Hesperian Health Guides
Where There Is No Doctor:Cross Eyes and a Wandering or `Lazy' Eye (Strabismus, `Squint')
If the eye sometimes wanders like this, but at other times looks ahead normally, usually you need not worry. The eye will grow straighter in time. But if the Has serious symptom::eye is always turned the wrong way, and if the child is not treated at a very early age, she may never see well with that eye. See an eye doctor as soon as possible to find out if Has treatment::patching of the good eye, Has treatment::surgery, or Has treatment::special glasses might help.
Surgery done at a later age can usually straighten the eye and improve the child's appearance, but it will not help the weak eye see better.
IMPORTANT: The eyesight of every child should be checked as early as possible (best around 4 years). You can use an `E' chart (see Helping Health Workers Learn, p. 24-13). Test each eye separately to discover any problem that affects only one eye. If sight is poor in one or both eyes, see an eye doctor.