11 week old baby's eyes 'not tracking'...anyone else had this experience?

[harkharkhark]

I'm here on behalf of a friend. The DD is 11 weeks and HV has said she's not tracking. A google search brings up relationship with ADHD, or potential blindness, the former being more likely in this context - has anyone else had this experience? Obviously DD will now be assessed.

Thanks in advance.

[mebaasmum]

ds1 now 15 didn't track as a baby. it turned out he had congenital cataracts. Advise her to see her GP ASAP and get a referral to an opthalmologist. Some visual impairments if caught early in babies have a much better outcome. It maybe nothing but defiantly follow it up

[MedusaIsHavingABadHairDay]

She definitely needs a follow up asap. Unlikely to have anything to do with ADHD at his young age and more likely a visual/cerebral problem.

My son didn't track or smile either.. had delayed visual maturation (and other difficulties). Sooner she is seen the sooner they can check it out and help:)

[BeeMom]

Bee has been wearing coke bottles eyeglasses since she was very young (she got her first pair about 6 months old). She did not track at all, and her eyeballs seemed to quiver (nystagmus). Nystagmus is common in newborn babies but should resolve within a month. Beyond that, it almost always points to a visual impairment or neurological problem. She still has nystagmus and a visual field cut (she is blind in patches) but copes very well overall (I say this after she had a bad fall this morning because she pitched off a step she couldn't see, so take it with a grain of salt). She was resistant to her glasses for maybe a week or two when she first got them, but now they are the first thing on in the morning and the last thing off at night.

She is not fully corrected, though - the rationale behind it is she retains her ability to "navigate" the world without her glasses for a brief period if she needs to. She is classified as "low vision" and legally blind before she is corrected, but has adapted beautifully.

Vision is very much a use it or lose it thing in development... I strongly second mebaasmum in the advice to get your friend's child to the GP. The earlier it is being followed, the earlier the intervention if it is necessary, and the better the outcome.