Child orthoptic appointment

[Archiesmummy5]

Hello everyone. So basically my 4 year old developed a squint last year October . We took him to the eye clinic and the doctor wasn’t too concerned. However since then it has got worse and at the recent eye appointment he was struggling to see out of the said eye. The next one will be eye dilation drops. My DS is quite particular and doesn’t like the sound of eye drops being put into his eyes. I am trying to explain that they won’t hurt etc, but does anyone else have any suggestions to win him round with this and make his appointment easier. I am concerned that it’s something more serious than refraction error and the need for glasses, I suffer with health anxiety and jump to the worst case scenario and stupidly Google every thing! I am a nightmare but I can’t help it and I’m currently having CBT. I am just petrified, however they will pick anything concerning up with this eye drop appointment and will also see what prescription he is needing.
Any suggestions will be so so grateful. Thanks for reading.

Katie xxxxx

Hi OP, sorry you are going through this, especially with health anxiety. I have a 4 year old DS who had had a couple of orthoptic appointments and has had the dilating drops. He has SEN so there wasn't really much reasoning with him so it was a case of me giving him a very firm cuddle while the orthoptist bunged the drops in. You really don't want to end up getting into a lengthy negotiation about it in the appointment - the orthoptist will have done it loads of times before and will have strategies. I'd try and go bright and breezy into the appointment with as little build-up a possible for your DS tbh.

I am trying to explain that they won’t hurt etc

The drops don't 'hurt' as such but they can sting a bit at the start, so maybe don't mention this too much beforehand. They take about 20-30 minutes to work (they will chuck you back in the waiting room for this) so make sure you pack rewards/distractions and go overboard on the praise for this bit.

When is the appointment? I've had health anxiety in the past so I know it's much easier said than done, but STAY OFF GOOGLE. Nothing that I've convinced myself that me or DC have based on Google has ever come true. Worrying doesn't stop the bad things happening, ut just stops you enjoynig the good ones.

Thank you so much for the reply. How is your DS now? Does he wear glasses? Brave boy. :-)
We don’t have an appointment through yet as they haven’t done it through as urgent. Thank you for the advice I will be taking some treats and distractions for sure. Did you take any sunglasses? They advised to bring some but not sure why?
I have an appointment with the opticians on Tuesday for them to check the red reflex. I took a photo of my boy and it showed he had a white reflex on the squint eye. I did take another and both red but googled (stupidly) and surprise surprise it told me he probably has a childhood eye tumour! Honestly I wish I didn’t do this but it can’t be
helped. We were meant to be going tomorrow to have it checked but DS has now got chicken pox! Thanks again for the advice I really appreciate it :-) xxxxx

@Mamaofboys5 yes he has glasses and is fab at wearing them. He has quite short sight so I think they make a big difference for him! He never had a squint though so can't advise on that I'm afraid
.
The sunglasses are because everything is much brighter while your pupils are dilated and the drops can take few hours to wear off. So if its a sunny day your DS might be a bit uncomfortable as you travel home. We didn't have any sunglasses so took a sunhat which seemed to help.

My son only had dilating drops from age 1 when he wasn't speaking. We did just have to pin him down to get them in.

Once he was 3 and talking he didn't need the drops as he could do the eye test.

His letters always mention dilation drops still but he never has to have them anymore.

He has worn glasses since he was 1 due to a squint. He is now 4.5.

Hello, thanks for the replies. Very much appreciated. I am so glad your boys like their glasses and wear them. :-)
I took my DS to the appointment last Monday and thankfully all was ok. The optician was great with him, he allowed her to put a drop in the squint eye, and let her check both eyes thoroughly and nothing untoward was seen! He is to go to the orthoptics in may for both eyes dilated and to check the prescription of his eyes. He is quite excited to get glasses and also I am
one relieved and happy mummy that nothing bad was found!

Thanks again
Katie xxxxx