Epidemiological Aspects of Squint

Abstract

We report an analysis of 3,243 cases of squint examined at a health department clinic and an eye hospital. The estimated prevalence of squint at the age of 6 years is 4.3%, similar to estimates in other surveys in England. Incidence of onset is highest in the third year of life, and, if this distribution reflects the incidence in the community, it represents one characteristic pattern of distribution. Another pattern has been described in which the highest rate of onset is in the first year and diminishes rapidly thereafter. Non-central viewing occurs in 23% of the cases of squint in which this function could be assessed. Non-central viewing is much more frequent in boys, in children in whom the onset is early, in those who have had the squint for a longer period, and in those with high degrees of anisometropia. There is evidence that squints begin more often in winter, with a peak incidence in January. © 1967, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.