Your patient has a squint

If the squint is due to a nerve palsy then the patient should be referred soon for assessment, particularly if the patient is not hypertensive or diabetic. If the patient has a third nerve palsy with a dilated pupil, they should be referred immediately.

If the patient has a long-standing squint and is motivated for surgery, they should be referred routinely.

If the squint is relatively recent and the patient is symptomatic for diplopia, they should be referred soon via letter.

A child should be referred soon via letter directly to the orthoptic service if possible. A baby with a squint is at risk of developing amblyopia (a lazy eye) and should be referred early.