Dd is 3mo and has squint but gp won't refer til 9mo

[AnybodyHomeMcFly]

Hi does anyone have experience of this? I have noticed that dd has a slight squint and hv and gp both say "I see what you mean" but gp said there's no point referring to orthoptist until she is 9mo as she needs to take direction during the tests (look at this light etc).

That sounds reasonable but all I have read on squints says get them seen asap - although no-one says how young the patient can be.

Any thoughts as to whether I need to push this or leave it a few months?

[CMOTdibbler]

DS was referred at 1 to look at whether he was squinting or not. In my discussions with the opthamologist, he said that there wasn't much point in referring until then unless it was really bad as it often sorted itself out (I have a severe squint myself, so they always want to chat about my odd eyes).

Ds looks as though he is squinting, but it is just how his eyes and nose make it look btw

[jabberwocky]

US guidelines are first eye exam at 6 months.

[penona]

My DTs both had squints at 3 mo and got referred, DS still had at 9mo when they had first eye exam so got referred to hospital at 1yr. It had pretty much gone by then, as had DDs. I had one when younger so was worried, like you.
Apparently they are v common in younger children, something to do with the set of the eyes around the nose making it hard for them to see straight. As they get older and their face grows, the squint straightens out. Or something like that, I can't quite remember how the orthoptist described it!
Anyway, they are 2 now and both of their eyes seem normal.

The eye test they had at 9mo would certainly have been impossible any earlier, it was pretty difficult even then.

[AnybodyHomeMcFly]

Phew brilliant thanks penona that sounds hopeful. I am just a bit paranoid because I (and everyone else) missed ds's tongue-tie so I want to make sure I get everything checked for dd.

[AnybodyHomeMcFly]

And thanks cmot and jabberwocky too

[lisad123]

both my DDs were referred at 8 week checks because of family hisotry. Seen at 6 months. DD1 was checked yearly till she was 4years old. DD2 was referred to hospital as she had white reflections, and so is seen at hospital every 4 months and now yearly.

HV can make referal.

[sazm]

i think its just that they can grow out of it, my ds had a check at about 6m then again aat a yr and ever 3 months after that (due to family history) bu he grew out of his,