squint

Common condition in which one eye deviates in any direction. A squint may be convergent (with the bad eye turned inwards), divergent (outwards), or, in rare cases, vertical. A convergent squint is also called cross-eye.

There are two types of squint: paralytic, arising from disease or damage involving the extraocular muscles or their nerve supply; and nonparalytic, which may be inherited or due to some refractive error within the eye. Nonparalytic (or concomitant) squint is the typical condition seen in small children. It is treated by corrective glasses, exercises for the eye muscles, or surgery.

squint

In architecture, a slanting aperture cut through the walls of the chancel in certain medieval churches, so as to make the elevation of the Host visible from a side chapel. It is also called a ‘hagioscope’.