Is a strabismus/squint test standard at opticians?

[Thingsthatgo]

My Ds has a slight ptosis in one eye (sagging upper eyelid). It doesn’t cause him any problems, but he has been seen annually for eye check ups since he was 2. He has just had this year’s check up, just a standard check, and I forgot to ask her about the alignment of his eyes. They look slightly out of alignment to me, but I think it’s because of his ptosis. Would an optician check for a squint as part of a standard check up? He is 6 years old.

Ds(11) just had an eye test on Friday and the optician checked thoroughly for squint and his 3D vision. I don't know if its standard as I had mentioned that he'd been checked as a baby a couple of times as he looks like he squints, and I have a squint which he'd just been assessing

I don't think ptosis is linked to strabismus/squint. Ptosis is to do with your eyelid muscles, nothing to do with the actual eye really.

Yes, I know that they are not linked, sorry if that wasn’t clear. It’s just that, because you can see more of the white of the eye on one side, it sort of gives the impression of strabismus in Ds. But, alternatively it might be misalignment. I just wondered if he would have had it checked at the opticians.

I am an Orthoptist. It should be part of the Optician check but if you have a concern I would take him back. Some Opticians have more experience checking for squint than others and it is not a big part of their training. If they suspect/find a problem they would refer to an Orthoptist.
Alternatively you can ask your GP to refer him to an Orthoptist.

Thank you * that’s really useful. His eyes seem fine when looking forward, but when he looks to the right, his right eye seems to wander further than the left (if that makes sense). Is that possible? Would that indicate a problem?

It could be associated with your son's ptosis, some eye muscle disorders can be linked - for example Duane's syndrome can cause both (and it is nothing at all to worry about).
Whilst optometrists will routinely check for squints whilst the patient is looking straight ahead, some may not do a motility check on every patient at every appointment.
As booelles said you can either just pop back into the Opticians, or ask your gp to refer to the orthoptists hospital eye service.

Oh I forgot to mention - squints can be intermittent too, often coming on if the person is tired or under the weather - it may not have been present at the eye appointment.

Thank you so much for your advice. Really useful and I appreciate it

Cover test for squint should be part of the routine sight test, it depends on the cause of his ptosis whether he is likely to have a squint as well. If the optometrist found a squint they would normally refer you to the orthoptist

Thanks Rodder92. I think the optician is pretty thorough. We were sent to her from the hospital in the first place, to check that the ptosis wasn’t affecting his vision. We’ve been every year since, so I’m sure she’d have picked up a problem. I’ve seen her do the cover test I’m certain.

DD1 (12) has just been referred to eye hospital from a routine optician appointment because her eyes don't converge from 20cms, and nobody has picked up on it before, so it is routine.