What is crossed eyes, exactly?
Strabismus, or squint, is a disorder in which the eyes are misaligned and point in different directions. Only one eye can look directly at the object of current interest while the other eye turns inward, outward, up or down. The misalignment may be continual or it may come and go; the turned eye may straighten at times, and the straight eye may turn. The result of any of these variations may be diplopia, or double vision. The two main types of squint are esotropia, in which one or both eyes turn inward; and exotropia, in which one or both eyes turn outward. TOP Q2. What causes strabismus? The condition is neurological in nature. That is, the problem lies in the brain, which controls the muscles that govern the movements of the eye. Accordingly, squint is common among children with neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, hydrocephalus and brain tumours. Occasionally, too, strabismus may be a symptom of a cataract. By far the most common cause of squint in childre
