Dd 10 years old has permanent headache and close up double vision

[Sparrow8]

2 weeks ago today, dd came home from school complaining of headache and double vision with in reading distance. Pain killers did not touch headache. So far we have been to doctors, a&e and the opticians. So far we know nothing. Bloods/urine fine, optician said all fine, hospital said could be virus. Went back to the doctor and we have a CT scan tomorrow, also took her to another optician for 2nd opinion who said there is a possible convergence issue and they would need to put drops in her eyes to fully investigate, but to have CT first to rule out anything sinister.

Has anyone else had this before? I am beside myself with worry and really just wanted to see if anyone else had any experience of this. I just dont understand how she can go to bed one day with perfect sight and then wake up with double vision! Thanks.

If the optician can't see much and the CT is all clear, then perhaps a referral to an opthamologist?

Not sure, but good luck with CT scan. Could it be migraine, is the headache and double vision there all the time or on and off?

Good luck with the CT scan. I know it is worrying but there could well be an innocent-ish explanation.

Could it be hormonal? At 10 she is young to be getting cyclical hormonal highs and lows but not unheard of by any means.

Or sinusitis? - has she had a cold recently?

If the scan comes back clear push for a referral to a specialist eye hospital. not sure where you are in the country but Moorfields in London and Torquay are have good reputations

Thanks for your replies. Had CT scan this morning and get the results later this afternoon. We are actually in Australia now but will ask for to be referred to a specialist. The headaches and double vision are constant. As soon as she wakes in the morning they are there. One of my friends said maybe hormones, but the doctors have not mentioned that at any stage.

Fingers crossed for clear results. Insist on a referral to a specialist if you can (not sure how it works there).

Hope it all went well, Sparrow.

Yes thanks crash, CT scan all clear. Had optomotrist appointment today who has got us in to see a specialist optomologist at the hospital on friday. She can see convergence issues in dd close up vision that was not there when she last tested her 2 years ago. And at 10 this problem shouldnt just happen without a reason.

She did say that it could be viral and that next week she could just wake up and be fine..... she also suggested getting dd checked for diabetes. We went back to the doctors to get that test ordered and we arehaving that on Saturday.

I dont think she is diabetic as she has no other symptoms.

So glad the CT scan was clear but am still so worried. Not sure what else I can do. I have told her that we will just have to manage the headaches with nurofen/paracetomol until we know whats going on and she will just have to put up with it and do as much as she can at school.

It's actually a very common age for convergence issues to raise their head.

It's also surprisingly responsive to treatment if prescribed correctly. She will need to be shown exercises to increase her muscle tone in the convergence muscles. We call these pen push-ups. There are little props we can give too, like specially printed cards she has to fuse the images on.

You really need to see an Orthoptist, not an Optometrist to get the right treatment. Your GP will be able to refer you for this.

Hope that helps x

Apologies, just seem you've seen a specialist at the hospital already.

They should have given her some straightforward exercises to do, but do let me know if you want me to give you a more detailed run down of the exercise xx

Hi barley, thanks for the info. Since my last post Dd has had a lumbar puncture and MRI. They were all clear. neurologist seems to think possible migraine but I would be grateful if you could give me some more details of eye muscle strengthening exercises.

We are due to see neurologist and ophthalmologist next Wednesday at the hospital.

Thanks so much

I have sent you a PM x

Thanks x

You need to be referred to hospital ophthalmology dept. my son has just recovered from double vision (convergence insufficiency). Opticians didn't spot it. His teacher noticed something odd about how he was tracking words (reading). GPS referred us to Moorfields. They diagnosed really bad convergence. 3 months of exercises sorted it. Opticians had not picked up on it.

Daytoday, did your son just do the exercises for 3 months and just had to cope at school or did they give him glasses in the interim?

We have seen opthamologist at the hospital but they thought if was something more sinister. Thankfully it doesn't look like it is. We are back there on Wednesday for appointment.

Thanks for info

My dd (6) has exactly the same. Permanent headache and complaining of double vision within 1m, come on over night. I took her to the oticians last week and they said she has a very clear convergence issue but because its so big and happened very suddenly she needs to be seen urgently at orthoptics. We have received an appointment for 2 weeks time. I actually know that she's probably got nothing too sinister going on, she only had a brain MRI scan about 6 weeks ago for what we're currently assuming is an unrelated condition and it was clear. So i'm assuming its just a simple case of convergence insufficiency. Its the speed its come on though that worries me as you say sparrow. Hopefully Wednesday will shed some more light for you.