Toddler suddenly developed squint

[Perkyduck131]

I’ve noticed in photos over the past week that DD is developing a squint. It’s now very obvious in photos and can be seen in real life.

I’m taking her to the GP tomorrow for a referral but just wondered what to expect?
I also made the huge error of consulting Dr Google and am now paranoid it’s something far more serious - any reassurance greatly appreciated!

(DD is 2.5)

Squints are really common. Your gp or optician will be able to refer you to an orthoptist. Well I think gps can - we went via optician. Your child may need glasses and might need a small operation later in life (depending on squint severity). My son has one and has worn glasses since 18 months. Great that you spotted it and are getting it looked at. Try not to panic!

Thank you so much for the reassurance. I think that, although it’s subtle atm, the fact it came on suddenly is worrying me and I’m now reading into other changes (bit more clingy, having more tantrums) but hopefully it can just be resolved with glasses/ patch and isn’t anything serious. Thanks again

Placemarking toddler just been diagnosed with squint too.

Mine was like this, I hadn't spotted it but nursery did. Squint caused by longsighted vision.

Early intervention is key. My DC has glasses but has been spared patches etc as we caught it before the squint eye became 'lazy'. Glasses on, DC has good vision and should be able to have contacts etc later.

Get the referral, we went from enquiry to glasses on within about 6 weeks.

Squints come on quite suddenly. They can literally wake up with them. Suddenly you notice it and you can’t un-notice .....

I’m sure it is nothing concerning, just get the referral to orthoptics. Around 3% of kids get a squint. It’s usually easy enough to sort. Don’t worry.

Wow that’s a fast turnaround, hope if we need that they can do it quickly here.
Thanks guys- you’ve calmed me down! @realhousewives will update tomorrow and let you know what they said- be interesting to see if it’s dealt with the same way

Actually we had glasses on within four days. We went straight to opticians who prescribed glasses and referred to orthoptics. Glasses were made and collected and worn. Referral took around six weeks. Then updated prescription because it was slightly different. Back to optician. New glasses made.

Never been to GP for eye stuff.

We were pretty much same as chankleybore . Went to optician when we noticed it and he gave us glasses and referred on. The squint was actually noticed first by the optician's wife who was a friend of ours.

Daughter has one too and she was refered via Health Visitor to hospital and got glasses. She's 4 in November and loves her glasses and they really do help

Oh interesting. Will pop in to speak to an optician today as well. Thanks all!

My dd developed a turn in her left eye age 3. It came out the blue and it turned out to be caused by longsightedness. She wears her glasses all the time and they look gorgeous on her. Glasses are fab these days, lovely styles. Anyway, I noticed a huge difference in my daughter after she started to wear glasses! She was suddenly more able to stay up later and less tired and less tantrums. All the eye straining must have made her shattered before glasses!

Just a quick update as I hate threads that don’t give any outcomes.
Saw the consultant today... DD’s vision in her left eye is extremely poor; I was shocked at how little she could see in the examinations. She has been compensating with her right eye which has been causing the left eye to turn in slightly. At the moment we’re looking at glasses immediately (to be worn all the time) with the discussion of a patch in a few months time.
They said that, cosmetically speaking, the eye shouldn’t appear worse once the vision is corrected.

Consultant also told me to stay away from google!

@missmillar - so reassuring to hear about your daughter. DD has a sweeping fringe over her strong eye and now feel awful that it may have been causing her a real struggle. Do you have any advice on getting her to wear them? We’re going to read books and I’ll speak to nursery about some positive reinforcement but not sure what else?

You will find that your daughter wants to wear them once she realises how good her vision is with them on. It’ll help her eyes relax. I found a google picture of princesses wearing glasses which she liked but to be honest, she can’t do without them. I also told her things like : the eye doctor told mummy you must wear them to help your eyes get better at seeing etc and this also reinforced her wish to wear glasses..

Squints do look worse once glasses are taken off at first. But...several years in, it is improving slowly.

Patching was accepted well too as the orthoptist had suggested close work during this time so the promise of some ‘iPad time’ helped and really helped . She no longer needs a patch.

Specsavwrs have lovely glasses for children. Let her choose one pair at least and guide her to choose ones that really suit her. My little pony, princess ones, minion, emoji, all sorts xx