A current summary of strabismus in children

Strabismus, defined as misalignment of the eyes, is a common ocular disorder in childhood that can result in impaired vision. Although in the title of the article, Dr Regnier uses the contemporary word strabismus, the author uses throughout the article the earlier term squint in reference to evaluating pediatric patients “whose eyes are not straight.” Referring to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word “squint” dates back to 1652. In the 1950s, it was generally used among the medical profession. Perhaps, because of its negative connotations in the lay community, it has currently lost favor. The author also uses the term “retrolental fibroplasias” in his review of strabismus in children. The current terminology is retinopathy of prematurity. Retrolental fibroplasia describes advanced cases of the disease entity in which the retina has become detached and has contracted behind the lens of the eye. Today, this advanced stage of the disease rarely occurs because of progress in prevention and treatment.