When counseling parents about the potential long-term implications of untreated strabismus (squint) in children, it is crucial to highlight the importance of early intervention and adherence to treatment plans NICE CKS.
Key long-term implications include:
- Untreated strabismus can lead to or worsen amblyopia (lazy eye), which is a significant barrier to optimal visual acuity NICE CKS.
- The primary goal of treatment is to maintain or restore optimal visual acuity in each eye and normal binocular vision NICE CKS.
- Failure to treat can also result in psychological or social problems for the child NICE CKS.
It is important to explain that the earlier treatment is initiated, the better the outcome for preventing or improving amblyopia NICE CKS. As primary care health professionals, your role includes encouraging compliance with the treatment plan, especially if occlusion therapy (patching) is recommended, as poor compliance is the single greatest barrier to improvement in visual acuity NICE CKS.
You should also provide parents with reliable sources of information on squint NICE CKS. Useful resources include:
- The Squint Clinic website (www.squintclinic.com), which offers detailed information, videos of tests, procedures, and surgery NICE CKS.
- The Royal National Institute of Blind (RNIB) website (www.rnib.org.uk), which has information on childhood squint NICE CKS.
- The Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust website (www.moorfields.nhs.uk), providing information on squint and botulinum toxin treatment NICE CKS.