Will children become squinting if they always sit on the sides of the classroom and look at the blackboard?

Strabismus is a common eye disease in children, which has a negative impact on children's vision and appearance. However, many parents have some misunderstandings about strabismus, such as thinking that a child's squint or tilted head when looking at things is equal to strabismus. These misunderstandings may delay the diagnosis and treatment of strabismus and affect children's eye health.

What is strabismus?

As we all know, our eyes move at the same time when we look at things, just like the steering wheel of a car controls the wheels. If one wheel is crooked, either inward or outward, when we turn the steering wheel, there will always be one wheel that is straight and one that is slanted. Our eyes are the same. When both eyes look straight ahead at the same time, one eye is normal and the other eye is slanted, which is called strabismus.

If a child has strabismus, what will the symptoms be? What behaviors can parents observe from their children? Regarding this issue, it is not difficult for us to find it at ordinary times. It is mainly when the child is concentrating, such as watching TV, playing with mobile phones, and playing with toys, that they tend to squint or often tilt their heads to look at things. At this time, parents need to be alert to whether there is strabismus and need to go to the hospital for diagnosis.

Looking at things with squinting eyes does not necessarily mean strabismus

However, not all squinting or tilting the head to look at things is strabismus. Some children may occasionally look at things with one eye out of habit or curiosity, or tilt their heads to watch TV or play with mobile phones, etc. These do not necessarily mean that they have strabismus, but may be caused by bad eye habits. If a child looks at objects nearby by changing the head or body position so that the eyes look straight ahead, strabismus will not occur.

As shown in the picture above, the boy on the far left is sitting relatively close to the edge. He turns his body and head to look at the blackboard, with his eyes looking straight ahead. Correct eye habits will basically not lead to strabismus.

Correct diagnosis and treatment of strabismus

He Yongchuan, deputy director and chief physician of Chongqing Aier Children's Eye Hospital, said: "For children with strabismus, a comprehensive eye examination should be conducted first to determine the type, degree, cause and impact of strabismus. According to different situations, personalized treatment plans can be formulated, such as glasses, prisms, training, etc.

The first step is to rebuild the tertiary vision function through binocular vision function training, increase the resistance to strabismus in the opposite direction, autonomously control the eye position, and stabilize the binocular vision function.

Second, when the eye position cannot be controlled autonomously, prisms can be fitted to assist the use of the eyes and stabilize binocular vision. Prisms can change the direction of light propagation, allowing both eyes to focus on the same target, reducing symptoms such as double images and headaches.

The third step is to perform surgical intervention in a timely manner or combine different treatment plans when the child's visual function is severely damaged and the appearance is seriously affected. Surgery can adjust the tension and length of the muscles so that the eyes can be aligned parallel. Postoperative rehabilitation training and reexamination are also required.

Warm reminder: If your child has strabismus, you must go to a professional ophthalmology hospital for an eye examination in time. "Early detection, early examination, and early treatment" are the key to strabismus treatment. Let the child with strabismus "correct the strabismus" as soon as possible. Don't let your little negligence turn into a big regret for your child's eyes.

Source: Chongqing Aier Children's Eye Hospital Co., Ltd.

Audit expert: He Yongchuan

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