squint

Question 1

what is a squint (strabismus)?

Answer 1

misalignment of the visual axes

Question 2

what can squints be divided into?

Answer 2

concomitant (common) and paralytic (rare)

Question 3

what is concomitant squint due to?

Answer 3

imbalance in extraocular muscles

Question 4

which one is more common, convergent or divergent?

Answer 4

convergent

Question 5

what is paralytic squint due to?

Answer 5

paralysis of extraocular muscles

Question 6

how can you detect a squint?

Answer 6

corneal light reflection test

- hold a light source 30cm from child’s face, see if light reflects symmetrically on pupils

Question 7

what is used to identify the nature of the squint?

Answer 7

cover test

• ask child to focus on an object
• cover one eye
• observe movement of uncovered eye
• cover other eye and repeat test

Question 8

how is squint managed?

Answer 8

refer to 2˚ care

eye patches may help prevent amblyopia

Question 9

what is amblyopia?

Answer 9

a.k.a. lazy eye

disorder of sight in which brain fails to process inputs from one eye and over time, favours the other eye

results in decreased vision in an eye that otherwise typically appears normal