DS squint causing double vision. Scared!

[Mamaofboys5]

Hello. So I’ve been on Google - yes worst thing you can ever do! And it says that a childhood squint shouldn’t cause double vision. However when I ask my DS how many he can see of a certain object he says 2, I am now worried because it says it could be a sign of something more serious ie:-neurological. Does anyone else’s child with a squint experience double vision? He’s 4 years old and we are due to see the opthamologist on the 12th of this month for him to get a prescription for glasses and to check the back of his eyes. I am just asking for advice as I know Google gives you answers you don’t want to hear. Listening to genuine stories of others helps me and makes me realise that this could be all just normal.

Many thanks
Katie
xxxxx

When I was a child I had a squint and a lazy eye which caused double vision for me, it was corrected by an operation when I was around 5. I wore glasses and a patch when younger to strengthen the affected eye, I still wear glasses as a n adult but not all the time. I no longer have any eye issues and definitely do not have double vision. It’s amazing what they can do, especially these day. Try not to worry x

Daughter of friends of ours had double vision at - erm - approximately that age (she's 22 now). Like pixie she had an operation to correct it. As far as I recall it was pretty straightforward.

Hi Katie
It is not unusual for a child with a squint to notice some double vision especially if the squint is only there intermittently or has only recently developed , when the eye is turning the brain projects the image from each eye to a different place so you see double. Sometimes the brain is able to suppress or switch off the eye that is squinting so that they don’t see double. The likelihood of double vision is also more likely when an older child develops a squint. I’m an orthoptist and happy to answer any more questions

My DD had a squint that caused double vision. She had an op to correct it. The waiting list on the NHS was so long that we ended up paying to have it done as she was getting teased at school too.

Thank you all so much for the replies. You don’t know how much you’ve made me feel at ease today. I go from one extreme to the other. Hopefully it will be corrected soon. I feel for him too because I know he finds it hard with it sometimes. Will keep you updated.

Many thanks
Katie xxxxx

Given you’ve had a reply from an orthoptist hopefully you’re fully reassured but I didn’t want to read and run as remember how worried I was.

My dd had terrible headaches and double vision once started school. MRIs and multiple investigations with opticians, paediatric neurologists, GPs we’re all inconclusive. One GP finally suggested we see an orthoptist and it was immediately diagnosed as a squint and surgically corrected a few months later (she was already 7 by that point). Now a teen with no headaches or double vision.

Good luck to your DS, am sure it’ll be sorted easily soon. And hooray for orthoptists who were so wonderful with my DD!

I had a squint with double vision and had it corrected aged 9. It was never presented to me as a big deal. Step away from Dr Google!

Thank you guys. It’s so scary. And I don’t help myself googling it consumes me at times. My DS said to me this morning, “mummy I can’t see” it was really hard with him being only 4 to then actually make out what happened, I think it seems he found it hard to focus at that particular time so couldn’t shake the double vision away. He went to nursery no problem though and I’ve asked them to keep an eye on him today.
You really don’t know how much you are all helping me with your replies, I am
so grateful. I think I will feel better on Thursday when we go to the opthamologist, will keep you all updated.

Thanks again
Katie xx

Just to update. My DS has had his glasses for a couple of weeks now and loves them. The squint improves when he wears them of course, I just feel so glad he is sorted and can see better, bless him. Thanks everyone for the messages, worrying and going to the extreme is awful and you all helped me thinking rationally about this, I am so grateful.

Katie x