Squint surgery

[Doyouknowtheway]

My child will be having squint surgery next week and although I know how often these procedures are carried out successfully I'm worried sick. I'm scared something will go wrong and my child could experience complications all for cosmetic reasons.
He has already had some comments from other children and I worry he'll be bullied in a few years if his eye was left as it is, the turn in his eye is quite servere. He is happy enough to have this procedure done and I'm going through with it because he is wanting his eye fixed but I feel so guilty at the same time. My son is gorgeous and I feel awful going ahead with this it's like we're saying you're not perfect as you are.
I worry about any pain he will be in afterwards and how he will feel about the whole thing when he's grown up. Has anyone had this procedure as a child and been happy about their parents decision for them to have the procedure? As his turn is servere he may need another op later on so its ideal to have 1st now also before the bullying begins thats our reason for not waiting any longer.

Hi OP, I haven't myself, but my godson had his squint surgically corrected last week. It was very severe before, although he was only just 3 so hadn't experienced any teasing at school or anything. He had it done at a hospital in Oxford. The procedure was fairly short itself but he was very sleepy and a bit sick for a day or two afterwards. I think his eye was bloodshot for a week or so.

It went brilliantly and his eyes are now perfectly straight.

If it were my child I would 100% have the procedure done.

My son had the same procedure, initially as a baby and then he required another surgery when he was 7. He recovered very well both times with very little pain.
I get what you mean in that is cosmetic, so you question whether the risks are worth it. For us other kids were starting to comment, so we didn't want him teased or bullied (it was very noticeable). My son is happy that he did it although it was a few years ago so he can barely remember it now.

I had it done, both eyes effected and my squint was very severe needing multiple ops

My squint then returned post pregnancy and I had it done again as an adult

I am so glad my parents made the decision for me and I was very quick to make the decision myself as an adult

People shouldn't judge on appearance but they do. People also judge intelligence based on appearance and you would be amazed how many people treat you as though you are stupid if you have a severe squint that's not corrected by glasses

I have very limited memory of the actual procedure as a child

As an adult I remember waking up feeling like I had sand in my eye but this was quickly relived

I also had double vision for about 12 hours after but was absolutely fine after that and back at work in a school after a week

Thankyou for responses, he is 7 and was on the list at our hospital for a good while recently was sent to Alder hey and things have moved fast. He's off for his covid swab today. I have another question does he have to isolate from then to his procedure? I've heard kids aren't having to do so. With it being three days away I'm hoping not.

I had squint surgery as a child. I can’t remember how old I was but I’d guess around 4 as it was just before I started school. I still get a bit of a lazy eye sometimes if I’m tired (or drunk!). I also wear glasses with a strong prescription in the affected eye. I am so so so glad my parents chose to get the surgery. I was in a class at primary school with a girl whose parents didn’t get her squint corrected and she was very self conscious about it. She wanted corrective surgery as an adult but by then it was too late for it to be affective. It’s scary choosing to put your child through any surgery but your child will thank you.

Oh and I had to wear patches after my surgery (although this was 30 years ago so I’m not sure if they do that now) and the other kids in my class were SO jealous haha. I loved being a patch kid.

My 7 year old son had the procedure done last year (during lockdown), he had the covid test and then we all isolated for 3 days. We had been on the waiting list for ages and I was nervous about him having it done when the covid rates were very high and this was before any vaccinations had happened. He was absolutely fine, very little pain and I think he had eye drops for 3 weeks after and back at school 5 days after the operation.

The surgery has made a massive difference to his squint, he has now been discharged from the eye clinic as they were happy it was a success. Very stressful at the time but I am so glad he had it done and my son is very happy with the results.

Ds1 had surgery when he was 3 or 4. We were told it wasn’t cosmetic, it would improve his vision. He was a bit unsettled for a few days after and the day of the surgery was a stressful blur but the angst fades quite quickly.

DS1 is 18 now and stopped wearing glasses a few years ago, no squint at all anymore so a massive improvement. Never regretted it.

Good luck with your dc’s surgery💐

B

Thankyou for replies, the sooner its over and done the better.

My son has this surgery at the end of may. It went really well and his quality of life since has been massively improved. I was so worried but it's worked out really well

Thankyou all so much, my son had his squint surgery today. He's back home and happy as can be. All is well xxx