Strabismus ("squint")

Strabismus is the term used when the two eyes are not pointing in the same direction. In the UK, strabismus is often called "squint." Other names include "cross-eye" or "lazy eye." Untreated constant strabismus is a chief cause of loss of vision in one eye in the under 40 age group and if it is not detected before the agae of about five years it is often too late to treat the eye and obtain good vision.

• Convergent squint is where one eye turns in
• Divergent squint is where one eye turns out
• Vertical squint is where one eye turns up or down
• The squint may be constant (present at all times) or intermittent (occurs sometimes).

Currently Dr Barnard has an even keener interest in strabismus. He is the co- inventor of a new technology designed to screen for strabismus that is being developed by IRISS Medical Technologies of which he is a Director and the Chief Medical Officer. This technology is presently undergoing trials with Moorfields Eye Hospital and a university clinic in the USA. The aim of the technology is to enable all babies, infants and young children around the world to be screened accurately and cheaply for this condition which is the main cause of untreatable loss of vision in the under 40's in the developed world.