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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Baby 16 weeks (4 months in 8 days) and still cross eyed?

68 replies

Tjsmumma · 10/04/2020 22:51

I uploaded a pic of DD to her grandmother earlier when i noticed one eye was definitely 'cross eyed' or pointing more towards her nose.

I know she's not quite 4 months yet, but, everything i read up about what she should be doing by then (she does everything else) states that, that should be gone and to be concerned if it's not.

I then went on her old pictures and noticed literally every single picture has it. Always the same eye, now, im pretty worried lol. My DP seems to think it's no big deal and it'll go away on its own but reading up about it states not getting it sorted ASAP can cause it to become weak and not function properly and now im just super anxious about it.

Anyone else's DC had cross eyes still at this age and it resolved by itself? Or, if not, whaf was the case? Am i over reacting? Or AIBU to state that i want to get it checked out??

OP posts:
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myfav · 12/04/2020 17:01

What are her eyes like when you're not taking a photo out of interest? DD3 eyes are sometimes like this on pictures but I assumed it was due to her focussing on the camera as they're not like this when I'v taken more 'candid' photos where she doesn't realise I'm there.

Original poster
Tjsmumma · 12/04/2020 17:14

@myfav nothing like the pictures! No inwards look to it or anything, ive really been looking the past few days and not notice either one sway or look a different way. Ive also noticed other babies a similar age do the exact same in photos

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Alocasia · 12/04/2020 18:38

The second picture is much easier to see. I really don’t think there is anything to worry about here OP. It’s the epicanthal folds making it look like a squint but the eyes look perfectly aligned to me. I think it would be sensible to get it checked (squints can sometimes vary a bit and be more apparent at certain times) but no need to do anything until we are free to go out and about again, it’s not an emergency.

happyandsingle · 12/04/2020 19:05

I had a squint as a baby well still do even though I've had over 5 surgeries to correct it! Looking at the pics I'd say she doesn't have a squint but worth getting checked if your worried.Fwiw I've always had good eyesight even in my lazy eye so it's not always true a squint causes bad eye sight in the eye.

Original poster
Tjsmumma · 12/04/2020 19:56

@Alocasia thank you for the reassurance! Once i read a bit more into it and had somem ore information from some lovely people here its put my mind at ease for the moment! Ill definitely get jt checked but think ill wait til its safe to do so!

@happyandsingle that's really reassuring tk hear! Im sorry you've had trouble but good to know you haven't had problems with your eye sight!

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Nagsnovalballs · 12/04/2020 19:58

Probably astigmatism of some kind. I have it. My mum refused to believe the child care person who first spotted it (single parent family) and it wasn’t until my vision went v blurry aged 5 that i finally got help.

It’s no big deal, and can be corrected with glasses and/or a patch.

GaaaaarlicBread · 12/04/2020 20:01

I really wouldn’t worry about this as I think it looks like she’s just focusing on the camera (I thought this before I even saw your recent update re: photos ), I was the same as a child , on all photos where I’m focussing on the camera I have ‘funny eyes’ but any photos where I’m not concentrating on it my eyes are fine . I do have glasses now though and seem to get a slight lazy eye when I don’t wear them but again only in photos ! Not in real life. I get your anxiety though as I’m soon to be a first time mum and I’d be the same. Btw she has beautiful eyes ! X

DressingGownofDoom · 12/04/2020 20:02

I wouldn't panic, worst case scenario it's a bit of a lazy eye that can be fixed with a patch or glasses.

Sewingbea · 12/04/2020 20:06

Has she got a really flat bridge on her nose? I know that sounds an odd thing to ask but DD1 had what I thought was a bit of a squint at about six months. I took her to my optician because I knew he also worked at the children's hospital one day a week and asked him to have a look. He said that as DD1 had such a tiny nose sometimes it was hard for her to focus as the bridge of he nose wasn't big enough yet, and the eye uses the nose as a sort of guide point. (Or words to that effect, she's mid teens now so I don't exactly remember.) Anyway, he said it would stop as she grew and to wait it out, and it did resolve with no treatment after a few months. Mid teens now and a bit short sighted but never any problems with a squint,. and the short sightedness was inevitable as I'm blind as a bat without my glasses! Obviously get it checked, but could it be that?

Harriett123 · 12/04/2020 20:09

My son is 3 months old and has just been referred to a specialist for a squint however we got a letter saying they have no appointments and he is on a waiting list.
I would get a referral if I was you but might take a while to see a specialist. From my understanding the earliest it is treated the more effective the treatment.

Original poster
Tjsmumma · 12/04/2020 20:18

@Nagsnovalballs I'll look into it, I'll definitely take her for a check up after all thks stuffs over :)

@GaaaaarlicBread thank you! She never has it in real life, only on pics but my camera has a white speckle where the flash is and i assume she focuses on that! Ah FTM worries are not the one lol! Thank you so much, she has her dads eyes! Best of luck with everything! And congratulations 🥰

@sewingbea I'll attach a photo but, i dont really know! That's really reassuring to know though, ive seen a few people state its the skin on the nose etc as the light shines on both eyes the same just looks odd in photos! Nice to hear im not the only one who thought it of their child. Definitely going to get it checked, but, now doesnt seem so urgent as it did when i first posted! So ill wait til everything is back to normal (whenever that is!)

It just stated on the 4 month milestones about it, i then put a photo for her DG and noticed it and worked myself up in my head lol!

Baby 16 weeks (4 months in 8 days) and still cross eyed?
OP posts:
Original poster
Tjsmumma · 12/04/2020 20:19

@Harriett123 would you mind looking at my previous pictures and seeing if it matches the same as your DS? I was told its not an issue til after 4 months. If you feel its the same, ill definitely call and get an appointment. That's why i came on asking about it as i read uo about getting it done as early as possible.

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GaaaaarlicBread · 12/04/2020 20:25

Oh my goodness she’s such a beauty !!! 😩🥰

happyandsingle · 12/04/2020 20:32

Shes gorgeous and looking again at recent pic I'm even more convinced she doesn't have a squint.

Harriett123 · 12/04/2020 20:41

www.nhs.uk/conditions/squint/
NHS website says intermittent squints are to be referred from 3 months.
It's hard to tell from photos to be honest but if your concerned about it I would get it checked. My referral came from the gp but Im sure health visitors can refer as well.

Original poster
Tjsmumma · 12/04/2020 20:42

@GaaaaarlicBread aww thank you so much 🥺🥰

@happyandsingle aw thank you ☺️ i just wasnt sure is all! Definitely get it checked but think ill wait as not so urgent!

OP posts:
Original poster
Tjsmumma · 12/04/2020 20:45

@Harriett123 does your DC have a squint all the time then? She definitely doesnt, and only ever see it in photos when she's focused on my camera, for some reason that's the only time she does it. Never when looking at toys. I don't really want to take to docs surgery unless really necessary at the moment. She doesnt keep one eye closed, nor have it when looking straight on and its definitely not as severe as in the pic on NHS website. I meant more, does that look like your DC?

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myfav · 12/04/2020 20:48

I just had a look through my older DC pics and some friends babies. All have the same eyes as your DD in pics where camera is right in front of them. I'm quite shocked at the responses as I never considered it being a problem unless it was there all the time.

iano · 12/04/2020 20:49

Do get it checked op to be on the safe side. DS1 has a squint that looked like that. It lasted past 6 months and, like you, i got worried. He was referred to hospital yesterday the GP. They were fab and decided it was nothing to worry about and was due to his nasal bone being short.
He grew out of it before he turned 1.

iano · 12/04/2020 20:51

I should add that DS1's squint was only visible in photos. GP still referred. I would a phone appointment and see what the doctor says.

Original poster
Tjsmumma · 12/04/2020 20:57

@myfav yes, now ive looked all my friends babies have it. Unsure really!

@iano so its worth going now, like urgently? Would a few weeks/months do a lot of harm then? Im a high risk due to CV and DD is potentially as well, so, dont really want to step foot inside of a GP unless urgent, i even postponed her jabs due to it. Hence coming on here to see opinons

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Original poster
Tjsmumma · 12/04/2020 20:59

@iano missed the point that it wasnt indeed a squint x

OP posts:
SockQueen · 12/04/2020 21:04

I don't think it's urgent but it's certainly worth pursuing once things start to return to normal. It's a very routine thing for GPs to refer and for orthoptists to see.

DS1 had an intermittent squint so we got him referred at about 4 months. We were seen twice in eye clinic and told likely pseudosquint and to go back if it didn't go away. Was still there by 2.5 so we went back and after several more sets of tests we got some glasses with bifocals when he was ~3y4m. In his case, the vision in each eye individually is ok but they don't work well together, so the bifocals are to encourage that. He's taken it all remarkably well!

Original poster
Tjsmumma · 12/04/2020 21:16

@sockqueen Thanks for the reply! Yes, i was definitely going to pursue it once things get back to normality and I'll definitely take her if it's an urgent matter that can't wait a while for a referral. I may give HV a call tomorrow and see what they say about it. Just don't want to risk ths potential of catching thjs nasty virus and ending up in hospital away from DD as she's EBF and very much a mamas girl or her be admitted and me not allowed to go with and her beimg alone there! May I ask if it looks similar to the photos I've put up?

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Alocasia · 12/04/2020 22:08

Very unlikely to be astigmatism at this age. All your photos look perfectly normal to me. It’s just the shape of the eyes/lids that make it look like a squint.