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Original poster

so scared and worried for Child after visiting gp.

32 replies

Mama12000 · 08/12/2020 18:20

So i took my 2 year old little boy to the gp this morning after I noticed in certain photos I took on my phone of him that one of his pupils was reflecting white and the other red. No other symptoms I have noticed and his vision seems fine as far as I can tell but I googled and panicked about possible retinoblastoma/ eye cancer as this can be a sign. Anyway I'm now even more worried as when the gp looked in his eye she said " oh yes I'm concerned I can see white". My son was struggling and crying/ trying to push her away when she was trying to look so I was under the impression she didnt get a proper red reflex test done because of this. Anyway she told me that but then said " it's hard to look properly when he is struggling and moving his head like that so Its hard to tell. It could be nothing". So I'm now left in limbo and in a complete panic with her saying this to me and telling me she will refer him to the opthomology clinic. Sad. I wanted him looked at straight away obviously so I went to the urgent treatment centre at the local hospital and just broke down to the doctor when telling her. She phoned paediatrics and they told her this can be common with photographs and it can often mean nothing and to wait on the referral to opthomology but of course I'm still thinking about that doctor telling me she could see white in his eye. Anyone have any similar experiences/ reassuring stories??? My family are trying to tell me she probably is referring because she also looked at the photographs I took and saw his pupil was white and to be on the safe side and and not so much about her examination but I just wish she had referred him without saying to me about seeing white. Everything online says doctors seeing white on a red reflex test is a bad sign so I don't why she then said it's hard to tell it could be nothing. Confused. Oh and also I have took other pictures where two of his eyes are red. Sorry for the long post.

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FippertyGibbett · 08/12/2020 18:23

She was just being honest. If she’d said nothing, and then it was serious , you would have been understandably upset.
Hopefully he will be seen very soon and you will get an answer.

Angel2702 · 08/12/2020 18:27

My son was referred and checked as a baby but it was the angle of the photo that was causing it, it wasn’t straight on.

Original poster
Mama12000 · 08/12/2020 19:11

Hopefully it wont be too long before I know

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Original poster
Mama12000 · 08/12/2020 19:11

@Angel2702 glad your little one was ok

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Kaia20 · 08/12/2020 19:15

I had the same issue with my daughter.
I didn’t go to the GP I went straight to the eye hospital A&E and they very quickly saw her.
Just go straight to the hospital, preferably and eye hospital.

Dallerup · 08/12/2020 19:19

Lost my login so just created a new account to post this.

I had similar with my DS10 a few years ago. The optician noticed that he had a pale retina and sent us up to the eye hospital. Lots of eye drops and various people looking and then they decided that they wanted to check my eyes in case it was hereditary. Cannot for the life of me remember what they thought it was now but something passed down through Mum's side.

After an entire day at the hospital with various drops and eye exams for us both we finally saw a consultant who looked me up and down and said 'You're very pale, any Irish heritage?' When I confirmed he scoffed and said 'Well with skin tones as light as yours no wonder you've both got pale retinas'. And that was the end of it. Absolutely nothing wrong with either of us (other than both a bit short sighted) and a whole days worth of tests for nothing.

So from all that waffle... if you've got fair skin ask straight off if that could be it

Original poster
Mama12000 · 08/12/2020 19:38

@dallerup thanks for taking the time to post that for me. I will ask and see if it could be a possibility. The tests and waiting are always worse than knowing if theres a problem or not

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Original poster
Mama12000 · 08/12/2020 19:40

@Kaia20 what was the outcome with your daughter? Hope everything was fine. I was thinking of doing that but thought it would just be doctors in a&e that would take a look and not actual eye specialists

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GreenLeafTurnip · 08/12/2020 19:49

I have no idea if this a stupid suggestion but could you try an opticians? I'm pretty sure that they would know of you needed to see a doctor about something!

Original poster
Mama12000 · 08/12/2020 19:51

Hi @GreenLeafTurnip I have tried all of them but none of them will see him because he is so young Sad

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MadameMiggeldy · 08/12/2020 19:56

Is there a hospital with a specialist eye A&E near you?

Pythonesque · 08/12/2020 19:57

Hang on for the ophthalmology assessment. They will be able to examine much more thoroughly, get a proper look, work out with some certainty whether there is anything to worry about. As well as it turning out to be nothing after all, there are also some forms of congenital or early cataract that can give this appearance, so it is not just retinoblastoma that is possible. Other explanations are more benign and quite treatable - and for that matter retinoblastoma while serious is pretty treatable too. But don't try to cross that bridge unless you have to.

Fingers crossed for you. I would imagine this sort of referral is managed as promptly as capacity allows.

Kaia20 · 08/12/2020 20:01

My daughter had/has very bad vision problems, which I am grateful for because knowing what I know it could have been much worse. I was absolutely terrified
I used the ‘Cradle white eye detector’ app and it suggested I get her seen ASAP and that’s what I did. I was completely beside myself. I know exactly how you’re feeling right now.
Find your nearest eye hospital ( I went to midland eye hospital) with and A&E and you won’t have to wait for a referral.

Twistered · 08/12/2020 20:05

I don't understand why posters are saying go to a&e?
A&E is for accidents and emergencies. It is not somewhere to go for second opinions. The child has been seen by a doctor and has been referred into the relevant clinic for further assessment. So no accident, no emergency?

SmileyClare · 08/12/2020 20:22

I'm so sorry you've been left so anxious after your appointment. It's really awful when you have concerns over your child's health, I think most parents understand. Flowers

I think it's worth keeping rational. Nothing has been confirmed, you've been referred so that your son's eyes can be examined properly- it sounds as though the gp did not get a good look at all.

Remember that retinoblastoma is incredibly rare in children. There are various causes of white eye in photos or on basic examination. The survival rate from neuroblastoma is exceptionally high; over 96%

As hard as it is, try to resist Googling and imagining worst case scenarios.
Your son is well in himself which is a good sign and nothing will be achieved by torturing yourself. Easier said then done I know.

If you feel extremely worried or confused by what was said during your gp appointment, you can phone the surgery and ask for a call back to discuss it and ask any questions.

Winecheesesleep · 08/12/2020 20:23

I had the same experience with DS including the anxiety! I don't think GPs know a huge amount about it so they just referred to the opthalmology department who took about 3 months to give him an appointment. In the meantime I got him seen under the family private health insurance plan we had at the time and it turned out to be a squint. That appointment really put my mind at rest and was very quick, if you could afford it that might be an option?

I know it's worrying but it's much more likely to be a structural issue than what you're fearing. Best of luck Flowers

SmileyClare · 08/12/2020 20:24

Sorry I typed "retinoblastoma" and it auto corrected to "neuroblastoma" in my post. Apologies.

SmileyClare · 08/12/2020 20:26

I'll add, my son also had one white eye in a couple of photos at that age. It was nothing more than the angle of the flash.

pollylocketpickedapocket · 08/12/2020 20:26

@Twistered

I don't understand why posters are saying go to a&e? A&E is for accidents and emergencies. It is not somewhere to go for second opinions. The child has been seen by a doctor and has been referred into the relevant clinic for further assessment. So no accident, no emergency?
Give it a rest the woman is frantic, and pp are suggesting an eye a&e. If this isn’t an emergency with eyes what is?
coursedarlin · 08/12/2020 20:30

Our local Specsavers have a paediatric ophthalmologist there every Sunday that you can self refer to. I had to do it for my son and it has been ideal. Might be worth a try. I just had to call and say I wanted to book an appt and was seen in a couple of weeks

Original poster
Mama12000 · 08/12/2020 20:55

Thank you for taking the time to reply its reassuring to hear some of you have had similar stories and everything was fine. I will ask at specsavers about the pediatric optition. I will probably end up trying to get a private appointment as the anxiety is horrendous when it comes to your children's health isn't it. Think even urgent referrals are about 2 weeks aren't they. Feels like such a long time to worry.

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Embracelife · 08/12/2020 21:01

Sounds lijke d she didnt get a good look.
Can you role playcwith ds going to doctor znd checking eyes so he csn get sn idea of what is expected

Twistered · 08/12/2020 21:31

@pollylocketpickedapocket ..... No need for that. I was genuinely wondering if I was missing something as posters were saying a&e and I was thinking why as child had been seen by doctor. I'm not giving anyone a hard time. I'm sometimes a big black and white about a&e. But at the end of the day op you do what you think is best x

SmileyClare · 08/12/2020 21:34

The worry is awful eh? Loads harder as a single parent with no one to share the anxiety with. I'm glad you have family around you to talk to. Talking things through helps.

You've done the right thing getting him checked but try not to let anxiety take over. There are many possible reasons why a white eye shows up, most not sinister.

Until you can do anything further, try some distraction techniques; a bath, film, book or something and take care if yourself Smile

The role play idea is great. Even if it's just your son looking at mommy's eyes with a little torch while she lies on the sofa. Mummy then gets a reward (chocolate biscuit or a prize) for being brave. He'll at least be familiar with the idea of an eye check and a prize afterwards. Most toddlers respond well to bribery Wink

Bonnylassie · 09/12/2020 00:06

I would take him to the opticians. I dont understand why no one will see him as he is to young. I have serious issues with my eyes (which could of been prevented had they picked it up before I attended school) so my kids saw my optician from 6 months old, my dd had glasses just before her 3rd birthday and my 6 year has just got glasses for reading and screens. I would suggest an independent optician rather than a chain.

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