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Original poster

Anyone else have a squint?

28 replies

AlwaysFuckingTired · 08/12/2018 19:35

My squint has been the bane of my life. I find it so embarrassing, it gives me low self esteem and it makes me feel uncomfortable making eye contact with people. I finally plucked up the courage to go to the opticians and I've been prescribed some glasses which will apparently make the squint less obvious, but I'm doubtful.

Anyone else struggle with having a squint? I have it pointed out to me every now and again and I hate it.

If you've had treatment for it, what was it? How well did it work?

OP posts:
ClandestineAdulation · 08/12/2018 19:36

Hi! I’ve had a squint and subsequently had squint surgery... if you have in-depth questions drop me a message!

Longtalljosie · 08/12/2018 19:37

I had squint surgery at the age of 8 - was it never offered to you?

LoniceraJaponica · 08/12/2018 19:37

I'm sorry that people are so rude to you about it. Hopefully this sort of thing gets picked up by HCPs early enough these days so that they can be resolved.

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General health
Longtalljosie · 08/12/2018 19:38

I suspect your GP, and a referral to an Opthalmologist might be a better option...

Original poster
AlwaysFuckingTired · 08/12/2018 19:39

@ClandestineAdulation Thanks Smile How do I send PMs on the app?

@Longtalljosie No, I wasn't taken to the opticians as a child.

OP posts:
ClandestineAdulation · 08/12/2018 19:42

No idea, OP, I don’t use the app! I’ll drop you a message instead 🙂

Elephantina · 08/12/2018 19:42

I had one as a child which gradually straightened up - sadly the muscles weaken as you get older, and now I'm over 40 its back.

I wear specs with prism in both eyes and its definitely less obvious, although it is rather apparent when I take them off. It's all right though, I've developed it as a party trick for kids. My god children like me to whip my specs off quick, and howl with horror when my eyes go googly in different directions. Smile

I'm not making light of it, I'm a bit self conscious of it too (my DH takes the piss a lot) - but the glasses will help make it less obvious. Good luck Flowers

underneaththeash · 08/12/2018 19:46

What sort of squint do you have OP, does one of your eyes go inwards? If it does then wearing contacts/glasses can make it less depending on whether you have an accommodative squint. Prisms in glasses can also make it less obvious too and sometimes if its an inwards squint wearing glasses for shortsightedness (myopia) can work as well.

If you do have a squint that's only apparent sometimes, or is very small, exercises can work as well.

Long - unfortunately the NHS no longer operate on squints deemed to be cosmetic in adults in most areas, although they obviously do in children whose vision could be compromised.

You can get surgical treatment too privately for other types of squint.

Original poster
AlwaysFuckingTired · 08/12/2018 19:51

The eye turns inwards, it's a "refractive" squint apparently.

OP posts:
Elephantina · 08/12/2018 19:55

Incidentally, I went to a Harley Street opthalmologist to enquire about corrective surgery for my short sightedness - it was them that identified the strabismus.

They said I wasn't suitable for laser eye surgery, as they could give me 20/20 vision but I'd always have to wear specs with prism to correct my (previously mild) double vision anyway so it was pointless.

I asked if I could get surgery to correct the squint instead, and they said it was too late and I was too old - that my brain has spent 46 years adapting for the weaker eye, and if the muscles were surgically corrected now I'd have permanent double vision.

Oh well. I just get really cool glasses, I've accepted it now.

CMOTDibbler · 08/12/2018 19:57

I have an unstable divergent squint - I had two lots of surgery as a child (11 and 18), but it has persisted. Fortunatly I need glasses anyway and prisms bring my eye in and down so you can't see it and I don't get double vision

thebadplace · 08/12/2018 20:03

Please ask your GP for a referral to an Orthoptist. These are the experts in squints and will give you sensible advice and can refer to ophthalmology if surgery is indicated. Squint surgery is definitely still offered on the NHS in my area and in fact lots of studies show the benefits to mental health due to improved self confidence, it is no longer referred to as cosmetic surgery but non-functional in cases where the outcome is unlikely to result in binocularity (use of the eyes together as a pair) post op.

Original poster
AlwaysFuckingTired · 08/12/2018 20:09

I asked my GP for a referral but was told to see the optician. Optician said squint surgery is deemed cosmetic in my area.

OP posts:
LoniceraJaponica · 08/12/2018 20:14

I find it very sad that your parents didn't have the sense to take you to the optician when you were a child.

thebadplace · 08/12/2018 20:28

Go back to your gp, Orthoptists are based in most hospitals and will have a close relationship with ophthalmology, they will also have more advise about other solutions - for example Botox has been used for squints for a lot longer than for wrinkles !

Isabeau1980 · 08/12/2018 20:46

Back in the dark ages (it seems) the Summer I turned 15 (1995) I was diagnosed with a squint. I was given the choice of surgery that might work or a course of appointments with an eye specialist to do exercises that would work.

I went for the exercises and now over 2 decades later you would never know that I had it unless you saw me when I was completely shattered. Which unfortunately is any time this week as I have 2 sick, non-sleeping DSs. Xmas Sad

Maybe something like that may work?

PforPhoebeHforhoebe · 08/12/2018 22:37

I had surgery done in my 30s. Gp referral to optometrists. It's not cosmetic, tell them it affects your self esteem. It will take up to two h surgery and you can go home same day. Best thing I ever did and I had the same type of squint. 2 years later I am a new person. Also check botox for squint nhs funded if suitable. Good luck and don't give up it will change your life

underneaththeash · 08/12/2018 22:41

That's great OP, if it's fully refractive then glasses or contacts will straighten it.

MrsTerryPratcett · 08/12/2018 22:44

DH has bodged squint surgery as a kid, leaving him with bad eyesight and a squint.

He's bloody gorgeous so don't think people are all mean. Little imperfections just make lovely people more lovely.

huiledolives · 09/12/2018 13:33

I have a squint, my parents didn't notice when I was a child and it wasn't picked up until I was 10 (at which point I had also been wandering around half blind for a couple of years as my parents ignored my pleas that I couldn't see!). It's not noticeable with my glasses/contacts but it is very bad without them. Do you need or can you get glasses?

Notquiteagandt · 09/12/2018 14:52

I dont have a squint but I have quite a pronounced ptosis.

I forget I have it until drs mention it. Every medical professional I ever see will mention it. For obvious reasons. I mean It does upset me and make me feel self concious of it at that moment.

And I know it is alot easier said than done. But I try not to think about it. So it has never been an issue. I ashume people either dont notice or dont think about it. As I dont. I know someone whos eye isnt as bad as mine imo. But she draws so much more attention to it by trying to hide it with side fringes and strange angles slightly side on in every photo. So hers seems worse.

How you hold and carry yourself works wonders.

Hope this makes some sense. Flowers

Snowballs4ever · 09/12/2018 15:27

I had surgery for my squint when I was 18. It was unpleasant and it was improved, however the surgery only lasted about ten years. I won't repeat the surgery.

Being tired makes mine worse.

NooNooHead · 09/12/2018 16:53

I’m sorry you have had a hard time from others OP. I’m surprised you didn’t get it treated as a child though, as I was under the impression that they can affect your vision if left untreated?

I had a squint in my left eye that I had treated with a patch and eye drops as a young child, and I have had to wear glasses ever since. Occasionally you can see it if I am very tired, but I am lucky it is pretty unnoticeable.

Flowers to you OP, I think it is something that you shouldn’t worry about and tell the idiots to sod off if they are rude to you about it.

kittenfun · 09/12/2018 17:16

I had squint surgery aged 2

DaffoDeffo · 09/12/2018 17:19

I also had squint surgery as a kid but now it's undoing (late 40s)

I have a squint in both eyes but it's more noticeable in one

The glasses with prisms in make me sick as a dog. I drive with them but after 2 hours they make me really ill!

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