4 year old developed squint

[Mamaofboys5]

Hello. My DS is now 4. He developed a squint last year, it was very subtle at first but has since got worse. We are under the opthamologist. I have health anxiety and if it’s not me I worry about it’s the boys, in fact they are the most I worry about, petrified of them getting something serious. I am under CBT therapy for this.

I just want some advice and whether or not anyone else’s child has been through this. Myself and his Dad have never had a squint, nor do we wear glasses. I am now worried whether it is something neurological instead of just a vision issue. He says hes not in any pain or anything.

The squint eye he struggles to see out of as it was evident at the appointment, and they are checking his prescription for glasses on the next appointment. I have also noticed that sometimes when he looks at me or others it’s as though he’s “peering over glasses” to look.

I am trying to not Google but the worse things come up. It’s awful having these horrible thoughts and worries.

Thank you for reading and please be kind, I am trying my best to improve my anxiety.

Katie
xxxxx

has he been checked by the hospital. My daughter had a similar problem and was treated at the hospital the GP referred her.

Hello. Thank you for the reply. What did they do? Did they correct the squint? Was it caused by vision problems? X

I had a squint in one eye as a child. Developed age 3. Was under the hospital opticians for a while and needed one eye patched for a while as eyes not working well together. Have needed glasses all my life but no long term squint.

Boy in DS class had a squint but he needed an operation to cure it as it was caused by a physical development issue rather than poor eyesight.

It's most likely a vision problem OP - I know it's hard not to worry but my DH always says that on the whole, in the great majority of cases, the simplest explanation is the most likely one.

Its great that you are under the ophthalmologists care.

My dd had this at age 3. In both eyes. It was a sudden onset, so she was patched on each eye for 3 months to see if strengthening the muscle would help. It didn't make a difference to the degree of the squint and she had surgery on both eyes to have it corrected.

She was checked 6 monthly thereafter, and then onto yearly.

As long as he is already being checked, then I am sure he is going to get the best treatment for him. Every case is different so he may not even need surgery.

Good luck to you and your ds.

My sister had a squint that was corrected by wearing an eye patch for several months.

No other issues.

My squint was not picked up for many years. It is purely a problem with the eye muscles. If picked up early then patches usually do the trick. From my experience it is quite a common problem with children so try not to worry. I saw the ophthalmologists at the hospital who were excellent,

Hello. Thank you all for your messages. Sorry I have replied so late. You have all put me at ease. I’ve had my 2nd DS 5 months ago, and I think it’s a postpartum anxiety, worrying about everything and to the extreme. I am getting there.

His next appointment is on the 12th and I think I will feel much better for that too, knowing it’s being treated, whereas atm I feel we are in limbo waiting for the appt whilst the squint is getting worse. He complained of double vision now and then too. I am glad it will be better for him too and relieved that it is quite common in such a young age.

Thanks again ,
Katie
xxxxx

I noticed dds squint at 18 months old. She was referred to the hospital orthoptist and ended up with glasses as she was long sighted. (Dh and I never wore glasses so it was a shock).

She had patching treatment to improve the sight in the squinting eye and still has glasses now at age 18.

I think this is why I am worried as myself and DH do not wear glasses either. His grandparents wear them but not sure if they’ve needed them all their life. Not long until the appointment, I will feel better once thats done and then we can get some
glasses for him.

Katie
xx