Crossed eyes

My DD is 4 mos. and about 2 weeks. She and her brother were born 4 weeks early. She had some eye crossing issues when she was first born and up until now it has been every once in a while, but recently it just seems like it is getting worse. I know it is common for little ones to have "weak" eyes, but her brother doesn't do this at all and it is really freaky. I usually put my hands over her eyes so she has to close them and then she kind of "resets" them, but like I said it just happening more than ever.

They just had their 4 mo. appt. and their doctor didn't seem too concerned, but I wasn't as concerned either. The last two weeks we have been on vacation and that's when I really have noticed how bad they can get. Should I call them and get another appt? Am I being a crazy first time mom? Any one else have similar experiences? If so, what were the outcomes of your experience?

 

I would get a vision consult just to be sure.

But otherwise, how is her fine motor control? Is she on-track? A little behind? Is it hard work for her?

The eyes have something like 6 muscles, and eye control falls under the fine motor control heading. So if she's tired, or working hard at something else when her eyes are crossing it COULD just be a strength/stamina issue that she'll outgrow.

We just went through it, and that's what we were told, but we were told to watch it and get another consult in a couple of months. But with DS, it really is mostly when he's tired or really working at something new. It gets worse every time he's just learning a new skill, and lightens up when he's mastered it. So freaky to see it though!

I would just go get her checked out - if it is something, you can deal with it before it gets worse, otherwise it will make you feel better to know.

 

I don't have any experience with this but if you are concerned it doesn't hurt to call your pedi and talk to the nurse about it. It's a free call and it could potentially put your mind at ease.

 

I would also call the ped and ask what age this would become a problem. This way you have all of the information. Be sure to update us!

 

Ana had some eye tracking issues and since I have strabismus we brought her to the pediatric opthamologist at 4 months old (actual age- she was 6 weeks early). The doctor said at that time she couldn't tell because at that age they are still learning to focus their eyes on things. We made a follow-up appointment at 6 months and then again at 13 months and she was fine at both visits.

I would call your pedi and ask for a pedi opthamologist consultation because of your concerns. If it is strabismus the earlier you get treatment the better the outcomes. If its not strabismus, at least you can be reassured. Do you notice that she does it more when she is looking in one particular direction?

 

Is it mainly when she's trying to focus on something?? My boys did this A LOT until 6 mos of age and it really really scared me!! I asked Ped and he was willing to give us a referral to an eye doc but I decided to wait it out.

It finally stopped happening as they got older. Now it never happens. I understand your concern but technically, yours are only 3 months old. If it was me (and it was) I'd give it some time to straighten out.

 

I would talk to your Ped about it. Eye issues are something I dont think you should put off. Ours were born 8 weeks early and we had some of the same issues you are describing and they did go away, but we were also being monitored closely for the preemie condition of ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity) by a Pediatric Opthamalogist.

 

I looked up some information on crossed eyes (the scientific term though) and the main organization's website said that up until 6 months this is actually pretty normal. I'm going to watch her though. We have an appt. with the ped. in about 6 weeks. It seems to have settled down now that we are back in AK, but if it gets bad again, I think I will call for an appt.

Thank you all for letting me know your opinion.

 

I just talked to my pedi about my DS and his eye. DD had her eyes looking kind of crossed for a couple months and they adjusted by DS eye looks fully crossed (see photo). Lately it has been looking a little better and of course when we went to the dr it looked better, haha.

anyways, he's going to see an eye doctor. The turned off the lights in the exam room and used the eye-light thing and I forget what he said he had but it's from extra skin on his nose. It messes up his vision path. From what I hear schools, future day care, etc will bring it up all the time so the dr. wanted me to settle it once and for all and get it checked out.

I would definitely see an eye doctor. I wouldn't wait for it to get bad again cause you never know! Just get it out of the way


check out his eye a couple weeks ago:
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m228/vi...xa/DSC_1020.jpg

 

I would get an appointment with a pedi opthamologist, they take a bit to get in to see sometimes up to a month and with strabismus you want to deal with it sooner then later. Usually if the crossing is getting worse the sooner it is looked at the better they can fix the muscle. Ben had a slight crossing at 3 month and by the time we got into see the pedi opthamologist a month later it was crossing more and by the time he had his surgery it was really bad. He has glasses but his eyes are straighter and his depth preception is way better. Good luck.