[Facts for the muscle-reflex-hypothesis of squint. (The importance of asymmetry in the structure of the eyes for the pathogenesis of concomitant squint) (author's transl)].

Concomitant squint is regarded as result of a congenital dissymmetry in the structure of the eyes or of the oculomotor apparatus and of an insufficiency of the optomotor reflexes. Squint develops, when 1. the anomalies of the structure of the eye-muscles or of their insertions are so considerable that binocular vision cannot be maintained by fusional and convergence-reflexes; 2. the optomotor reflexes are too weak in order to compensate functionally even insignificant structural deviations of the extraocular muscles or 3. the optomotor reflex-mechanisms are disturbed to such a degree that binocular cooperation becomes impossible although the anatomical conditions are normal. Children with the symptoms of "potential squint" (ametropia, heterophoria, pseudo-ectopia of the macula) need special ophthalmological care. Using prisms early and operating in time one can stop the monocular vision becoming established.