Eye tests and lazy eyes in newborns / babies?

[podmumlet]

Wondering if anyone knows when babies get their first eye tests? Baby is 4 weeks today and has already had the equivalent hearing tests...

Reason I ask is because I have a lazy eye which wasn't diagnosed young. Apparently, if it is diagnosed really early, covering the stronger eye with a patch for a month or so would strengthen the weaker/lazy eye..

Does anyone know when to test baby's eyes and rectify a lazy eye?

Talk to your HV. He could be referred to an Orthoptist due to your own eye problems. They seem to be very hot on children with lazy eye - there are 2 children at our playgroup who have worn patches.

My ds was under an Orthoptist for 2 yrs as he looked as though he had a lazy eye. It was infact something to do with his nose which made it look like he had one. They kept him under observation though because dh has such bad eyesight!

My daughter's 20 months and has just been to the eye specialist because we thought she was developing a lazy eye/squint. It turned out to be an optical illusion (like the previous poster, to do with her nose) but the GP had no problems referring us. There's no formal eye test as part of the usual developmental checks - the doc will ask you at the 8 week checkup whether your baby seems to follow you with his eyes. Babies do often look as though they've got a lazy eye. Talk to your GP if you're concerned - they will test for a aquint and refer you if you want.

My DS was referred at the 1 year check as I had similar problems to yours not picked up on till school.

He was fine and doesn't have to go back. The test involved cards that look like splodges but had hidden objects in and my DSs eyes were drawn to the right places whereas I just saw splodges!

Babies often look cross-eyed apparently, so they wouldn't refer DD for a sight test until she was about 10 months or so.

By that time she had a very obvious squint and would have grown out of it by then if she was going to.

I still had to be assertive with the GP and insist on being referred.

I was stunned to find that they can put drops in babies' eyes and have a look, then hand you a prescription for glasses. Very clever!

My DD was very long-sighted and this was causing the squint. They have checked up on her very regularly since to make sure that there is no muscular element to it that might require a patch. She hasn't needed one so far.

So, I would mention your concerns to HV and GP at all the various checks. Then start pushing for referral if you're still worried at around age 1.

Thank you ladies for all the advice.

I am having my 6 week check next week and will be discussing this with my GP. It does sound as if it is something that gets addressed closer to the 1 year mark once the babies have grown out of their natural newborn squintness...

Thanks again!

Mine was picked up at 12! Not ideal, and a LOT of work with the exercises, but much improved (without surgery I hasten to add even though it was offered) although will never have fully stereoscopic vision. It gets worse if I'm really tired, but I can control it most of the time these days.

In a way I do wish it had been picked up as a preschooler (so as to be early enough to have had patching etc.)

But it's not held me back - I can drive, work in a 3D vision dependent job (surgeon!), and am the only member of my family not in specs! At med school I was always the volunteer for eye exams, to see if people could spot where I was abnormal

Hi,
I was in a similar situation to you with my eldest daughter. I had a lazy eye (runs in the family) that was corrected by surgery when I was a child so was worried about my daughter developing the same thing. Convinced myself she was squinting.

Pediatrician told me there's no point checking eyes until child is at least one as the eye muscles are not developed enough before then and lots of kids look like they are squinting when they aren't.

Took DD to the eye hospital to see the squint specialist at around 15 months and they found nothing, and told us the best age to check for a squint was around two years. In the end her eyes are fine and she never looks as though she is squinting any more.

So I'd say keep an eye on it (sorry no pun intended) and get her an appointment around her first birthday.

thanks for this thread - it's something I need to look out for as my mum was blind in one eye due to a severe uncorrected squint and I had 4 ops on mine and it's still by no means perfect.

jenniec79 - My lazy eye was also picked up at around 12, but I wasnt given any particular exercises. I am also short-sighted and wear either specs or contact lenses, and both my eyes are now at the same strength, but I certainly still favour the stronger eye. While I don't need stereoscopic vision for my work (wow - you're a surgeon!) I can watch 3D movies and don't feel that its adversely affected my life. That said, I do find parallel parking a challenge and I cannot 'see' those 3D print pictures...

gastrognome - I didnt even know that lazy eye could be corrected by surgery. Glad to hear that all things are good with your DDs eyes. Loved the pun about keeping an eye on it and I will certainly be doing so...

Thanks again ladies!

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I was concerned about this with DD because she had a lazy eye for some time. I was told that they would wait & see until around 2, in case she grew out of it. Which she did.