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Conditions

Squint

Squint (Photo from Wellcome Trust)

Question: What do Barbara Streisand and Abraham Lincoln have in common? Answer: They both started out life with a pronounced squint (technically know as a ‘strabismus’). A squint is when the eyes are misaligned and do not look in the same direction, causing one eye to turn inwards, outwards or sometimes upwards, while the other eye looks forward. The condition affects 5-8% of children (1-2 in every 30) and around four in every 100 adults. Treatment for a squint is most effective in very young children, as the condition will not naturally disappear as the child gets older (in fact, the sight in the affected eye will gradually get worse). Treatment for adults can come in the form of Botulinum Toxin (Botox) injections, administered into the target eye muscle with a very fine needle. (The eye-patch you were offered as a child never sounded so appealing!)

What the Men in White Coats Say

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I had to wear an eye patch when younger, then an operation at 9. These have not seemed to work and has seriously affected my life. I hate myself, i was terribly bullied at school for it and even as get older people think it is a joke. I hate getting my picture taken, hate having conversations with a big group of people. People will turn around because they think you are looking at something behind them which is embarrasing, which is why i hate socialising. The only time i feel comfortable is when i wear sunglasses which you can not do all year round! I had another operation at the age of 31 but even then the consultant before hand made me cry because he could not see the point in getting it done. I have had to see a counsellor and it did help for a bit, but 2 years later i feel my left eye is getting worse. It is to the point that i feel embarrased about it even with my husband and children. I am so depressed and it is all because of my lazy eye.





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hi, am 31 years old. Not on any regular medication. I tend to have puffy lower lid eyes all the time. Tried to use cucamber or giving myself plenty of sleep it won't work. It is suggested i may have lots of water and kidney problem?





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im a 14 year old girl and my right eye is looking a total different direction to my left i have no comnfidence about this and hate getting pitures took. i feel like a weirdo please help wat can a do..? :(X





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I developed a squint in my left eye before i was 1 i also have Browns's syndrome. I had to wear an eye patch on and off through primaray school paired with glasses and my eye stopped wandering and now I'm nearly 17 and it has started again. I didn't ntice until one of my friends said "did you know your left eye has turned inwards?" No i didn't was the answer to that. It is quite embarassing especially when talking to a stranger and I'm constantly worrying about my eye. My optician has always said that my left eue will never be as strong or the same as my right so it gets to a pint where you say to yourself It's just one of those things i am going to have to learn to live with. But I don't want to.





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im 19yrs old and have had a squint in my right eye since i was 1! i still get bullied now by my work collegues. 7 years ago i had the corrective surgery on my right eye, this solved the problem for a couple of years. i have recentley been to see a specialist that suggested he operates on my left eye (my good eye) what is the purpose of operating on the opposite eye? what will this achieve? is the success rate good? is iot worth trying botox on my bad eye before even considering operating on my good eye? please please list some info, i have agreed to the op and am on a waiting list. however, i am extremley nervous and undecisive about my decision.





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ive had a lazy since i was about 3,it really affects my confindence,and also don't like getting my picture taken.I use to weat glasses and eye patches,but did'nt like wearing them.





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i am very bad lazy eye. and i would like to know what can i use 4 ma eye?





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hi, i am 17 years of age and i've always been low on confidence about my eyes. been bullied at school was the cause of this, been called 'bozeyed' % 'cross eyed' really did hurt my feelings. I can't look people in the eye whilst i talk to them. i feel an outsider when i'm with my friends and that is a terrible feeling. to be quite honest i have good vision and the only problem is the way my eyes look, i would look out of my left eye..my right eye would go lazy...i would look out of my right eye and my left eye would go lazy? would this be easier to correct? i am going to see my GP asap and get there view on it. i would love an operation and would take pain to fix this problem. i have read every comment and feel really sorry for the people that have this, does not seem as worse as my problem, i wish you all the best, take care!





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I was born with a squint like so many other people. I underwent my 1st squint operation when i was 3 in my left eye, then i was 5yrs old when i had my 2nd op in my right eye, since then i have 2 more operations in my left eye at the age of 13 and 23.Im now nearly 24. Its never going to be 100% but i know what so far i had done nearly everything possible to straighten up my god damn eyes, lol. I was always bullied at school and i suppose these things always stay with you, they certainly have with me. Just keep positive!! Everyone has a part of their body they dont like, and with us...its our eyes. It is hard not to look people in the eye, but you shouldnt worry. You are who you are and just keep going with the hospital appointments and nagging your GP - it'll all be worth it in the end!





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I am 15, i have had a lazy eye since i was about 3, i used to wear glasses and eye patches, but refused to keep them on, I just started wearing glasses again today to correct my lazy eye, i picked them up this morning but i still have a lazy eye whilst wearing glasses, will this change after a week or is it something wrong with the glasses, please help?





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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Content supplied by NHS Choices

A squint is a condition where one eye turns inwards, outwards, upwards or downwards while the other eye looks forwards. The misalignment of the eye is caused by an incorrect balance of the eye muscles. The medical name is strabismus. Read More »

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