What is squint?

Squint is misalignment of the eyes such that the right and left eyes are pointed in different directions. Though it is a common condition among younger populations, it may also appear later in life. The misalignment may be permanent or it may be temporary, occurring occasionally. The deviation may be in any direction: inward, outward, upward or downward. If the child is not treated at the appropriate time, a condition called amblyopia occurs, which eventually leads to permanent loss of vision. Squint may be caused by any of the following:

• Weakened muscles or abnormal nerve impulses to the eye muscles.
• Heredity.
• Blurred or poor vision due torefractive errors, cataract, corneal scars, glaucoma, optic nerve disease, retinal disease, tumors of the eye etc.
• Injuries.

• A cataract is a clouding of the crystalline human lens in the eye that affects vision.
• Most cataracts are related to aging.
• A cataract can occur in either or both eyes.
• In a normal eye, light passes through the transparent lens to the retina. Once it reaches the retina, light is changed into nerve signals that are sent to the brain.
• The lens must be clear for the retina to receive a sharp image. If the lens is cloudy from a cataract, the image you see will be blurred.

Types of cataract:

1. Secondary cataract: Cataracts because of other eye diseases such as glaucoma, uveitis, surgery for other eye diseases, long term use of steroids
2. Traumatic cataract: Cataracts can develop after an eye injury, sometimes years later.
3. Congenital cataract: Some babies are born with cataracts or develop them in childhood, often in both eyes.
4. Radiation cataract: Cataracts can develop after exposure to some types of radiation.

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases causing optic nerve damage. The optic nerve carries images from the retina, which is the specialized light sensing tissue, to the brain so we can see.

In glaucoma, eye pressure plays a role in damaging the nerve fibers of the optic nerve. When a significant number of nerve fibers are damaged, blind spots develop in the field of vision.

Once nerve damage and visual loss occur, it is permanent. Most people don't notice these blind areas until much of the optic nerve damage has already occurred.

If the entire nerve is destroyed, blindness results. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the world, especially in older people. Early detection and treatment by your ophthalmologist are the keys to preventing optic nerve damage and vision loss from glaucoma.

Causes Of Glaucoma

The exact causes of optic nerve damage from glaucoma is not fully understood, but involves mechanical compression and/or decreased blood flow of the optic nerve. Although high eye pressure sometimes leads to glaucoma, many people can also develop glaucoma with "normal" eye pressure

LASIK ( Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis ), commonly referred to as laser eye surgery or laser vision correction, is a type of refractive surgery for the correction of myopia, hypermetropia, and astigmatism. The LASIK surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist who uses a laser or microkeratome to reshape the eye's cornea in order to improve visual acuity. For most patients, LASIK provides a permanent alternative to eyeglasses or contact lenses.

During Surgery:

• The surgery should take less than 30 minutes.
• Both eyes are operated at the same time.
• You will lie on your back in a reclining chair in an exam room containing the laser system.
• The laser system includes a large machine with a microscope attached to it and a computer screen.

What do contact lenses do?

Contact lenses are small prescription lenses, worn in “contact” with the eye. They are designed to correct refractive errors and maintain ocular health. They float on the tear film layer on the surface of the cornea.

Modern contacts are much more than small eye glass lenses that fit onto your eyes. They do, however, function much like regular eye glasses refracting and focusing light so that objects appear clearly. Since the lenses stick to the tear fluid on your eye surface, they move naturally with you. This is but one advantage contacts have over glasses.

Types of contacts are not all the same. They are available in different forms, designed to meet different purposes. These forms can range from their “modality,” or how often you change the contacts---say, daily, every two weeks, or monthly. They also fit different needs.

Contact lenses come in different strengths or “diopters.” If you wear contacts, take a look at their box or your prescription. You’ll see either plus or minus signs, followed by numbers. Without getting too in-depth, these convey the shape of the lenses. Different shapes correct different vision problems.

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is the complex of eye and vision problems related to near work which are experienced during or related to computer use. CVS is characterized by visual symptoms which result from interaction with a computer display or its environment. In most cases, symptoms occur because the visual demands of the task exceed the visual abilities of the individual to comfortably perform the task.

1. Use your glasses as prescribed.
2. Use antiglare coated lens.
3. Keep the monitor at your arm's length.
4. The monitor should be 15 -20* below your eye level.
5. Avoid glare.
6. Take frequent breaks.
7. Blink several times.