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Children's health

Orthoptist and squint query

40 replies

HoneySocks · 01/04/2009 21:39

Hi all
my dd who is 3 has a slight squint just for the last few weeks - the gp couldnt see it but referred her to the orthoptist about a week ago. i also took her to the optician who said that she may prob need glasses and is doing the eye drops test on monday with her and will give her glasses then.
all this is new to me - no glasses in my family at all so have couple of queries if you please!

  1. have been told may be a few months to wait to see orthoptist - what will the orthoptist do that the optician cannot? we can pay for her to be seen privately if that is a benefit?privatly she will be seen next week

2.what is eye drops test like - any hints or tips?
3.she has such a mild sqint - will she have glasses for long?
any other hints/ tips/info very gratefully receieved - feel bit worried for her, thank you
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Seona1973 · 02/04/2009 22:10

a squint is where the eye turns. A lazy eye is where one eye is not working as well as the other i.e. the vision is worse in one eye. DD's left eye was lazy but also squinted so she had patching treatment to improve the sight in her left eye and also the operation to improve the squint itself. DD had glasses from just over 18 months (around the age I noticed her squinting) and was great at keeping them on and was also a star with the patching treatment.

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amazonianwoman · 02/04/2009 22:51

Oh no, I've just googled sudden onset squint, I knew I shouldn't have

Now I'm panicking that it's a sign of something much worse.

Did your DD seems to develop her squint gradually? Or did you suddenly notice it? DS was fine last weekend MIL was a paediatrician and said she would've noticed something (she was with us all weekend) I'm just so worried that he seems to have developed an almost permanent squint in just 2 days

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mrsruffallo · 02/04/2009 23:09

Don't google!
Just make an appt with your GP tomorrow
IME it seems sudden- because by the time you notice it it is established iyswim.
It is often caused by long sightedness, but I don't think this is always the case.

Let us know what the GP says

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amazonianwoman · 02/04/2009 23:23

I know, I'm so annoyed at myself - I managed to resist for 2 whole days! That's ages for me!

I spoke to a good optician this morning - she said it's quicker to see her then get referred than to go to GP first. The optician is in some shared care system with opthalmologists/orthoptists. So we're seeing her this Saturday.

I just can't come to terms with the fact that his eyes definitely looked completely "normal" (don't like to use that word, but can't think how else to describe it) at the weekend, but now is left is so obviously squinting inwards, virtually all the time

Am so hoping that it is "just" a normal childhood squint and not something much more sinister.

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mrsruffallo · 02/04/2009 23:30

I won't ask waht is more sinister as I don't really want to know!
Honestly though, it is probably a squint in which case there are many treatment options for you.
I think it is a little unnerving, but you soon get used to it
Best of luck

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amazonianwoman · 02/04/2009 23:48

Have just done some searching on Mumsnet and now feeling much calmer. There seems to be a lot of instances of young children literally appearing to develop a squint virtually overnight.

MN saves the day again The Font Of All Knowledge.

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amazonianwoman · 02/04/2009 23:48

Oh, and thanks for your messages

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francagoestohollywood · 03/04/2009 09:32

Squint is often hereditary. I get it from my dad

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HoneySocks · 03/04/2009 19:01

amazonian woman my dd squint also only came on a few weeks ago and she is 3.5 yrs old,also seemed to come on overnight but i was thinking that i prob had not noticed it very much as it normally is when she is tired , so she is lolling round sort of half asleep not looking me in the eye iyswim.

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Seona1973 · 03/04/2009 20:21

I thought dd's squint had come on suddenly at around 18 months but when I looked at some of her earlier photos she squinted in some of them too so it wasnt as sudden as it seemed.

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amazonianwoman · 04/04/2009 13:48

Saw optician this morning (DS was very well behaved thankfully) He does have quite a severe angle squint, so we've been referred to the orthoptist, which should take less than 2 weeks

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mrsruffallo · 04/04/2009 19:31

Good luck amazon, I hope all goes well with the orthoptist
And please don't google again

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amazonianwoman · 06/04/2009 22:47

Honeysocks - how did the eye drops test go?

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HoneySocks · 09/04/2009 22:09

the test was ok but not very nice - she is mid long sighted and does have mild squint sometimes. we got her glasses yesterday and just getting used to it all now - was very tearful yesterday as people were so sweet about her glasses, i guess i found it a shock. feels a bit better today and dd seems to be getting used to having them on.
glad to hear about your appt beign so soon, feels better to get on with it all i think

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amazonianwoman · 09/04/2009 22:30

Glad it went OK, and that your DD is getting used to the glasses.

It is a shock isn't it? I don't know why I feel upset that DS will probably need glasses. I'm very short sighted (wear contact lenses, glasses occasionally) and DH is very long sighted (wears glasses and looks better with them than without them!) but it's still upsetting when you realise that your child needs them

Still waiting for the orthoptist's appointment date

And constantly being told we're doing the right thing getting them sorted quickly...

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