Squints/glasses

[leglebegle]

Has anyone had their child diagnosed with a squint? My 2 year old had it diagnosed at 12 months, had an operation, we've just been told a year and a half later he needs glasses. I was really sceptical of this at first but I have to say he seems very keen on wearing them so I guess they must be working. I was interested in anyone else's experiences as I found all the info out there very confusing, also the stuff the consultant (have seen 2 now in 2 different parts of the country) have told me to be really conflicting x

Frogs is the person for this - she provided merrygoround with some pretty good info on the eyepatching thread. My dd1 has a squint corrected with glasses, I'm afraid I'm a bit like you though and get confused by what I am told.

Got to go just now but if you have any questions feel free to ask and I will answer later this evening.

Hi legle, I do know a bit about this, as my dd1 has worn glasses since she was 4. She had lazy eye and has a latent squint, is also v. shortsighted.

Which bit of what you've been told are you confused by?

Hi leglebegle, don't know if this is any use but I was diagnosed with severe diverging alternating squint as a child (borderline for surgery) but was corrected by glasses and never caused a problem. Can still do it if I take my glasses off and try really hard (not that I want to but check occasionally...)
HTH

Ds2 has a squint that he alternates in each eye. It's still there though a lot less since he had surgery, and glasses reduces it too. He has worn glasses since he was a year old, and is 3.5 now.

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Hi dd was told at 12months too but told that the bridge of her nose had not formed and that was why, we went 3months later had tests and again three weeks ago alls good, both dh and i wear glasses so i expect in the future dd will wear them too, dd is three she would never keep her glasses on.

does anyone know if squints are hereditry? my dp had squints in both eyes when a child (corrected by surgery) and i have wor glasses from about age 4...from this do you think my dd (8 mth) is likely to have probs with her eyes? xx

Can be. My brother had one, still does actually.

That doesn't mean to say it will definitely happen though.

lilsmum, you would probably be advised to get your little one checked out at the appropriate time -- your GP should be able to advise you when that would be.

Ds is being followed up at the eye hospital because of dd1's history, despite the fact that his vision is so far enviably normal. At his last visit the orthoptist reminded me that dd2 (then 4 months) should be referred as well.

leglebegle - sorry if i have hijacked your thread its just that i too dont know much on the subject

frogs - yes dd has already seen an eye specialist i think it was when she was about 4 mth she has another appt in dec, i was just curious as to if it is likely she will have probs, thanks xx

Frogs - its just that he was diagnosed at 12 months, we were told he had to have an operation which he did - this was supposed to give him the best chance of getting binocular vision, and depth of field etc, then I moved from London to Liverpool, saw a different consultant and was told his eye was still lazy post op and he needed glasses as he was long sighted in one eye. I thought "why on earth did he have the op then ?" He is wearing his glasses and seems happy in them so I guess it must be helping although I am worried he will become completely dependent on them as you know if you wear them more ...... but the consultant says he must wear them. I have never had satisfactory answers to what he is seeing and whether he will develop 3D vision, and my GP says that he believes all the patching etc is a waste of time. What has your experience been?

leglebegle - don't know enough about all eye problems, but some cannot be treated with an operation. My daughter is long sighted and has an astigmatism - she will always need to wear glasses. Maybe the initial op put your child into the position of someone who now needs to wear glasses full-time.

they basically said that his squint was cosmetically bad and needed to be corrected. THey told me at the time he might need another one later in life and that it wouldn't 'correct' the lazy eye, but it was giving him a chance at developing binocular vision which he wouldn't do if his eye wasn't straightened by the op as his brain would keep relying on the good eye. He was always long sighted, I think they just didn't prescibe glasses as he was too young really. This is why I'm all confused, I got conflicting advice from both consultants.

Ds2's squint was cosmetically v bad, so we had it done, even though, as you were told , it wouldn't improve his vision. He still has a milder squint, which may need doing again later in life, but he does need glasses. Ds2 has an alternating squint, which means he swaps it from eye to eye, although it is mainly in his left, and this is considered to be a good thing, because it means he is using both eyes to see (although one at a time), thereby strengthening the muscle, and hopefully keeping the worst one from turning again.

I don't think I have made much sense have I?