SQUINT SURGERY. Any one any experience of this:-)

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DS2 who is 4 yrs old is having surgery next Tuesday to (hopefully) correct his squint. His eyes tend to wander outwards though at the moment he is managing to correct it. Has anyone had experience of this surgery and if so what should I expect? DS2 Has had surgery before to flush out his tear ducts so have experience of surgery, just wondered what to expect after this operation.

I had this when I was 6 so that was 30 years ago so not sure how relevant but will answer any questions I can.

Thanks Itati, just wondered how sore he will be after and what to expect afterwards. I shall come back to this later on in the day. Kids want to go to seaside and when DS2 has op we wont be able to go for a week or 2 so really its now or never. Thanks

My Son had this 3 years ago. We went into hospital at 8.00 op took about 45 minutes and ds slept for about 2 hours after. We were sent home at 6pm. Ds groggy after op, the eye was completely red where the white usually is. Next day was sore and a bit swollen. We had to bathe eye 3 times a day in sterile boiled water, and apply antibiotic cream 'just in case'.DS complained of blurred vision for a couple of days.One thing we found useful was to buy one of those no tears type of body washes which can be used on hair as you really dont want stinging eyes.You need to watch out for any extra swelling or discharge, as no dressings are applied so vulnerable to infection. Dont know if it will apply to you, but ds squint so big will be having another op before age 7. Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.

I don't remember much about it except for finding money in my food and having to wear a patch on my eye for a while. I was meant to have it redone aged 16 but it wasn't organised.

I had mine done twice at 13 and 18. It depends a bit on how much they have to tighten the muscle as to how painful it can be afterwards - itchy and like it had sand in mostly. Really, really bloodshot eyes !
In some people the surgery makes them very sick afterwards.

When DS had to go to the hospital to have his eyes looked at last year the surgeon spent most of the time trying to persuade me to have it done again. Am still thinking about it, but would mean new glasses, and don't want to waste the horrible amount spent to have reading and distance glasses with differing prisms

Watching with interest. Ds(4.6) is not due to have surgery yet. Was hoping it would be done before he started school, but they have decided to wait.

I had this done when I was under a year old and when I was four. From what I can remember was that it itched and lovely nurses who read stories at night plus my mom bought me a doll but it really stank and my brother got a dustbin tonka which I very much envied! (we were both in at the same time)

ooh im also watching this,my 2 yr old is going in to have this done in the next month or 2,
good luck xxx

I had this done when I was two. My eyes are fine now, squint only noticable when Im extremely tired and only then by people who know Ive had it done really.

(BTW i have just been working in recovery looking after paeds after surgery and believe me they get pampered , Ive spent hours stroking hair and talking to lo's its been great)

I had squint surgery a couple of years ago. My eye felt quite dry and sore afterwards but seemed to be loads better within literally a few days. Hope it all goes well for your DS.

My son had his done when he was 4. they took him down to theatre around 10am and he was back up to the ward around 2pm iirc....he was really, really groggy for ages and slept all afternoon. Finally woke up around 6pm, they tried to feed him toast but he brought it all back up so he had to stay in overnight until he could keep food down.

Next day he was alot better, eating etc...eye was a bit sore but it didn't seem to bother him tht much and he's been fine since

DD3 has had 3 lots of surgery.
The first two with botox at 4 months and 1.5

and the third at 2.5, the more traditional one where they cut the eye muscles.

Each time she recovered very quickly, at my local hospital they seem to take them down in age order with the being youngest first.

Her eyes were itchy afterwards but didn't really seem to be in much pain. in and out within a few hours.

Her eyes look amazing now and you can only see the squint in one eye when she's very tired.

She was born with a severe bilateral convergent squint.
{Was completly cross eyed all the time}

Now at 4.5 her eye sight it near perfect she's had patching since 3 months of age and 3 surgerys. Its been so worth the hard work.

My dd(8) had surgery for something similar in January and was offered pain killers after the operation but didn't want it and didn't need any afterwards at home.
She had eye cream to puy in her eye twice a day for a week and was nervous the first time but as it didn't sting, she reminded me to put it in her eye

Oh thankyou so much for all the replies. We went to the seaside while the weather allowed so spent the day sat in the sun, got lost on the way home and had a blinding headache last night so didnt manage to get back here. DS2 is 4 yrs old and has a latent squint. Its not always noticable but it affects both eyes and they may operate on both eyes on Tuesday. I am concerned because surgeon has said that there is a posibility of over correcting it which will make the eye turn in which obviously I dont want. He is due to have it done on tuesday and is on the afternoon list so I am hoping we will be home just after tea. We have been told that it may need doing again at some point as you said cmotdibbler. Its not a permenant solution because as he grows it may come back.

If his squint isn't too bad, then with diligent eye muscle exercises it probably won't need doing again. Mine is/was zonking, was diagnosed late, and I had really terrible visual acuity in my left eye compared to my right eye (still do, but less of a problem as the right has deteriorated)so it makes it complicated.

If they overcorrect, then he could be given stick on prisms (Fresnel)to let him keep single vision whilst they wait to see if it relaxes back.

I had this done when I was a toddler (over 35 yrs ago!!), so it may have changed now.
All I can remember is going into hospital for an op. I remember my M&D coming to see me and not being able to open my eyes as they were stuck together with goo.
Then at home I remember my M&D having to pin me to the floor to put drops into my eyes every day. My next memory is of my dad taking me to the hospital for check ups and having to use a machine to check my sight. I had to look into a viewer at pictures and move the controlls to do things like put flower into pot ot put soldier into century box etc.
At the age of 40 I now wear glasses (Had them since age of 15). I still have a lazy eye, which when I'm tiered, wanders.

DD(4.8 years) had her operation a couple of months ago. She had to go in for 12noon and had to fast from 6am in the morning. Her op was at 2pm. She got magic cream put on the backs of her hands (for the cannula to go in for the general anaesthetic) and I was allowed to go with her just until she went into the operating theatre - in fact I was holding her when they put her to sleep and had to leave pretty quickly!! She was in for about 45 minutes and I got to go along to recovery and be with her when she was woken up. She did have another wee sleep and then had to eat and drink something before she left. She was let out for about 6pm. Her eye was really sore and she moaned and complained quite a lot about it especially in the first few days afterwards. She got calpol and ibuprofen prescribed for the pain and she got an antibiotic eye gel that was to be put in her eyes twice a day. We had to practically tie her down to get the drops in the first couple of days and then she became more co-operative. She couldnt go swimming for 2 weeks but was back at nursery after a week. Her squint is very much improved but as others have said it may need another op in the future.

DS2 had his operation yesterday. Went into hospital at 12 noon and down to theatre for 2.40 (1st on list) back on ward again at 4.15pm. He has coped really well with it. He kept trying to rub his eyes yesterday when we got home but slept well last night and hasn't seemed to be too bothered by it today. His eyes are very blood shot and dont look very nice. He has a follow up appointment on Friday at 4pm. Thankyou all for posting, i am glad its done with.

Hi can you tell me how your child is now as my daughter has the same thing and I'm so worried everyday it's all I think about any replys will be appreciated x