20 mo DS suddenly going cross eyed (sometimes) help!

[sausagelover]

My DS is just 20 mo and we have just noticed that he is slightly turning one or both of his eyes inwards. He is not doing it all of the time, and it's mainly while he is eating This is totally out of the blue. Have been googling and now have scared myself of brain problems, but it does sound like strabismus. Does anyone have any experience of this suddenly happening in toddlers? And is it possible that it's nothing?? I am so scared, feeling sick and on the verge of tears, I know I am probably being daft.... :(

Will phone for a docs appointment for tomorrow as well.

Sounds like strabismus - most high street opticians won't be able to deal with a 20 month old. You need to ask the doctor for referral to an ORTHOPTIST clinic at the local hospital.
Please don't worry - its a fairly common condition and the fact you've spotted it early means it will be sorted out more easily.
Its very very very unlikely to be a brain problem especially if the eye is pointing inwards rather than outwards.

Thank you, that is reassuring. It's the fact that it has come on suddenly that has puzzled me. Both eyes were symmetrical and he didn't seem to have any problems seeing or focussing, so I don't understand why it has come on all of a sudden? :(

I agree sounds like strabismus - don't worry (or google!) If he is doing it when eating then maybe he is a bit long sighted and just trying to focus on what is on his plate :)

I noticed DD's when she was about 8 months (in family so was looking out for it) - nobody else could see it until she was about 18 months and then it suddenly became a bit more obvious, so maybe your DC's case is similar.

Ask your GP for a referral to the orthoptist and they will have a look (DD had to watch toys that the orthoptist was waving around, and she quite enjoyed it)

DD was referred on to ophthalmology, as the orthoptist saw the squint - she has to be monitored regularly until she turns 5. She had to wear an eye patch for an hour a day for a couple of months, and she got glasses at 2 and a half - but the glasses were by no means a foregone conclusion, the consulatant gave the impression that these things can resolve themselves sometimes.

I noticed dd squinting around 18 months and she ended up with glasses as she was long sighted. I got her referred to the hospital orthoptist via the hv.

Yes, my DD is longsighted, which caused her eyes to turn in. It was noticeable in photos first - red eye didn't match in both eyes. Took her to GP at age 2 who said she couldn't see anything wrong but would refer us anyway. By the time we got the appointment with Opthalmologist at hospital a few months later she was pretty much cross eyed. It's funny how it appears out of nowhere. Mine's got glasses now and it's pretty much corrected. Best of luck with it.

I was told it is very common to start at that age as some other muscles come into play.Sounds very like strabismus. It's often a case of check the eyes at the hospital (anything brainwise is very rare)then try patching and glasses and possibly surgery if those don't help or cosmetic reasons. Hope everything goes well at the doctors.

My DD is very longsighted and her strabisimus came totally out of the blue aged 2. She is now 7 and no longer has a squint (little op. after 4 yrs visual therapy at the hospital solved it). She does have to wear glasses all the time though. Don't panic, get a referral from the doctor or health visitor and take it from there.

My DS's came on literally overnight, so get the referral the others mention to see a consultant orthoptist.

Best way forward.

Well I tried to get a GP appointment but couldn't get anything asap so spoke to a nurse, who said that in this area (NE scotland) I had to take him to the opticians first. So this morning we went to specsavers and he is indeed long sighted and needs specs. They have also referred us to the hospital and will have appointment there in a month or so. But in the meantime he is to wear the specs all the time :( I am sad for him cos he is so little!

I don't know how I am going to get him to keep the specs on?!?!

We get them next week, they are quite cute mr men ones.

Oh and she said that his eyes may correct with the glasses and then he won't need them anymore, so fingers crossed.

Thanks for the replies btw, you calmed me down!

Aww. I understand your apprehension about your little one having to wear specs. Both of my cute little girlies had to wear them from a very young age. DD1 was just 16 months when she got her first pair and DD2 was 2 and a half.

Both were very long sighted but only DD2 had a lazy eye for which we had to patch on and off for quite a while.

DD1 stopped wearing glasses when she was 11 (now 14 should actually have them for close up but refuses to wear them.)

DD2 now 12 and wears them for close up work. Her prescriptions started at +7.5 (think bottle tops!) and are now down to +2. It's good the problem has been spotted early before the eye muscles are fully developed. If glasses are prescribed much beyond the age of 8 it's often too late to do anything about it.

As for keeping specs on DD2 never took them off- she could obviously see so much better with them on that she couldn't bear to be without them.

DD1 was trickier as she was so little. We used to put them on her then distract her with a favourite toy, video or (gasp) a few skips. As soon as she took the glasses off the treat would disappear. After a while she would forget she had them on.

Good luck!

Hey sausagelover,
HELP I know you posted this 10 years ago. I’m experiencing everything you posted right now with my 18month. Is your child ok? What ended up being the result of your Situation? Did you have to do any treatment? If so what please???

@Salways I doubt the original poster is around still, but the advice is the same. Speak to your GP and they should refer you to the eye department at the hospital. Sometimes you do need to see an optometrist first.

Most children will be prescribed glasses which they'll wear full time and some will need a patch on one eye for part of the day, but if they're only squinting some of the time, then they may not need the patch.

It's a pretty common condition and the doctors are good at treating it, especially if it's noticed early on.