Possible lazy eye

[GingerPuddin]

In the past week I've noticed that when DS (3.5) is on the sofa watching tv sometimes his right eye turns inwards. It doesn't seem to happen when he's playing or doing other things. Should I take him to GP or optometrist?

This happened suddenly with my DD3 at 4. It may be that he can focus close up , ie when playing but struggles seeing further away. The weak eye lets the good eye do all the work. Get his eyes tested, he will probably be referred to the eye hospital for glasses and monitoring. They can improve kids eyes up to the age of 7 with glasses and sometimes patching. Hope this helps, my DD3 has just been discharged and although her weak eye will never be brilliant, with patching it is now up to driving standard.

Thanks. Do I need to get an eye test anywhere special or will boots do? I do wonder about his eyesight since mine is really bad without glasses. He seems to recognize things at a distance but he's never been tested.

Yes, any opticians and if they don't refer you, then ask them to. I thought my DD3 could see well, spotting planes in the sky etc, but realise now it was her good eye doing all the work. She will always need glasses and her weak eye turns in later in the day when she is tired without glasses, but better than it was due to patching. Good luck!

My 2 year old has a lazy eye and squint. His eyes were ok then suddenly one day, one of them started to turn in.

He doesn't need glasses but has to wear a patch over his 'good' eye all day. It was really hard in the beginning to get him to wear a patch. We have a tin filled with tiny chocolates. He is able to take one each morning once he has his patch on. I can recommend bribery

Dd has a lazy eye and is being treated with glasses and patching. In our case health visitor referred us to hospital after noticing it at her 3 year check, so if you are likely to see HV soon you could ask them about it. If not then yes am sure an optician can also refer.

A lazy eye is not a squint. They are separate.

A lazy eye is a eye that the brain has quit using, and only uses on eye to see, so the lazy eye loses vision because it is not being used.

You can have a squint without a lazy eye, but mostly they go together, but a squint could be focusing problems caused by astigmatism.

Yes go to the opticians, but you could also try your GP as you will need a referral, this can take up to three months unless there are other worrying signs.

As said it could be glasses, or patching or both if there is a squint.

If one is found then you will see a ophthalmic consultant, who will put drops in the eyes to establish the severity of the issues, and give a glasses prescription. The drops sting, but not for long.

Depending on the severity of the squint they may advise surgery, but not usually before trying glasses etc.

Good luck.

Thanks I've made an appt with the GP to ask about it.

I noticed my DS (now aged 3.5) had a squint last year. I took him to Specsavers in October who referred him onto the Eye Clinic at the local hospital. He was seen first in November, and then they got him back in December to put eye drops in which dilate the eye so they can see what's going on. I was told he definitely had a squint in one eye, and a slight squint in the other. His eye muscles weren't very strong either. They prescribed him some glasses which would help him to focus and said I would get another appointment through the post to see how he was doing.

I have literally not long since got home from the check up. They (and us at home) noticed that with the glasses, the squint has practically gone. The eye muscles have got stronger too, so it means his vision has improved a lot in just the last 3 months. They did say he had Astigmatism, which glasses will help with and because of how much he has improved, it's looking more like he won't need surgery for the squint.

So do book an appointment at an opticians, or see your HV or GP. If he does have a squint, the sooner they treat it, the better for him!

Good luck.