Crossed Eyes

Go to a pediatric ophthomologist now. If there is a problem, it can be corrected early. Do not wait!

I would definetly go see a doctor. I have a lazy eye and my parents noticed it right around my 2nd birthday. The earlier they detect it the better. There are excersises that can be done to strengthen it back up.
Hope this helps.

J. - The sysmptoms you describe suggest the possibility of a condition called amblyopia, otherwise known as lazy eye muscles. It needs diagnosis and correction as quickly as possble thru the assistance of an opthalmologist, and while your child is young.

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J.,
Both of my younger two started doing this, but I thought I
was seeing things, because it was at the same time. Our
daughters corrected itself. Our sons is an astigmatism that he has yet to grow out of. (he is now 14) He wears glasses to see distance and close up, he wants contacts, but the ones they make for it can make you nauseated, so I
am waiting on that one. In short, get her eyes checked, the sooner the better, this way, she can be ahead of the game sooner. Both of them tended to go cross eyed when they got more tired at the end of the day, and they got head aches from trying so hard to focus. --W.

Definitely bring it up to her pediatrician. It may be something she just "discovered" that she can do, or she is just learning to focus,but it could be something slightly more serious. At my daughter's 2 year appointment, the doctor said to watch for "lazy eye" where both eyes don't track because there are treatments/ therapies to correct the problem so that there aren't vision problems later.

She might have lazy eye which is treated with glasses. My daughter's eyelid was droopy, but we didn't find out it was lazy eye until she scratched it and we had to go in to see a specialist. I advise taking her in for an eye exam, the kind where you cover one eye and shapes for younger ones or point the direction of an E. Make sure they do a good job, because my daughters wasn't caught at her doctor's office eye exam.

With lazy eye, she just has to wear glasses until she is ten or so, then has a choice.

It may be a normal focus yes.. however, my daughter also started doing that near age 2. Most especially when eating, as the food got closer to her mouth, and one eye more than the other would turn in. It was obvious, and after checking with her Dr. we were referred to a pediatric opthamologist. Turned out she did have a vision problem, and has been wearing glasses now for 6 years. So do check it out, it may be a nothing, but it's better to find out and to get started on glasses early, and avoid any future learning problems, because she can't see well.

I have eye muscle problems and have been seeing an Ophthalmologist since I was 4. If she really does have a problem the earlier you get her treatment the better. I highly recommend Dr T. Otis Paul. He has offices in Oakland ###-###-####) and Walnut Creek ###-###-####). The appointments are expensive but are covered by my medical insurance not my separate vision coverage.

Yes, it is normal - it is just a sign of her focusing intently with both eyes on an object that is close to her face. It is NOT harmful, so no need to get on her to stop doing it for fear of "getting stuck that way".
Strabismus, the medical term for crossed eyes, does not suddenly "develop" in toddlerhood: it is either congenital (present from birth whether noticeable at that time) or acquired due to some other pathological or secondary issue, such as a cataract or brain damage. The test for crossed eyes is very simple: the doctor merely shines his little light into the eye, and when the patient is looking at the light, a reflection can be seen on the front surface of the pupil. If the eyes are properly aligned with one another, the reflection will be in the same spot of each eye. Therefore, if strabismus is present, the reflection from the light will not be in the same spot of each eye. Your childs pediatrician will do this each and every check-up and visit, and would have diagnosed it by now.
Hold your index finger up in front of your face, 8-12 inches from your face. Focus on your finger with both eyes while bringing it slowly towards you as if moving to touch the tip of your nose. If you have focused on your finger, you have are now crossed your eyes! It is a natural function of your brain and eye muscles, and is why we have binocular vision. I have been able to cross my eyes since I was really little (I mastered the muscle control at a young age) and can even cross them independently from one another. It was always my "fun party trick" as a kid.

Call your Ped and just get it checked out (can't hurt right?) We recently had our sons eyes checked (he started squinting an unsual amount) by his Ped who was also concerned and we got a referral to an Pediatric Opthimologist in Walnut Creek. One of the questions we were asked is if we ever notice him crossing his eyes, we don't but they said they would be looking into some other things if he were. Turns out our son is fine (just picked up a habit and has now almost stopped doing it) but getting it checked out and getting the peace of mind that he is fine was totally worth it.

I say just get it checked out, the peace of mind will be worth it and if it is something more than a habit than they can start treating it now. You can send me a message if you have any questions...if you want the name of the Pediatric Opthimologist I have that too. Good luck and motherly instinct is never wrong!

Hi, That's about how old my daughter was when her eyes began to look crossed. I took her to the optometrist and found out that one of her eyes is weaker than the other. She's been wearing glasses regularly since and her weaker eye has been getting regularly stronger. Take her to the doc just in case.

All the best,
M.

Hi J., No this is not normal. I went througth the same thing with my son right before he turned two. I took him to a pediatric Opthamoligist and they diagnosed him with Strabismus. He has worn glasses since he was two years old. My son had an extreme case and had to have surgery on the muscles of his eyes, but is now doing great. He has always done great with wearing his glasses. I would try to get your child to the Opthamoligist as soon as possible because the faster it gets diagnosed, the better for the treatment and outcome. I can give you the name and number of the Dr. I take my son to, she is very skilled in this as she had the same problem as child. She is highly degreed. Good luck!
A.

You may want to have it checked out by an Optometrist. At 2 years old your daughter should have full control of her eyes...it may be nothing but a bad habit. However, if it is a problem with eye control, it is important to correct it as soon as possible.

Please call your pedtrician right away. My daughter started crossing her eyes at a very young age. I took her for her well baby checkup they checked her eyes and we were referred to an eye doctor. She started wearing glasses about 16 months old. Her eye sight is terrible, but at that age they don't talk a lot and they don't know any different. It is better to check. Good luck. There are a lot of adorable glasses out there for children :)

Echoing Andrea H's response....

I used to work in the field, take your little one soon to a Pediatric Ophthalmologist. (not an optometrist) If you need a recommentdation, let me know.

It won't hurt to have her checked out. I didn't even notice my son crossing his eyes until my mom pointed it out. He was about 2 when he got glasses. You should have seen him walking around the store like he was just seeing for the first time! The earlier the intervention the better! Good luck!

My daughter started doing the same thing. As she got older and her eyes were trying to focus on something close it got worse. At the age of 3 she was in glasses. I have her eyes checked every 3 months per her eye MD and her eye is getting much better as a result. She is now 4 and has been wearing the glasses for a little over a year.

DEFINATELY have it checked by an eye dr. specializng in children. Better safe than sorry.