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Children's health

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Original poster

DD2 (3) suddenly has a wondering eye...!?!

36 replies

PurpleLostPrincess · 29/12/2010 22:31

She was born with all sorts of problems, but her eyes have so far been totally normal, every indication that her sight was fine. I have a profoundly deaf family so we're a little 'aware' of the senses if that makes sense... pun not intended there!

Anyway, I digress. DD2 had a chest infection that seemed to go on forever, as they do! But around 3 weeks ago, we noticed that she was squintint her right eye as if she was straining to use it, or there was a hair in it or something. Then about a week ago, we noticed that it now goes all over the place, and she seems to go into a little trance for a good 30 seconds or so. I assume she is trying to focus or something. So, the left eye is normal, but the right eye is all over the place, it seems to be a little worse as each day goes by!!!!

So, do I take her to the GP, opticians or paediatrician!? How on earth do they do eye tests on children? Help please - the rate at which it is worsening is making me think I can't leave this any longer!!!

She hasn't mentioned any pain of any sort and would have if there was any bother as she got a doctors set for Christmas and loves being the doctor - any pain and she's on it. She even diagnosed DH as dead!!!

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Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 29/12/2010 22:32

BTW, I did a search for anything like this but couldn't find anything, sorry if I've repeated...

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3littlefrogs · 29/12/2010 22:34

GP first. ASAP. I agree you must get this looked at. The GP will probably refer you to a specialist.

meltedmarsbars · 29/12/2010 22:36

GP at first, quickly, but if you need more info on how they test small children, I can help - dd2 wore glasses from 6 months so has had eye tests for years.

eviscerateyourmemory · 29/12/2010 22:38

I think that the GP would be the best person to see first.
It might help the GP if you can give as good as a description of what is happening as possible, or even if you could record what happens, or even part of the episode on a video or your phone.

It is possible to do eye tests on children much younger than this, but because of what you say about the 'trance' I would go to the GP first, not the optician.

Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 29/12/2010 22:50

Thank you all, I'll see if our family GP is around tomorrow, if not should I get a rapid access appt and see one of the other doctors? I only ask because our family doc knows about all her conditions and she seems to really like him!

Thanks mars, I'm being very blonde really - for some reason I get a mental block thinking that if small children can't read, how can they say what letter they can see!?! I'm clearly way off track on that then . Amazing really - she's had a colostomy, heart surgery etc and is used to all those check ups, but this has thrown me!

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Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 29/12/2010 22:53

Thinking about it, she has been playing with an eye patch (obsessed with octonauts!), and I thought perhaps if we put it over the 'better' eye, it would strengthen her weaker eye, but she always swaps it back again...

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eviscerateyourmemory · 29/12/2010 22:53

I would go for the first appointment rather than holding off for the GP who knows her.

They test smaller children vision either by showing pictures rather than letters, so the child says what they see, or in even younger chilodren they have a series or cards where the picture is in a different location on different cards, and they watch the childs eyes move indicating that they have seen the image.

Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 29/12/2010 23:04

Thank you, it's good to get an idea of what they will do!

Right, will get an appt first thing tomorrow, they have a good rapid access system so it shouldn't be a problem to see somebody at some point in the day.

Having googled (naughty I know!), it would seem this could be something like strabismus... not that I know much about it, but it seems to match her symptoms. Bless her, she's been through so much already, this is the last thing she needs!

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Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 29/12/2010 23:11

www.uic.edu/com/eye/LearningAboutVision/EyeFacts/CrossedEyes.shtml This is very similar to what she has - I think she would fall into the top one, the esptropia, but I haven't really spent time observing where the eye goes. So, when I've said it's going all over the place, maybe it's just turning in...!?!

I'm getting myself in a tizzle which is what I wanted to avoid, so I'm off to bed, determined to keep calm

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eviscerateyourmemory · 29/12/2010 23:14

If you just describe everything that is happening - the eye movements, and the 'trances' to the GP tomorrow they should be able to give you a better idea of what the next step should be than google.

Good luck for tomorrow, come back and let us know how the appointment went.

PixieOnaLeaf · 30/12/2010 12:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 30/12/2010 14:07

Thank you - managed to get an appointment for 5.05pm - had to convince the receptionist it is an emergency which was hard work! They must be stepping up their standards as they usually don't ask any questions, but hey ho, she has an appointment Will update later, thank you for all your support...

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Sirzy · 30/12/2010 14:12

Hope you get answers quickly x

Ds has been having eye tests since he was 6 months it amazes me how they can tell so much when the child can tell them nothing!

Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 30/12/2010 18:43

Thanks, hope our DS is OK?

Well, we saw a different doctor, and he took me quite seriously - tried all sorts of different lights etc. However, lo an behold, she didn't do it, not once!!!! He said that he does believe me, it's just a case of him seeing it for his own eyes... so, he suggested we come back in a weeks time and either see him again, or our normal GP - making an appointment tomorrow as it was really busy.

Surprise, surprise - getting out of the car, DH said she was doing it again, typical!!

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Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 30/12/2010 18:44

*your, sorry!

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eviscerateyourmemory · 30/12/2010 18:47

If you have any way for videoping it that would be really helpful for the GP, then they can see for themselves what you are talking about, without the pressure of expecting your DD to 'perform' in a 7 minute appointment slot.

Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 30/12/2010 18:49

That's an excellent idea!! Right, I'll do that, can't believe I didn't think of it - thank you so much

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Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 12/01/2011 23:54

Saw GP today (and yesterday!) and he has done the referral, he says this needs to be looked at ASAP. Should get the appointment through very soon.

He mentioned this can happen when children get tired. She sleeps 12 or more hours per night, but recently moved into another bedroom and since doing so, has dropped her daytime sleeps. She's was 3.3 at the time and is now 3.4 now - surely that's not too young to drop the daytime sleep? Even if it's not, could that really be the result of dropping a daytime sleep!?! She has lots of physical problems, so maybe she is more tired than we realised...!?!

Just thinking out loud really...

Will update when relevant

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Karoleann · 13/01/2011 12:22

In order for your little one not to have a wondering eye they need to use the fusional reserves in their eye muscles. Often after a period of illnes or tiredness the fusional reserves can be less and this can cause the eye to wander.
It may be a case of just needing to do some eye exercises or glasses. I'm assuming you've got an orthoptist appointment at the hospital....if its not within the next month just get her tested at the local opticians - they'll be able to give you some answers. She'll most likely need to be referred anyway.

Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 21/01/2011 00:12

Thank you Karoleann, she did have a chest infection for the best part of a month in Nov/Dec...

I rang the surgery to see when the referral was done, they said last Thursday, so I rang the hospital on Tuesday but they hadn't got anything. I've struggled to get through to the surgery again, so just went ahead and booked an appointment at an opticians for tomorrow. My friend has recommended a particular one that she used for her son and the guy was really good apparently. Also, the hospital said a referral from an opticians can be more useful as they will provide a more accurate assessment.

In the meantime, I have noticed her holding things up to her good eye when she is up close, possibly indicating that she is struggling to focus - my Mum is worried sick but I'm trying to keep calm...

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Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 21/01/2011 18:10

Well, that was interesting!

Waited for about 40 minutes for the actual eye test, but the guy was really good with her! She enjoyed the games of identifying the pictures on the cards but wouldn't let him cover her left eye, the right eye is the worst. He said that sometimes it's a good thing if both eyes are turning in, because if it's one eye, it gets left behind, but they are alternating which means she is still using the muscles in both of them.

He said she needs further tests done and the orthoptists is the best environment for it, he was faxing through the details this afternoon.

Got home, and got a call half an hour ago from the outpatients at the hospital offering DD2 2 appointments, orthoptics on 31st January and opthamology on 8th Feb - so will update, thanks for all the support!

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Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 31/01/2011 23:48

Had her appointment today - the lady said that her vision in her left eye is 6/6 but in her right eye it's 6/18...? She did explain it but I'm not sure I understood it . She definitely has a squint. Anyway, she's given DD2 some drops to put in her eyes an hour before her appointment next Tuesday. I'll pop back when we get a conclusion...

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Seona1973 · 01/02/2011 20:27

the 6/6 is equivalent to 20/20 vision and relates to the size of print a person with normal vision could read when he stands 6 metres away. 6/18 means that your lo can see at 6 metres what someone with normal vision could see at 18 metres making her short sighted in that eye (I think!)

Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 01/02/2011 21:28

Thank you Seona, yes that's how she explained it, thank you for reminding me

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Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 08/02/2011 20:52

Had the opthalmology appointment today and DD2 has to have glasses. Have made it an exciting thing and she is all happy and wants pink ones, bless her! We have the prescription so will go into town tomorrow to choose some. Part of me is a little disappointed for her but I don't want her to pick up on it. She's been through so much already it just seems really unfair!

She will see orthoptics again in 2 months for a review and they will decide if she has improved or not and if she will need a patch or not. Slightly confused as the lady last week said about the 6/6 6/18 thing, but today he said she was long sighted . She also has an astigmatism which isn't surprising as my Mum has one, as do I and the older DC's.

We had a look last week and specsavers do some lovely Little Miss glasses, she really will look cute in them bless her! Hoping she will keep them on...

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