises like pencil pushups (bringing a pencil slowly towards your nose) or near‑far focus shifting can help improve eye coordination and muscle control in people with strabismus.
For some people, it can be helpful to give injections into certain eye muscles which can weaken them. This can then help the eyes line up better.
Eye squint surgery may be an option if the other treatments aren’t helping with your squint. The surgery involves moving the muscles that control the eye so that it can line up as it should.
At Specsavers, we can advise you on getting strabismus surgery in Australia.
This treatment method is recommended for lazy eye, however wearing an eye patch will not help to correct the alignment of the eyes and strabismus.
Book an eye testThe outlook for childhood squints is usually very good. Squint treatments are often highly effective. If the squint is diagnosed in early childhood and is treated swiftly, the problem can usually be resolved. The child will normally go on to have good vision. But the longer it goes untreated, the harder it can be to treat.
This is why it's so important to get children's eyes checked early. If you notice any symptoms of a squint in a child older than three months, speak with their GP or book an appointment with an optometrist.
Newborn babies often have something called ocular instability of infancy. At a very young age, babies are still learning to use both eyes together as their vision develops. It's usually nothing to worry about and will go away after the first three months. But it's always worth speaking with your baby's GP if you have any doubts.
If your doctor has recommended strabismus surgery, you might be feeling uncertain about what to expect. Before the surgery, you'll have a pre‑operative assessment where the surgeon and other medical staff will do tests and tell you how to prepare. The surgery itself is normally done under general anaesthetic so you will be asleep. It typically takes less than an hour and you can go home the same day.
No, strabismus doesn't go away on its own. If it is left untreated, it may get worse and may cause long term sight problems. This is why it's so important to get a squint seen by a doctor or optometrist as soon as possible.
It can. If the strabismus is not treated, your brain may start to ignore signals from the eye with the squint. This can lead to vision loss and amblyopia ('lazy eye').
Learn more about amblyopia
Surgery is usually only used if other squint treatments don't seem to be working. Some people may be more likely to need squint surgery ‑ including people whose squint started after a physical injury to the eye that damaged the eye muscles. Other people choose to get squint surgery for cosmetic reasons.
Yes, every year many adults develop strabismus. Some of the main causes include strokes, eye or head injuries, and certain diseases such as diabetes. Speak with your GP or optometrist about possible treatments.
If strabismus isn't treated, it can get worse over time and lead to long‑lasting vision problems. The person's brain may start ignoring signals from the affected eye, meaning their vision gets worse. This can lead to problems with judging depth. They also may experience double vision, which can make everyday tasks like driving or, reading, more difficult. They may also experience social and emotional concerns too.
Eye tests are bulk billed to Medicare, so there are no out‑of‑pocket expenses for you*.
Cleveland Clinic (2023) Strabismus (Eye Misalignment) Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/strabismus‑eye‑misalignment
Lions Eye Institute (2025) Western Australian Strabismus Inheritance Study Available at: https://www.lei.org.au/research/research‑groups/genetics‑and‑epidemiology/western‑australian‑strabismus‑inheritance‑study/
O'Dowd, C. (2013) Evaluating squints in children Available at: https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2013/december/evaluating‑squints
Rowe, F. (2009) The profile of strabismus in stroke survivors Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19521433/
Sanchez, M., and Whitman, M. (2023) Genetics of strabismus Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ophthalmology/articles/10.3389/fopht.2023.1233866/full
Cloudy, misty or blurred vision could be a sign of cataracts, particularly in bright conditions or at night.
Astigmatism means the cornea has an uneven shape, which can blur your vision at all distances.
Long‑sightedness, or hyperopia, means you can see things in the distance more clearly than close up.
Myopia, or short‑sightedness, means you can see nearby objects clearly, but distant ones are blurry.
Glaucoma is an eye condition that can damage your optic nerve and cause vision loss if it isn’t picked up early.
If you have diabetes, it’s important to watch out for diabetic retinopathy which can cause vision changes.
Vision that looks misty or hazy could be a sign of cataracts or another eye issue that needs checking.
Double vision means seeing two images of a single object, which can happen when the eyes are not aligned or working together properly
Do your eyes feel sore, tried or gritty? Dry eye could be the cause, making vision cloudy, or as if you have filmy eyes.
This is when the edges of your eyelids become inflamed due to an infection. It can also make the whites of your eyes appear pink or red.
Learn more about blepharitis
Seeing specks, spots or sudden flashes of light? These are common – but can also be a sign of a serious eye condition. It is worth checking out if they’re new or getting worse.
A chalazion is a blocked oil gland in the eyelid that causes a firm, usually painless lump and can lead to eyelid swelling or blurred vision.
Eye tests play a huge part in making sure your eyes stay healthy.
Check your vision
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An eye test is not just about getting glasses – it is a vital health check for your eyes.
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