My perfect 22 month old was diagnosed with strabismus at 6 months old. Crossed eyes are normal for small infants who are still adjusting to sight but once they reach 6 months of age they should be straight. Your pediatrician will check for this at the 6 month check up but you know best and should see an ophthalmologist by the 7th month if the eyes do not straighten out.
As soon as the ophthalmologist saw my tot, she knew there was a problem. Her crossing is caused by her being far-sighted but strabismus has many causes. Some are caused by a stronger dominant eye or a misalignment of the eyes and in order to avoid double vision, the brain chooses to disregard one eye and the suppressed eye becomes lazy and will wonder. My tot’s far sightedness causes her to strain her eye muscles unnecessarily and causes both eyes to cross indiscriminately (both cross equally). It is a brain mis-communication, the brain is telling the eye muscles to work too hard and this causes the eyes to cross. Initially the doctor thought the crossing could be corrected with glasses. The idea was to correct the far sightedness and therefore re-signal the brain to relax the eye muscles. Of course, this is all very non-technical, laymen terms that I have come to understand.
The glasses did help in the beginning and as soon as she started wearing them, her eyes straighten out. I was really sad that she had to wear glasses but they are really cute and she always gets a lot of attention from people seeing a little baby with glasses on. After 6 months of wearing glasses, she showed amazing improvement so the prescription was reduced. We were really hopeful that this would continue until she no longer needed them, even though the doctor warned that it could take into adolescence for this to happen. I just didn’t want her to have to wear glasses for the rest of her life but more importantly, I needed for the glasses to work because I wanted to avoid surgery! Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Our last two appointments have been to confirm that surgery is indeed absolutely necessary to correct the crossed eyes. The glasses were no longer corrective, she still crossed significantly with the glasses on and only 10% more without them. Their effectiveness has become minimal, her brain got used to the glasses and is making adjustments to go back to what it thinks is “right”, which is over-straining of the eye muscles.
I am now left with only one option because it would be irresponsible and selfish of me to let her grow up with crossed eyes because of my fear. Last night I laid awake snuggling with her in my arms crying because I was imagining that 45 minute surgery. I am thankful that we have a capable and talented doctor (Dr. Anne Simon). But as a mommy, worry, fear, concern, anxiety and nerves is what I am now made of since my uterus started producing babies. Thoughts like, “What if there was an earthquake during the surgery that caused the doctor to poke a hole in her eye?” and other more reasonable concerns like, “What if the surgery does not correct the eyes?”.
The specific procedure to correct her problem is “common” and “simple” but of course when it comes to surgery on your own baby, nothing is common and things are far from simple. It is a eye muscle surgery, because her muscles are “too strong”. They will cut the muscles and place them back to make them weaker. She will go under general anesthesia for about an hour and the actual surgery will take 30 minutes but she will be away from me for 45 minutes. It will be the longest 45 minutes of my life. The surgery will most likely be scheduled in July.
I could not give Dr. Anne Simon a more enthusiastic recommendation. She has really helped us through this and made us feel as comfortable and confident about this as possible. She is at 3565 Torrance Boulevard, Torrance, CA 90503, 310-543-1310.
I am so sorry that you and your daughter are going through this. If it is any consolation, my brother had surgery to correct his cross eyes many years ago (he is 37 now) and he has beautiful brown eyes.
As for the 45 minutes, take it minute by minute. Breath deeply every 5 minutes. Hug a friend/spouse every ten. The time will pass–slowly–but it was pass.
I am sorry to hear about your daughter. As a mother with 2 lil girls of my own, I know how you feel. I wish you and your daughter the best of luck. Please keep us posted.
When C had his tonsillectomy and adenoitectomy he was put under for an hour– It was the longest hour of my life! Thankfully his godfather came and entertained us with jokes and silliness. Let me know when the surgery is and I’ll try to fly in so I can entertain you with funny stories 🙂
Hi I’ve never posted here before, but I just wanted to say that I had the same surgery, 30+ years ago. Of course, I don’t remember any of it, except that I got to have jelly in hospital! My mother says the wait was agony for her too, but I’d much rather have had the surgery than have been crossed eyed. You’re doing the right thing. Good luck!
Kelly, my daughter had a fibroma removed when she was 13 months old. The surgery took all of 15 minutes, she was out of my arms under general anesthesia for 25 minutes, these were the longest 25 minutes of my life. She was jumping, bouncing around and eating popsicles 10 minutes after they brought her to the recovery room. Kids are so resilient! Hang in there, she will be great!!!
xoxo
Thank you for all the encouragement, it really helps! I love our little community here, there is nothing stronger than the strength of mothers =)
Love, Kelly
hi, kelly! so sorry to hear about your stress. i am sure that dr. simon will do a fantastic job and the little sister’s eye problem will be solved! just so you know, i was in your shoes about two months ago. my little a. had ear tubes and the procedure, which took all of 20 minutes, felt like it was forever. she was under general anesthesia also and the day before her surgery i was crying buckets. everything will be okay. oh, the staff at lcm are great. they will take real good care of a. hugs for now. kisses to the 2 girls.– ruby, isabella and annika.
Two of my cousin’s daughters both have this problem. The older one (she’s 7 I think) and the younger one (she’s 3) still wears glasses. I haven’t talked to her if surgery was an option or if they are just gonna wear their glasses forever.
I know it’s really scary letting your daughter go through that surgery but you’re doing the right thing. 🙂
Hi Kelly, my daughter had this surgery at approx 14 mos. It is good that you are doing it at a young age. She will have no memory of it. Trust me that it will be harder for you than for her. The good news is that my daughter’s eyes are much improved. You are doing the best thing for your daughter. I was struggling with the decision and a friend took me aside and told me that she had the surgery as an adult and that she resented her parents never doing it when she was a child. She grew up being made fun of for her appearance and wished her parents had been willing to do the surgery. Speedy recovery to your little one. You will both do great!!
hi there
i hope i have contacted the right person if not could you point me in the right direction?
i recently had strabismus surgery having had a squint since the age of three and now 16 and would really like to do some fundraising for more research to be done into it
i was just wondering if there are any charities for people/ children with squints etc that you may know of?
many thanks
natalia
i was looking into this procedure myself
and had a question how much did the surgery cost you??
Wow, I hope your kid does not grow up believing that there is something wrong with wearing glasses. You seem to have a vapid outlook on the situation. It makes me ill.
I had corrective surgery for this same condition when I was two years old. I have worn glasses all my life, and there is NOTHING wrong with that. Hopefully, your daughter will somehow learn that it’s what is inside that counts.
Hey,
I hope it went well. I understand i am a preteen who has a Crossed eye. At first when people question me i kinda cried. They bullied me. Now i am not afarid to tell them.
I really want the surgery and my mom is very scared. I go to a Eye center for this reason. I also wear glasses but they dont work very well. Just rarly they would work.When at school i get to go up in front of everyone, it makes me self consious.
Wish me luck that one day i can get surgery on it…
Hello Karissa! I am Cherryl, a mother to a toddler who underwent squint surgery Feb. of this year. May I ask how’s your condition after your surgery? My daughter’s eyes were straight for two months but now intermittently cross again. I am worried for her especially when she comes of age already. I would like to hear from you. Thanks.
Hi I’m Andrea:
I was born with strabismus; I am now 29 years old and it has been difficult for me for most of my life to deal with. People can be very mean from childhood all the way into adulthood. I was constantly teased in school as a child. Now that i am an adult i have learned to love myself for who i am. It really hasn’t too much stopped me from anything, but it has been a very long and hard journey. I still have a little difficulty with socalizing.
seriously considering corrective surgery. For my confidence and career.