Squint

I think that you should just ‘bite the bullet’. I developed a bad squint, amongst other things after contracting polio as a toddler. It needed sorting asap just like any other sight problem. I had the operation- think it’s called ‘strabismus surgery’ . I’m sorry and surprised that your daughter isn’t more grateful to you for your efforts on her behalf. My Mum always advised me that good parenting meant that you risked being hated by your children because, sometimes, doing the right thing, the best thing, for your children is often difficult for everyone.,. Your daughter needs to do the right thing for her child just as you did. My Mum has been gone many years but I still give her heartfelt thanks for the years of time and effort she put in to dramatically alter the original prognosis she was given for my future - and not just for the squint. (Polio is the gift that keeps on giving ) Good luck. I hope she”s sensible and listens to you.

I spotted that my youngest son had what I thought was a squint when on holiday when he was 2. When we got back home I took him to see our GP who confirmed that he did have a squint. We tried a patch for a few months which didn’t work and when he was 4 he had an operation to correct it. It meant an overnight stay at the hospital but it was a hugh success and he didn’t need to wear glasses. My sister had a squint corrected when she was young and I also have an aunt who had a squint when she was young.

Hopefully a teacher will notice and inform your daughter.

Yes, I went through with my daughter wearing patches, and eventually having an op when she was still quite young, but fortunately it didn't harm our relationship.

I wonder if you could try and talk to the headteacher at the school , but maybe not. However, surely someone at that school is eventually going to mention your granddaughter's squint to her mother which hopefully would trigger some investigation. If not, then the school isn't doing its job properly!

My eldest son developed a squint when he went to school. It turned out that he had long sight in one eye and his brain was favouring the good eye. He needed glasses to correct this, which stopped the squint instantly. However now aged 49 he sometimes does squint when he is tired and not wearing his glasses.
Get it checked by an optician before too late.

My chums grandson has just had one diagnosed, picked up by the Teachers, who suggested get his eyes tested. The Optician I believe referred him on... He has to wear an eye patch for about 4 hours a day plus he now has glasses.
So hopefully the school will pick it up.

Do school children still have medicals? If so, this will be flagged up and your DD will be made aware of the problem.

I don't think many schools still employ a school nurse.

One way or another it will come to your DD's notice if it hasn't already.

As you fear your daughter will be unwilling to listen, I would keep my mouth shut, if I were you.

Cross your fingers and hope either that the school nurse notices the squint, or the class teacher does, or that your daughter remarks on it herself.

Eye patches are no longer used to correct squints or astigmatisms, which is one consolation.

My mother noticed in some photos that her great grandaughter had a squint that none of us had noticed. She did have to wear glasses with one lens covered but the she could choose the design of the patches and had various charts with them on to hang on her wall and she didn't have any problems. She still wears specs but is not the least bit bothered by them.
You have to mention this to your daughter asap easy for her to miss it when in constant contact. The sooner she is treated the better for her.

Children in Reception usually have their eyes checked in school as part of a national screening programme.
They should pick up on any difficulties then.

I have a lazy eye, and went for all sorts of tests and eye examination when I was young. I hated wearing glasses even though my mum always bought me really nice ones rather than the horrible nhs specs they used to give children. But it did make me super careful about my kids eyes and had them all in for regular eye tests. The only one that had a problem was my DD, I turned out the muscles at the side of eye was weak and the optometrist gave her some games to play using a pencil and a cat which you had get both sides of the cat to merge. This would normally have been picked up by the school nurse, but I don’t think this exists anymore

I'd be inclined to say nothing, as your relationship is not great and you're only noticing it in photos. If other children make any remarks about her eyes, she'll probably tell her mother, who might then get them checked.

My mother must have had a bit of an obsession about squint - she may have known someone with a bad one. Anyway, I was started on treatment at about 1 - patches and glasses, then surgery at 2. My eye was apparently turned in slightly. When I was 8, the "corrected" eye started turning out, and I had another operation. After 2 surgeries, my right eye still isn't completely straight and I don't have binocular (3D) vision, meaning it's sometimes hard to judge distances.

I sometimes wonder if I hadn't started "corrective" treatment so young, would I have had the same problems. My mother thought our eldest might have a slight squint and I brought him to an eye specialist who said he was fine - as I said earlier I think she was a bit obsessed!

Squint is often first noticed when the flash/light spot in a child's eyes is in a different place in each eye.

Ali I haven't been to the dentist for years not because of being scared it's the cost. I don't mind what I pay to get my eyes tested and having any extra tests . I always go to Specsavers and have their 2 for 1 range as I wear distance and reading glasses . Recently had my hearing check at Specsavers but if you get your GP sent then a letter refering you it doesn't cost anything and you can get NHS hearing aids from them free including free batteries and repairs . My hearing hasn't got bad enough to need them and they do a through test. Private hearing aids start at £400 I don't see the point of paying when I can get them for free.

Only found out about getting them free from Specsavers with GP referral because I asked at the shop if they did NHS ones.

Whiff,
Dentists recommend taking your children with you for check-ups even before their teeth are in, if you can, so they can see its not scary - I'd freak them out, I hate the damn place lol - but it's a good idea, if you're not like me!

Please tell your daughter! Wearing glasses is more accepted these days and there are some lovely ones out there, although lovely prices, too!
Just wearing glasses with the right prescription might help. But the opticians might suggest part time use of a patch to strengthen her bad eye. My grandson has patches that slip onto his glasses as he has to wear a patch part of the time. He was very good the other week when he was down as I was also wearing a patch, so he didn't argue too much. He's only 6. The glasses and patch are helping, though.
Your granddaughter could have a look at what's out there for children and maybe find a couple of pretty ones to wear!
(I recently had cataract removal and a new lens put in, in a less than 5 minute operation. My good eye is now almost as good as it was when I was 5 and I'll be getting my other eye done next month. The patch helps as my vision is now wonky until I get the other eye done).

We had our children's eyes tested from age 3 and every year until they were 11 then every 2 years. Surely your daughter has had her children tested ? Plus going to.the dentist as soon as they get some teeth. There where basic things we did as our children grew up . They where both born in the 80's. It was part of child tests along with having all the vaccines. I know my children have been having their children's eyes tested and visit the dentist every 6 months plus all the jabs including paying for chicken pox jab.