Changes to adult squint

[Emochild]

Had squint, both eyes since childhood... 6 surgeries later (both eyes) and there was a slight divergence in the left eye -cosmetically looked fine

8 years later -squint is now convergent (left eye)

Never worn glasses

Is this a trip to the optician or GP for ophthalmology referral?

It's changed pretty rapidly over the last 6 months

[Karoleann]

Go to opticians, you tend to become more hyperopic (long sighted) as you get older which can alter the accommodative/convergence relationship and cause a squint to become worse.

I suspect you just need some glasses/contact lenses. Squints can also get worse after a period of illness.

[hotandbothered24]

Either your GP or optician can make a referral to ophthalmology. You don't become more longsighted with age, you develop presbyopia which is a different thing meaning that your own lens is no longer able to focus for near. If your eye was divergent until recently it is more likely to become more divergent not convergent ( I'm an orthoptist) so happy to answer any more questions

[Bladders73]

Sorry to hijack your thread op but seeing as hotandbothered is an orthoptist I have a question.

I have an alternating convergent squint and am due to have surgery on my eyes in December. I am a little worried About the outcome as I'm now 42 and had this since birth. I've never had previous surgery as my parents didn't want me to have an operation so I had glasses until I was about 13 then I stopped wearing them. My squint was almost unnoticeable unless I was tired but over the past few years I had noticed it getting worse and worse.

I am very self conscious of it and every photo I hate as it's quite noticable, also I have trouble percieving depth. I can also feel my eyes switching over form side to side and this causes problems often when I'm driving when tired and focusing into the distance.

What I'm worried about is the fact that the squint is alternating. I'm afraid that if the surgeon operates on my left eye then they'll be straight when I look with my right (as I usually do) but when the squint switches will I be wildly squinting the other way?

Also I had some double vision from about 7 diopters in so they'll correct to 10 which will give a much better cosmetic result but they'll not be perfectly straight.

Surgeon seems happy I'll have a good result but I am worried that it'll leave me worse than I am now. I'd be devastated as I'm already very self conscious. Can you reassure me please?

[hotandbothered24]

Bladders don't worry about which eye is being operated on. The surgery does not just affect the eye is operated on but will reduce the size of the squint whichever eye you are using. If you have always had a squint it is unlikely that you have binocular vision unless your squint is only intermittent. If you don't have the potential for binocular vision the aim of surgery is to leave your eye turning in just a fraction as there is a slight tendency for your eye to diverge over time if you don't use your eyes together and you can then develop a divergent squint. Some people do get some double vision after surgery but it is mostly temporary as you are adapting to the new position of your eyes. Good luck with the op any more questions let me know

[Bladders73]

Ah thanks so much, the surgeon was happy we could have a good outcome - I tried to explain my fears but he was a little abrupt and they were dismissed really before I felt I could really get them across.

Yes, I dont have binocular vision - the squint is permanent but alternating depending on which eye I decide to focus with. I have been warned I could have temporary double vision - how long could It last for? Work are keen for me to come back quickly and Ive told them I should be ok after a fortnight.

Thanks

[hotandbothered24]

Double vision is usually only a problem for a couple of days, if you concentrate on using your right eye and try to ignore your left this will help. If you do struggle with double after your surgery the orthoptists should be able to help you. The number of people getting lasting double is very very small so try not to worry about this

[Bladders73]

Thanks, you've really put my mind at rest. I can look forward to having it done now and not feeling so self conscious any more :)

[Icyblue]

While you're here Hotandbothered, can I ask you a question too? I have a mild squint since birth which was never corrected. The squint is intermittent. I have a referral but I don't want surgery. Apart from surgery, are there anything that can help, ie, eye exercise, botox injection?

[hotandbothered24]

Icyblue is it a convergent or divergent squint, then I'll give you some more info

[Icyblue]

When I look straight, one eye turns outwards. What is this?

[Icyblue]

If I look straight with my right eye, the left turns outwards. If I look straight with my left eye, the right eye turns outwards. Sometimes both can be aligned.

[hotandbothered24]

This is an intermittent divergent squint (Exotropia) there are a number of different options depending on how big your squint is and how easily you can control it. Prisms in glasses can make your squint easier to control, you can also be given - lenses which are used to correct shortsighted as they can encourage your eyes to converge. Botox is sometimes used for squints but not usually as the first option, Botox often gives an over correction of the squint initially so that your eye would turn in and then gradually wear off so you would have some time when your eyes are straighter before they start to diverge again. If you have't been to a hospital eye department recently you can ask your GP or an optician to refer you and they can advise you of the best options for you

[Icyblue]

Thanks for your reply, hot, but I got it wrong. My eye turns inwards, not outwards. When I look at myself in the mirror, both eyes are aligned. It's only when I look further ahead that my eyes squint as I am also mildly short sighted. I'm same as bladders with alternated convergent squint. If I do have surgery, will they operate on one eye or both? What is prism glasses and can they correct the squint by straightening both eyes or these glasses just help you see better? Thanks.

[hotandbothered24]

Hi Icy if you have a convergent squint , do you get double vision when you are squinting, you've said your squint is intermittent so are your eyes completely straight at times and you have binocular vision or is your squint variable and sometimes not seen. Lots of questions for you but treatment is different depending on if you have some binocular vision. You can pm me if you prefer

[Mercury1234]

Hello, I've name changed but was bladders!

I had my surgery today!

I'm home, tucked up in bed with my fetching compression tights on drinking tea to alleviate the horrible dry mouth and throat I've had since waking up

Went in at 11am, lots of rechecks where my measurements were taken again - thankfully they were completely stable, the same as the measurements taken in May, June and September. Went to down to surgery about 2pm, the anaesthetic was amazing, didn't even realise I'd dropped off! Came around and looked at the clock and it was 3.50pm. No pain in the eye, just a little gritty feeling but it's all patched up and shielded.

Felt pretty grotty and nauseous afterwards but that passed and I was able to leave carefully at 6pm. Felt better and better all the time since expect my bladder does not want to respond well so that's a little uncomfortable. (Very apt previous username)

Sneaked a peek behind the patch early and experienced dreadful double vision which quickly cleared after I panicked a little. Eye looks very, very red and swollen but pupil looks to be in a much straighter position although my son did say if he looked hard he could still see some element of a squint there. It all looks a lot straighter to me though and consultant did say to wait a few days to see the final result.

I've got drops to put in for 2 weeks so let's see how the recovery goes. I can honesty say I'm in no pain at all at the moment so it's all good. I'm hoping that the results will really start to show over the nect few days