Your baby squints; his eyes are not aligned

My baby sometimes or always squints; his eyes are not aligned.

You may have already heard that it is normal for a baby to squint. However, there are a few caveats to this statement. 

As explained to you by Neha, an orthoptist student, in the video below, it is normal for your child to squint intermittently until the age of four to six months. Indeed, after birth, the baby’s vision continues to develop little by little. The two eyes do so separately. This is why we can sometimes have the impression that toddlers have a deviated eye.

After this period, binocular vision has normally been established. The eyes begin to coordinate and the baby sees details. At this point, squinting becomes abnormal. If your child is constantly squinting, from a very young age, you must consult your ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

Do you want to learn more about children’s vision development? Please visit our dedicated page.

What visual disease can induce squinting?

Strabismus is the most common visual disorder that involves a child squinting. Indeed, in the case of so-called convergent strabismus, one of the two eyes is deflected in the direction of the nose. This can lead to double vision.

What should I do if my child squints or his eyes are not aligned?

If you have noticed this symptom in your baby over six months old, it is important to take him to an ophthalmologist for an eye examination. Generally, the paediatrician is able to detect this pathology during regular checks.