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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU- to ask about your experience of Squint surgery?

19 replies

AstridPeth · 24/02/2018 19:17

Sorry to ask here but I Know more people will see it and I am worried about my little boy.
He is almost 9 and had surgery on his squint on Tuesday. At the hospital they said that his eye will remain red for several weeks. They didn't mention anything at all about swelling and they said be would be able to go back to school on Monday.
My son's eye is very swollen and he can barely open it (if I can figure out how to add a picture I will include one) .
Also on Wednesday he wasn't too bad giggly and enjoying his day off school. But since then hasn't been well at all. Barely eating except for a few nibbles and sleeping loads. When be is not asleep he is lethargic and quiet. Not like my little boy at all.
Does this sound normal for after squint surgery? I have looked on the info given me and online and nothing is said about the eye being swollen. Or about feeling this poorly afterwards.
He has had anaesthetic before and he didn't react like this.
The consultant said he would be fine for school by Monday but there is no way I can see him going if he is like this.
Any thoughts?
Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
AstridPeth · 24/02/2018 19:18

The pic shows the widest he can open his eye and that's him really trying.

OP posts:
Ilikeeyes · 24/02/2018 19:27

In Wales there is a scheme set up where you are recommended to see an optician who would be able to check over and determine if he needs to be seen sooner at the hospital. It's free for under 16s to have eye test in the UK anyway so I'd suggest seeing if you could get an emergency appointment with an optician tomorrow to see if anything needs to be done.

knackeredandneedwine · 24/02/2018 19:30

My son had squint surgery and he didn’t have swelling like that. It looks like there is some discharge there as well so I’d be concerned that he has an infection. Did the hospital give you contact details for who to call if you were worried afterwards? Did they give you antibiotic eye drops?

dementedpixie · 24/02/2018 19:31

I would take him to the gp in case it's infected. I don't remember dds being like that after surgery. Do you have an aftercare leaflet with contact numbers for the hospital who did the Op?

knackeredandneedwine · 24/02/2018 19:31

My son also wasn’t feeling unwell afterwards other than occasional pain

lizabes · 24/02/2018 19:32

I know at our optician you don't need an appointment for quick things like getting your glasses tightened so if you popped in to yours someone would probably be happy to give him a quick look and recommend wether it's normal or if you should take him to the gp.

1234512345Meh · 24/02/2018 19:32

Hi there,
I had squint surgery as a baby and as an adult a few years ago.

Although I can’t remember the first op, I’ve seen photos where there was a lot of swelling. Then, as an adult I cannot tell you how unprepared I felt for the pain/discomfort, mainly as I’d been told I could go back to work within a week!

After a week, I was still on 3 lots of pain killers and could barely open my eyes so went to my dr who signed me off for another 2 weeks.

I did have both eyes done and multiple muscles in each eye (for comparative purposes) but from my experience I’d say it looks quite usual.

One thing that helped me was using my (prescription) sunglasses in the early days... I never realised how much energy just ‘seeing’ took but they helped relieve the strain of too much light. Equally, no screens etc but he may be ok if you cover the operated eye for this.

I hope he feels better soon xx

stressbucket1 · 24/02/2018 19:33

I think he needs to be seen again. Were you on a ward when he had his surgery? If so I would ring the ward for advice. If not I would be tempted to take him to a walk in centre or A&E at the hospital he had surgery at.

MoreProsecco · 24/02/2018 19:34

My DD has squint surgery, Age 3. She did not have that degree of swelling or "crustiness". I think you need to call OOH.

Xennialish · 24/02/2018 19:35

I had squint surgery at age 15 and immediately got a vomiting bug so was in horrible pain every time I was sick but no swelling at all really, I do think it could be infected. The whole white of my eye went red though. Do you have a walk in centre or paeds a and e department you could attend?

1234512345Meh · 24/02/2018 19:36

Re the ‘crusty’ eyelashes, I also had that for the first few days... it wasn’t infected according to dr but they advised twice daily eye baths (using cotton wool and boiled water cooled till it’s warm).

Foodylicious · 24/02/2018 19:37

I had both of mine done as an adult (a tear apart) and don't remember much swelling.
There was an ache and a kind of scratchy pain and it was a good few weeks before it felt normal again.

I would ring the eye clinic in the morning.
Though I know it's Sunday, it's prob worth googling to see if you have an eye a&e near by too. If you ring 111 they should be able to direct you

Original poster
AstridPeth · 24/02/2018 19:39

thanx for all your help . Yes we were on a ward. He was kept there for most of the day as he slept all afternoon after his op (in comparison the other children were quite awake and chatty after there ops). We do have eye drops and they said to watch out for green pus which he doesn't have any. I did Google it and it said there can be a bit of stickiness.

OP posts:
Original poster
AstridPeth · 24/02/2018 19:40

Should say I have been cleaning it with cooled boiled waters and using a cold compress for him also.

OP posts:
Lavalamped · 24/02/2018 20:11

I had this surgery as a child and adult. I can't remember the recovery as a child but as an adult my eye was swollen for a good while. I couldn't open it properly for a while but I can't remember how long. Like you I wasn't warned about the swelling so I had it checked and everything was fine. I think it'd be worth getting your son checked over for a second opinion and for some reassurance.

Lavalamped · 24/02/2018 20:18

Just looked through my photos, my eye was your like sons on day 2 post op, by day 4 I could open it a lot wider but for very short bursts only. It wasn't as crusty though so worth getting it checked out.

PistFump · 24/02/2018 20:24

I'd have him checked out. Ds had his squint surgery and was back to normal bar red eyes within 5 days. No swelling and crustiness like in your pic. Hope you get him sorted.

Original poster
AstridPeth · 24/02/2018 20:36

Thanx for all your advise. I think I will get him checked out just to be on the safe side.

OP posts:
Sleep10 · 24/02/2018 21:48

Hi
My daughter had squint surgery Tuesday and she reacted badly too.
Swollen eye, the swelling started spreading outwards too also in so much pain she was screaming.
The consultant/surgeon (she is both) had my daughter back up the hospital Wednesday to be checked over by herself after our phone consultant appointment with an optical nurse.
My daughter was allergic to the eye antibiotic drops and she thinks maybe the stitches too!
She's been put on 3 different kind of drops now and the swelling has near enough gone though eye is still very red/blood shot. She's also still having to have pain relief every 3 hours for the pain.
Appetite hasn't been great - today is the 1st day she's eaten 3 small meals.
I'd suggest ringing your hospitals eye department/ eye casualty (did you receive these numbers after the op?) For your son to be checked over.
I hope your son is feeling better soon xx

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