I have developed a sudden squint. Is the gabriel eye patch the way to fix it or is there no hope? Will I look silly looking like a pirate?

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

It's been checked in A&E, I have mega high dose steroids for the cause but now have one eye that points outwards, is there anything else I can do because I can barly see. Thankyou

bump please

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That sounds awful. Have you been given any advice about treatment? Do you know what the cause is or are you waiting to find out more about that?

I have MS, it's the side effect from the current relapse. I'm wearing a kill bill eye patch at the moment I have no idea what to do about it.

My mum is a very experienced optometrist I will ask her and let you know

You can get blank contact lenses that cover up your eye and stop the double vision - my dad was offered one when he lost nearly all the sight in one eye and was having issues with it interfering.

Pop into a good local opticians (not a chain, an independant) and ask if they have any ideas.

Another possibility is a fresnel (stick on type) prism which would sort out the double vision. Not sure if most opticians can do them, as I had mine from orthoptists - if you can find one with an interest in binocular disorders they would though

It may be worth going to see an optometrist for tips (or eye hosp if you have one).

Or your GP or MS nurse might be able to do a referral/give advice.

I have a bad squint, and the treatment for acquired squint (and eye issues) can be different.

I am waiting to see if they will operate and then do corrective specs (only if they come down on the side of it not being neuro), or give me specs with one side blacked out (some opticians can do an approximation by doing a very dark tint), or one contact lens with an opaque centre plus glasses (first time I have been told about this as an option - seems much less intrusive/obvious and might work better).

Thankyou. It's because of the MS, it was fine until I woke up on Wednesday morning, the left eye is very bad and is pointing completely outwards, there's a slight diversion with the patch though.

I popped into boots, the optometrist was only interested in doing an eye test which I don't need. She mentioned a prism which they can't do and said I'd need to see a specialist orthoptist to make a sticker (would I like an eye test).

I do feel really stupid.

Cross-posted with CMOTdibbler.

Fresnels are good, but it depends how much prism you need. I have got a 25 in (actually need 50-60), and it's more of a cosmetic thing as the lines on the Fresnel blur the vision (when I used a lower power Fresnel, I'd only lose one line off the chart, but this one even blurs the big letter at the top of the chart).

Adult squints can case different visual effects depending on how bad the squint is and how the brain adapts - you can get the brain switching off, or double vision, or visual confusion and switching (which is annoying as objects can 'jump' 3 foot sideways when your brain switches eyes).

I can't do anything, it's difficult with the patch on as everything's hazy, I see couble without it thought and have no sense of perspective at all. It's really hard to type, I'm going to havr to rethink the job, I can't see alot. I'll give the MS nurse a call on Monday, there's a clinic on Tuesdays so I'll see if they can fit me in.

I really appreciate all your help

:( Belle - don't feel stupid! A decent optometrist should have asked if you wanted them to write to your GP (for an orthoptist/optometry/(neuro)opthalmology* referral) if they couldn't do the prism...

My MS specialist nurse equivalent (different condition) asks about my squint - they should see at as something that can be sorted...it may be harder to access neuro-opthalmology from different places in the country, but they should still exist (if not, normal orthoptists should have experience, even if opthalmology don't).

*delete as appropriate

I hope it can be sorted, I have resits on the 23rd August and am due back at work in September, the bursary covers ds's school fees. It's not safe for me to go back like this, I wouldn't x-ray a twig, let alone a patient. We're screwed now.

In my (very extensive) experience, most optometrists know very, very little about squints. I'm very lucky to have a good one now who specialises in binocular disorders

Hopefully the MS service will be able to fasttrack you into the appropriate services though

Thankyou. At least the steriods have kicked in, I just hope there's no more damage. I said I'd start injections if I relapsed again. I hate injections.

You need to see the orthoptist at ophthalmology for assessment.

I would go to your GP on Monday and say you would like an emergency referral to the orthoptist for assessment and as likely as not a fresnel stick on prism.

I'm surprised A & E didn't pass you on to the hospital eye service.

I spent 8 hours there on Wednesday being shoved about, back there last night for an IV, they didn't say anything about my eyes though. The GP's good though, she called the MS nurse after I saw her yesterday and organised some stronger steroids, I'm going to be bloaty, squinty and look like a bill kill copy, oh, and broke because I can't work

Oh belle that sounds shit :( No advice though sorry. You know where I am on fb if you need a moan etc. Take care

Thankyou.

Hope you are feeling a bit better today Belle

My mum says you should look for an urgent referral to a neuro-opthalmologist, but in the meantime the patch and a Fresnel prism are the usual treatments.

I have a squint which surgery didn't correct and went to an orthoptist who gave me excercises to ease it. The opthalmologist might refer you on, but I would want to see him/her first before going to the orthoptist.

Thankyou. Ds says my left eye looks a little better, I'm not so sure though. I'll give the MS nurse a ring on Monday morning.

You've been really helpful, I am so very grateful

I hope they are able to help you. I can imagine how uncomfortable you are feeling. My squint bothers me especially when I am tired, and I can feel my 2 eyes working independantly of each other IYKWIM. But as I've always been like this my brain has adapted to processing the images, so I am able to drive etc perfectly well. It's really a question of getting your brain to adapt to the altered images it receiving as much as getting your eye back to where it was. It could be that the inner muscle has lengthened or the outer muscle has shortened and when the optalmologist has worked out which it is the orthoptist may be able to give you exercises to rectify it, or ease it at least. This is my very non-medical understanding I hasten to add

Please let us know how you are getting on, and don't worry about returning to work, it's a way off yet and a lot could change in the meantime.

Thankyou.

Well, I can't get an appointment here or at the MS hospital without a GP referal (trip to GP, wait weeks). The hospital here won't see me, the private hospital can on Wednesday if I have a GP referal and £125 but the MS nurse has said it should go away. It's not feeling as bad today, I can't see any difference though but ds says they look a little better
I've booked an accupuncture session on Wednesday so will see how things go.

I hope it goes soon belle - thinking of you.

Thankyou. It's a learning experience.