ethan has aa squint in one eye sometimes, which has been getting worse, and after being to gp we have been referred to hosp in couple of weeks.

just wondered if anyone else has gone through this with their child, and what they are likely to do to help?

i have been told perhaps a patch would be used but how can a 16mth old be exoected to keep on a patch?

anyway id appreciate any help from anyone whos baby/child has this thanks xx

WE HAD HIS HOSP APPT ON TUESDAY AND WE FOUND OUT HE IS LONG SIGHTED, QUITE BADLY IN HIS EYE THAT SQUINTS AND A LITTLE IN THE OTHER EYE TOO. THE OPT LADY EXPLAINED HE HAS THIS SQUINT BECAUSE HE IS TRYING SO HARD TO SEE.

FORTUNATELY IT DOESNT SEEM THAT HE NEEDS AN OP, OR AT LEAST SHE DIDNT MENTION THAT, BUT HE DOES NEED GLASSES, WHICH WE COLLECT LATER ON TODAY.

SHE SAID HE WILL PROB NEED GLASSES FOR LIFE, BUT SHE HAS GIVEN US A WEAKER LENS STRENGTH THAN WHAT HE NEEDS FOR THE FIRST 2 MOTNHS AND THEN WE GO BACK TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY IMPROVMETN AND SHE WILL MAYBE GIVE US STRONGER THEN IF NEEDED.

THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOUR HELP BEOFRE, AND I JUST HOPE ETHAN LIKES HIS GLASSES AND ACTUALLY KEEPS THEM ON CAUSE HE'S TO WHERE THEM FULLTIME...THAT IS GONNA BE A NIGHTMARE, ANYONE GOT ANY TIPS ON HOW TO KEEP GLASSES ON A 17MTH OLD ??XXX

[Modified by: lauragcam on 07 November 2009 10:27:54 ]

Hey hun

My babies havent had this, but my partner did as a child, so both my children are being checked twice a year as a precaution. When we went for my little boys first test she explained that squinting is dead common and the earlier its brought to their attention the better. My partner wore a patch but wasnt diagnosed till he was 4 so I cant help you with what they do with a baby (Im sure it would have changed in 30 years anyway) just wanted to reassure you that the earlier its picked up the better. Hope Ethan is ok xx

chloe has been checked for this hun.

she has a sort of squint/lazy eye sometimes tho not all the time, mainly when tired.

she was seen at about 15mths, something like that. they did all sorts of child friendly checks and ours was a child specialist so used to dealing with children and had special props to get chloe to do things with her eyes etc to help the appointment go well.

they also used what looked like a speed gun to measure her eyes in various ways.

in chloe's case they found her eyesight is actually not that good in one of her eyes but said they can't really do anything before she is 2. they said with her kind of referral they would normally review at 3 but they want to see her at 2.

obviously not said this to worry you, this is just what happened to chloe. however she seems fine to me and can specks on the floor i can't!!!

HTH and your appointment goes well when it comes through.

Lara xx

Hi,
I was sure my daughter had a slight squint - only sometimes - especially in photographs and when she was tired. Everyone else disagreed with me but I asked the HV in June (she was about 16mths then) and she agreed and referred us to the childrens eye clinic.
It was September when I got the appointment. I have to say I was pretty impressed with the way they did the tests - I thought there would be no way Carrie would do as asked - but she did - I guess they're used to checking children.
Anyway - they said it was a pseudo squint and that as her face grows and particularly the bridge of her nose develops it will disappear as you'll be able to see more of the eye.
As Lara & Chloe saud - they check eyesight as well.
Sorry I don't know what they do if there is a squint but as it's a specialist clinic I found them very good and wold trust that they have many ways of helping if there is a problem.
xxx

My husband had a squint when he was child and he is fine now. He wore a patch for a while I think he was 3-4 years old and it went away. He does wear glasses though all the time and has done since he was 6. x

Hello,
I wrote a reply early as my daughter as a squint has glasses and now patches as she wont wear her glasses. Shes now 18months and patches are fine although in the last few days she has learnt hot to take it off by herself!
I ahvent time to reply now, will reply properly this eve when lo is in bed xxx

hi, my eldest son (now 2yr4mnth) has a squint and you could only see it some times. we took he to doctors who reffered us to a specialist, they did all the tests and found he is also longsighted (quite badly) so they prescribed him some glasses and he has been wearing them since about 16months. he is great with them. he asks for them when he gets out of bed and puts them on himself now. there not the special childrens ones wich are harder to take off just normal style!! its nothing to worry about. like they said the earlier you catch it the better.xx

Hiya
I have a very bad squint and lazy eye and it went mostly untreaded when I was a baby (30 years ago) cause docs thought my mum was neurotic. I had 3 ops by 18 months old but i didnt get patches till I was 5 and I remember hating them - but by then it was too late and I still have a bit of a squint and I have very little sight in that eye.

I'm not trying to scary you by mentioning that - honestly - as mine is very much a worst case scenario but I just wanted to say that its definately best to get checked asap as the earlier they find a problem (if there is a problem) the better they can sort it.

Both my mum and I noticed in cole a squint sometimes (it is inherited so I was extra aware of it) and he's been seen several times by a specialist since last december.

We first had an assessment appt where they used funny shaped lenses to look at his eyes and try to see how he focussed and everything and as she couldnt see anything obvious she gave us the choice of getting referred to specialist or going back there in a few months for a reassessment. I think she thought I was neurotic and imagining things but I want to do my best to make sure cole's eyes are ok so I asked to be referred to teh specialists

The first appt they put drops in his eyes to dilate them and then checked them out and then on followup appts they have done things like get him following toys, looking in his eyes and the last appt when he was about 18 months they gave him magic eye type pictures and apparently he was pointing out the right shapes (I can't see magic eye things so I have no idea lol) and they also show other pictures and see what they point to.

Everyone we have seen has been very good with him and very patient when he didnt want to sit still (I take choc milkshake for him now so he will drink it while they look into his eyes lol)

As they aren't finding anything when we visit they asked at last appt to take photos in that we have that show his eyes as not straight. She looked at the lights of the flash in his eyes in the pic and apparently they were symettrical so again no obvious signs of a problem (luckilyf or us) - if you have any photos that show a squint it may be worth taking them in to show them.

Good luck - hope it turns out to be nothing
xx

Hi,

I had a squint when I was 5, although mine was caused by one of my brothers friends smacking my head against a wall!!! I had an eye patch that I had to wear for a few hours every day and eventually they operated to straighten it out. I was only 5, like I said, so I don't really know any of the details but I remember going into hospital for the operation and not being worried at all. I woke up the next day with a dressing which a nurse immediately took off and I was fine. I think the operation was something to do with adjusting the muscles that hold the eye in place. I don't know if the operation depends on the severity of the squint, mine was permanent and gave me full on double vision. I know they said that the younger the child, the more successful it would be. The results of the treatment were brilliant and that was 25 years ago, so I imagine they will be a whole lot better now. I'm sure Ethan will be fine. I still have a lazy eye, it's come as far as it ever will with treatment, but the other eye has near perfect vision which makes up for it, and I don't even have to wear glasses any more and I don't have a squint since the operation.

***Kia*** I can't see those magic eye pictures either, I wonder if this is anything to do with the eyesight thing?!

I can't see the magic eye things because I don't have binocular vision (which is the part of vision where the view from both your eyes overlap - just put that in there incase anyone didn't recognise the term :) ) and magic eye is to do with the way both eyes together see whats there if that makes sense.

Would assume that as you still have the lazy eye you don't have binocular vision either. I didn't twig until the specialist told me that the fuzzy spotty sheets of plastic she was showing cole were magic eye pics - I wondered what the purpose of that part of the test was lol.

Hi Laura

My little boy Lochlan has this. he has a bad squint in his right eye luckily though he switches from eye to eye so hes using both eyes and his eyesight doesnt seem to be at risk, but i've been told my doctors, opthamologist and opticians there is no way it will fiz itself or with a patch so my little bo will be getting an op in his eye soon, we are just waiting on the appointment coming through from the hospital, he's 11 months old, and hes had it since birth. Im quite glad to be going through with the op because iw ould rather have it sorted now rather than later and im quite squemish so for him to not remember it would be a blessing. Its a quick op only about an hour so he should be home that day.

xx

Lynsey

Hi, I began to notice my ds had developed a squint when he was about 11months old. It only happens when he is tired or focusing on something in the distance, one of his eyes will drift outwards.
I mentioned it to my hv about a month later and she said if I noticed it again I must let her know and she will refer him to a ophthalmologist, I then mentioned that I suffered from a squint when I was little and she then decided to refer him then as there was a family history of squints as my dad too suffers from a squint.
My ds had to have drops put in to dilate the pupils and they have said that he is short sighted but most likely wont need a patch but will have to start wearing glasses in a couple of years like I had to when I was about 3 1/2. From now on I have to take him to have his eyes checked every 3 months but they told me because his squint doesnt happen all the time they are hopeful it will be corrected by wearing glasses. xx

I said i would reply....
I noticed a quint after a few weeks old. I went to the 6wk check but cos my lo was crying the dr went by my word and reffrered her. WE go to hopsital every 3 months. She was seen by the optician for glasses. She also wear a patch for 30mins a day as she doesnt keep the glasses on. She has been wearing patch for 3 mths and her eye sight has improved (she is longsighted, most babie are longsighted then they return to normal). going for another opticians apt to change strength of lenses next wk/
We were given the choice of op when about 2 yrs old. Told this would be for cosmetic reasons only, it doesnt mean she will get her binocular vision back as described above. Also have been told that she will still need glasses for her vision. They told me that she may not be able to see small specs on the floor or may take longer to walk. She is very good at seeing things and wil pick lil bits of the carpet that even i can only jsut about see. She was walking fully at 13mths, so no delay there.
I have noticed an improvement with her eyes. Shes very good at the apts usually. At times the professionals must thik im mkaking the improvement up as when she goes for her apt shes usually just slept in the car! So her squint is more obvious. the only time I notice it is when shes tired.

She used to move her head instead of her eyes when looking left. She now moves her eyese most of the way. She switches eye which is good. If looking left she looks with right eye and vice versa.
Decided as her squint isnt as obvious as some we didnt want to put our baby through an op which is just to correct her eyes for cosmetic reasons (line her eyes up). Lollyhatch who spends most of her time in large families daughter was given the option of a op but they declined. Shes now 3 and has been given the all clear and doesnt need glasses or patch etc. Just wanted to let you see a +ve story.

They say the younger they are diagnoised the better as the more they can do.

Having a patch is fine yur lo will get used to it. At first it will seem strange. You just need to dedicate 30mins of walking with him in your arms or in the garden or playing with him keep close to his hands. After about a week my lo was fine with it on. Try covering the non affected eye with your hand and play peekaboo or something to try to get him used to something in front of his eye.

Sorry for the ramble and non flowing post. hth xxx

hi thanks everyone for all your replies! i feel aloth better about ti all now, ii really hope he doesnt need an operation though, id be so scared esp since ive ever had an op.

his appt is 3rd nov so will keep you all posted xx

hi
my mai got her glasses at about 15 ,months i think (seems a very long time ago now) because she had a very noticable squint and we were told she would need an op. well she was given stong glasses and in the year n a bit she has had them she wore them about 4 times lol.

we saw her optician and opthalmist last month and her squint has resolved it self its completely gone!!!! joey08 has known mai for a little while and can probably say there is a definate cosmetic improvement :) im very pleased as surgery scares the pants off me! hope you have a positive story to share soon xxxxxxxxx

Hello,
At first i was a bit worried about what my lo would like with glasses...lolly gave nice reasuarance. My lo didnt keep them on so i went back and they gave me what look like goggles. Withing the first month i had to get the arms tightened.

You can see a difference with mais eyes im hoping the same happens with J. Mai used to put jam on hers and feed it to her dog - makes me smile everytime!

I also need tips how to keep them on a 18mth old. The only time she has worn them for longer than 30secs is when i allowed her to climb the stairs! She does keep her patch on so thats something. When you first puit them on you try and ahve a second pair of hands. One person holds your sons arms whilst the other plays. I also found holding her and taking her outside easily distracted her.
I have heard tht once your child realises that they can see better through them they keep them on. However as both your son and my dd are young, they arent 100% accurate with the descriptions as they just go by the childs eye reaction through the lens. I wonder if my dd eyes have improved as they ahve with the opthoptist and her galsses are too strong. She will happily wear mine just not hers! When she went to the optician recently she was playing up and they left them the same. Just told me she has stigmitism in the opposite eye to her squint!

One thing to remember, if he doesnt keep them on they say perserver (?sp), just make sure you dont get cross or tell him off. You dont want him to hate wearing them. Maybe make it into a game.

dontg worry about having to wear glasses for life, he can opt to wear contact lenses when hes older. I started wearing glasses in yr 6 then later on in secondary school I changed to contacts and have had them ever since. In fact i sleep in mine for a month and forget i have them in. Also glasses these days are designed like a fashion accessory. I remember my mum making me wear fat ugly round things!

hi there, i wish i'd seen this sooner...i'm an optical assistant and work in an opticians, if you need any info just FAO me (i can't guarantee i'll answer straight away though)!

i won't talk about the squint cuz obv you've had ur appointment and know everything now!

but....

are you getting the glasses from the hospital or a local opticians? i can't speak for hospitals but an opticians can fit the glasses with "curl sides" to hook around LO's ears or a "sports band" which makes them into a bit like goggles, the only thing is the NHS won't pay for them so you will probably have to...usually we advise patients to get some ribbon to tie them on with and that works pretty well...i fitted glasses on a 9 month old a few weeks ago and so far "touch wood" she hasn't been back with them broken, good luck! x

Just to say the niether the glasses nor the 'google's cost me a penny. The glasses I got on the prescription from specsavers, For he goggles, I had seen them on line and spoke to the ophoptist and the hospital who got their optician to speak to me. I asked if the googles were avlaible as I had seen them online and my daughter just pulls the arms on ehr glasses. They said that they dont sually offer them unless children are really playing up and refusing point blank to wear glasses. As I aksed, they said they would order them in for me and they did.
If you do have a problem with the glasses its worth asking about the goggles.
this si the website i found when i googled babies with glasses. The website is american so the fashion for glasses is diffrent. It should give you an ide what i mean by the goggles. My daughters are nived that the ones in these photos!

i meant the bands and curl sides weren't covered by the NHS, any glasses for under 16's are free but "extras" are not, unless u have a really good opticians, possibly specsavers do give them free as all their glasses are discontinued models that they get in REALLY cheaply so can probably afford to give extras free (thats not me being bitter towards ss that IS how they do it, that's how they make their money - buying discon frames lol). special goggles will be free if prescribed but the bands to make normal glasses into goggles are not, am i making any sense? lol i give up i can't explain properly it's been a long week! x

Hi
My daughter is 18 months and has a bad squint. She's been to the opthalmologist at the local hospital twice now. Like a few people who have replied it's because she is very long-sighted. Her twin sister is also long-sighted with pretty much the same prescription (well they are identical). They now have glasses which of course they won't keep on, try as we might.
Elizabeth's squint is getting worse I think & it travels from one eye to the other. From my understanding that means patches won't work, so I guess an op may be the next option. We're seeing the opthalmologist next Fri actually so I'll see what he says. Sadly, her sister is now also showing signs of developing a squint also.
Hard work keeping glasses on toddlers though. They both think it's a great joke & giggle when they're first put on & then make a lunge for each other. Hey ho.

hey.my other halfs cousins little boy had this and as soon as they put his glasses on he was sooo much happier!! they think that because the glasses helped him see so much better he wasnt inclined to take them off. he has done really well bless him so im sure your o will too!! oh and the little boy i was on about is 19months

i hope that helps