Strabismus (Squint) & Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) & Laser Eye Surgery

Strabismus (Squint) & Amblyopia (Lazy Eye) – Laser Eye Surgery Considerations

Understanding Strabismus (Squint)

Strabismus also called a squint or crossed eyes and is when the eyes are misaligned and don’t point in the same direction.
This can be constant or happen only when tired, stressed, or focusing hard.

Possible causes:

• Eye muscle imbalance
• Nerve control issues
• Focusing problems
• Health conditions like stroke, head injury, or neurological disorders

Symptoms of squint:

• One or both eyes turning inwards, outwards, upwards, or downwards
• Double vision or blurred vision
• Head tilting to see clearly
• Difficulty with depth perception

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Why early treatment matters:

‍In children, untreated strabismus can lead to amblyopia (lazy eye) where the brain ignores the weaker eye, causing permanent vision loss.

What is Amblyopia (Lazy Eye)?

Amblyopia is when one eye has reduced vision even with the best glasses or contact lenses.
The eye may look normal, but the brain relies on the stronger eye, reducing the weaker eye’s development.

Key points:

• Often develops in childhood, during the brain’s vision-forming years
• Usually affects one eye but can affect both
• Caused by squint, large differences in prescription (anisometropia), or blocked vision (e.g., cataract, droopy eyelid)
• Early diagnosis = better results, especially before age 6.

Treatment Options

For Children:

• Glasses to correct focusing errors
• Patching the stronger eye
• Eye drops to blur the stronger eye
• Strabismus surgery to realign muscles
• Vision therapy exercises

For Adults:

• Eye muscle surgery
• Vision therapy
• Botox® injections in select cases

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Laser Eye Surgery and Strabismus / Lazy Eye

If you have strabismus or amblyopia and are considering laser vision correction (LASIK, SMILE, or PRK), here’s what you need to know:

• Laser eye surgery does not fix eye alignment. Your squint will look the same as it does with glasses.
• It cannot cure a lazy eye. The weaker eye will not see better than it does with the best glasses.
• Prism glasses cannot be replicated. If your glasses contain a prism to help your eyes work together, you may still need glasses after surgery (but with a lower prescription).
• Suitability depends on your vision.

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What Laser Eye Surgery Can Do

Even with a squint or lazy eye, laser surgery can:

• Reduce or remove the need for glasses or contact lenses
• Give each eye the best possible vision it’s capable of
• Improve daily convenience and visual comfort

Think of it as removing your glasses, not retraining your eyes.

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Next Steps: Thinking About Laser Eye Surgery?

If you have strabismus (squint) or amblyopia (lazy eye) and are considering laser eye surgery, the most important step is to book a comprehensive assessment with our team.

This allows us to:

• Measure your best corrected vision in each eye
• Assess how well your eyes work together
• Determine whether laser eye surgery could meet your vision goals

We’ll talk you through your results, explain what laser eye surgery can and can’t achieve for your specific condition, and help you decide on the safest, most effective option for your long-term vision.

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Ready to Talk to an Expert?

Whether you live in the Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, or Central & Lower North Island, expert laser eye surgery advice is never far away:

Hamilton
New Plymouth
Tauranga
‍Pukekohe
Taupo

With over 35 years of experience in advanced eye care, we’re proud to support every patient in their journey, whether it’s through Laser Eye Surgery or another tailored treatment path.

Let our experienced team evaluate your eye health and determine the safest path forward, together, so book your free vision assessment today and take the first step toward clearer vision, with confidence.

Phone: 0800 733 2020 or book online here

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