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Original poster

Anyone had experience with a squint?

19 replies

Pinkjenny · 16/01/2008 17:47

Dd 8mo has been for her 8 month check and the HV said she thought she may have a squint in her left eye. The GP was extremely undecided as she has a very wide bridge. He said he was referring us to 'be on the safe side'. This baby has already been through two dislocated hips, and I am praying that this will be OK.

I can honestly say I can't see anything. They look fine to me!!!

OP posts:

bobsmum · 16/01/2008 17:50

Ds had a suspected squint at his 8 months check and was referred. He was seen at about 10 months and looked at and poked and prodded (nicely!) and that was it really. They said keep an eye on it (no pun!) and to get back in touch if it didn't go away. It did go away by the time he was one and by then was only visible if you were really, really looking out for it and ds was really tired. he's 5 now and has no problems with his eyes.

CaptainDippy's dd just had a corrective eye op at 3. I'll see if I can send her your way

Original poster

Pinkjenny · 16/01/2008 17:52

Thanks bobsmum, it just came from nowhere! Her eyes have always looked fine to me. Just waiting for a private appointment now, but have been reassured by you x

OP posts:

Original poster

Pinkjenny · 16/01/2008 17:53

Thanks bobsmum, it just came from nowhere! Her eyes have always looked fine to me. Just waiting for a private appointment now, but have been reassured by you x

OP posts:

madamez · 16/01/2008 17:55

DS had what I thought was a slight squint when he was a baby: HV said it would probably fix itself. He is 3 now and sometimes seems to squint a bit when tired or concentrating intently. so I am going to make it along to clinic with him soon ish and ask the HV there what to do for best.

Swaliswan · 16/01/2008 18:21

My DD has just had her eight month check and has been referred to have her eyes checked so I hope you don't mind me watching this thread with interest. I don't know how long I'll have to wait to get it checked but I think we have to go to a special clinic.

mmelody · 16/01/2008 19:03

We noticed a squint in my DD when she was around 18months. She was referred for sight tests etc and found to be short sighted as well as having astigmatism in both eyes. She had to wear glasses and amazingly kept them on no probs.When we first put them on her she just looked around wide eyed for about 10mins.. her eyesight had been really poor without them.

The glasses did not correct the squint so she had corrective surgery to both her eyes when she was four. She also had to wear a patch for up to two hours a day to improve the sight in her right eye as it was quite a bit weaker than the left.

She is now a lovely 12 yr old who has always worn glasses. To be honest I can't imagine her without them now.

policywonk · 16/01/2008 19:07

I had a squint when I was a child - had three corrective ops in the end (and greatly enjoyed the attention ). Mine was pretty bad though. I can still feel my eye swinging out sometimes (well not literally...), mostly when I'm tired, but I don't think other people notice it very often.

francagoestohollywood · 16/01/2008 19:13

I had a sever squint and was operated at age 5. I received lots of presents, my favourite being a typewriter!
I had some concerns that ds might have inherited it, took him for a check up at age 12 months and everything was fine, he seemed to have a squint because of wide bridge.
Do take your dd for the check up, everything will be fine (and it's better to catch a squint as early as possible as it can affect eyesight)

francagoestohollywood · 16/01/2008 19:15

mmwelody I used to wear a patch as well! I have a softo spot for people wuith a squint

TheBlonde · 16/01/2008 19:18

I had mine corrected at 3

DS possibly has one, they have checked him twice but not seen it so we have another check up this year

crimplene · 16/01/2008 19:35

A fairly easy way to see if your DC has a squint or not is to look at photos of them. The 'twinkle' in each eye, where the light source reflects back, should be in the same place on each eye if both eyes are pointing in exactly the same direction. If not, you can see the reflection in different places. If you have any photos that seem to show the squint, it's worth taking them with you to show them.

CaptainDippy · 16/01/2008 19:36

Hello - bobsmum sent me here

Yes, my DD1 had corrective surgery for a squint in Oct, aged 3.9 yrs ...... what do you want to ask!!!?

cmotdibbler · 16/01/2008 19:45

I squint - two surgeries at 13 and 17, stick on prisms for quite a long time, and now its controlled by prisms in my glasses. Without them, I can't maintain single vision as my left eye swings right out.
Therefore a bit twitchy about DS, and thought he might squint - got a referral and a very fast appointment with the orthoptist and opthamologist at the hospital. DS pronounced to be slightly long sighted but otherwise normal. They wanted to reoperate on my squint though !
Its really not a biggie, and most early squints can be sorted by patching, but much easier to do early on

Seona1973 · 16/01/2008 19:50

I noticed my dd squinting from about 15 months (although looking at earlier photos you can see she had it earlier than that) and got referred by my hv to the hospital. She had glasses from 18 months as she was long sighted, had to do patching for her weaker left eye (started at 2 hours, went to 1 hour and now we dont do any). She still squints so is being referred for the op which will be in the next few months - she is 4.2 years.

onebatmother · 16/01/2008 22:23

my brother 38 is desperately handsome and still has very very slight squint (which adds to his appeal I think)
I think it's slightly more apparent when he's tired.

But friends ds had same experience as Bobsmum's ds - just went away.

Am trying to say, rather clumsily, not to panic, but if it is a squint, is not end of world.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 16/01/2008 22:30

Even if she does - its no big deal.

It usually rectifies itself, but, if not, patches can be worn over the 'good' eye to strengthen the muscles in the weak eye.

As an extreme - surgery can be done. I had this twice - once on each eye. First one when i was under 4 years old, and lastly when I was 10 or 11. It didnt work as well as it should, but, when I started to wear glasses all the time in my early twenties it got a whole lot better. You only really notice it when I am tired anyway.

I can drive fine, coped perfectly well at school. Was very involved in sports.

No need to worry IMHO

CaptainDippy · 17/01/2008 15:12

I think there are varying types of squint - I was told that although my DD's squint was only relatively slight (more pronounced when she was tired); it would get worse if it was not treated with surgery. I made the decision to have the surgery done when she was still young to lessen the trauma of having it done when she was, say, 6/7 and would be able to remember more clearly going into hospital etc. I also had it done to stop bullying when she goes to school. Children can be very cruel

My DD's squint was not affecting her eyesight (but could have done in the future), so wearing glasses / corrective patch etc would not have cured it.

I have no regrets about having it corrected and DD seems fairly non-plussed about her hospital experience, which is great.

neptunerising · 18/01/2008 01:07

My ds had a squint from 3 mths old, caused by extreme long-sightedness. He had 3 operations to try to correct it between the age of 2 and 4, but these were unsuccessful. He was teased a bit at school, but other than that it doesn't really bother him much. He wears glasses to correct his vision anyway and these keep his eyes straight.

Original poster

Pinkjenny · 25/01/2008 20:27

Hi to all that posted re my dd's potential squint picked up at her 8 month check.

To update, have been to see Opthamologist today at Alder Hey, and her eyes are 100% normal, no follow up visits required.

Thanks to all that supported with your posts.

OP posts:

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