The results of squint surgery in 118 children with non-paralytic childhood esotropia are analysed. A 'favourable outcome', defined as a final alignment within +/- 10 dioptres of straight, or within +/- 20 dioptres of straight if there was evidence of binocular single vision, was achieved in 86 (72.9%) children. The factors affecting the final outcome are discussed, including age of onset, age at the time of surgery, pre-operative and post-operative amblyopia, refractive error, anisometropia, the surgical procedures used, and post-operative ocular alignment.