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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.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Mama12000 · 13/12/2020 04:14

Hi everyone just thought I'd post an update since you all kindly took the time to reply. My son has been checked out at the opthomology clinic. They put drops in his eyes and had a look and all is well. Thanks again.

OP posts:
SmileyClare · 13/12/2020 09:47

That's great news. You did the right thing getting him checked out and its brilliant you were dealt with so quickly.

I hope you and your son have a happy Christmas Xmas Smile

GwendolineMarysLaces · 13/12/2020 10:20

So glad he is okay OP. Was just going to say that the photo thing can happen if the eyes were not aligned when the flash went off. My daughter had a squint as a baby and we have lots of pics where one eye looks red/white. Take some time out now to feel better, you have had a very stressful few days.

SparklyGlitter95 · 13/12/2020 10:27

Thats great news, I bet you feel like a weight has been lifted! X

SinkGirl · 13/12/2020 10:35

Precisely the same thing happened to my friend’s little boy - he was checked out and everything was fine. Absolutely right to get it investigated as soon as you can, but most likely it’s nothing to worry about. She took him to the local eye A&E who said she was right to bring him in. With all due respect to GPs, they have neither the skill nor equipment needed to properly examine eyes and make any determinations so I wouldn’t worry at all about what the GP said or didn’t say - their function here is just to confirm a symptom and make a referral.

One of my twins has multiple visual impairments / issues with his eyes which became apparent between 12 and 18 months. We were waiting to see an opthalmologist when he had a serious skills regression. I was really worried it was related so I contacted a private paediatric neuro ophthalmologist to see if we could get him seen privately urgently. The consultant called me and said it was really important for him to be seen in the NHS as he may need an MRI etc and he arranged to see him on the NHS the following week. He diagnosed a VI that day, and then we had an MRI which showed additional issues.

If you can afford a private appointment then it’s always worth doing that, and you may find that they get you in for your NHS appointment sooner (if they are both private and NHS). Or go to your nearest eye hospital emergency service.

I will cross my fingers for you Flowers

SinkGirl · 13/12/2020 10:35

Oh, just seen it’s sorted - never mind! Glad everything is okay!

Twistered · 14/12/2020 03:08

Brilliant

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