My little is 2 years old and for the past week has been squinting and blinking both eyes constantly. I thought that maybe it was allergies because we have dealt with this in the past and have had some crazy weather lately, but have given him allergy medicine and it does not seem to help. His eyes don't look red or irritated. This happens at all times, not necessarily when looking at a book or tv or anything in which you would have to focus. This leads me to believe it is not a vision problem, but since the allergy meds aren't working, I am just not sure where to go? Pediatrician? Eye Doctor? What can they figure out with a 2 year old??? Any advice?
M.,
I would recommend seeing a Developmental Optomertist. I used to work for one in St. Louis and would see patients as young as two. He/She might be able to help with problem. It might be nothing or it could be the beginning signs of something. Either way you will have an answer. Good luck.
One comment suggested immunity to the allergy meds - it's more likely that the particular medication you're using is ineffective, but eye allergies are usually related to dryness, itching, and less squinting/blinking.
The squinting seems more indicative of issues with vision.
Your pediatrician would be the best first stop to do an eye exam and then possible referral to an Optometrist/Ophthalmologist.
Here's what the American Academy of Pediatrics says about eye issues:
http://www.healthychildren.org/english/search/pages/resul...
My son had this problem around that age too. It was short-lived and happened more when he was watching tv. However, the pediatrician said it was just a phase and not to worry. He did stop doing it without any sort of meds. Hope this helps.
A.
Hi M., I have a four year old grandson that has done this several
times in the past year or so. His teacher even mentioned to me one day
when I picked him up from preschool. Doctors said it was either a habit or
allergies. Medicines didn't seem to help and he also said it didn't hurt. So
we attributed it to like dry eyes from allergies. It comes and goes and it
does seem to be associated with his allergies. The doctors were not concerned either. Hope this helps, L. Nana of 6 boys
You are on a mission to rule out what this is. Start with the allergy and see if the pediatrician has an answer or wants to send you to an allergist. It is not a bad idea to see an eye doctor anyway, he is a little young, but if it continues without results from an allergist, you will want to rule out vision as an issue. Getting this done is important, you do not want him to be having issues with vision at such a critical developmental time. If that is a dead end, and it continues, you will probably be sent to see a neurologist.
M.
Just wanted to say that this may be a phase. My little guy was doing this for a while. I think he was just facinated at the fact that he would control his eyes.
My cousin had/has this. I mentioned it to my aunt several years ago when he was 4-6 or so.....(he's now 16). He also shrugged/rolled his shoulders alot. He ended up getting glasses and was diagnosed with OCD and tourettes. He's never had the "yelling" spells commonly associated with TS but he did have the tics, hence the blinking and shoulders. I'm almost certain my ob/gyn has it(she blinks)
Well he may just have dry eyes, sometimes allergies will cause this as does allergy medication. Ask your pediatritian what to use, we use a product called Systain. its a lubrecation drop sold in the eye section of the pharmacy. Then again, at that age, he could just be copying someone he saw doing it. good luck!
I have an eye allergy that normal allergy meds don't help. I get calcium deposits under my eye lid. It makes me feel like there is something in my eye & I can't get it out. My eyes only get red when I really rub them. Take him to an eye dr. There are eye drops that help my condition & they don't burn. If he has what I do then they will look under his eye lids & be able to see it.
God bless!
well it could be as simple as he has become imuned to the allergy medicine that you are giving to him. I would take him to the pediatrician first that they usually refer you to a different Dr. if he need to see the eye Dr. Maybe his eyes are just dry or maybe he is just realizing that he has control of his eyes blinking so he does it a lot. When my cousin was young she had a nervous twitch where she would constantly shake her head to get her bangs out of her eyes even if they were not in her eyes. I know that it sounds wierd but maybe he was doing it a lot before and now it has just become a habbit. good luck
I would personally start with the Ped, and then follow up with the eye dr. I'm not sure how they can tell, but they are able to prescribe lenses to little ones if needed. Good luck!
Take him to an eye doctor. It sounds like vision problems. Take him to a pediatric eye doctor. They can tell at an early age if there are any vision problems. Both my husband and I had vision problems. Mine weren't caught until first grade and my husbands in the later elementary years. I would start with the eye doctor... not a pediatrician or allergy doctor.
Are his eyes dry? Does your little one have a lazy eye? even if it just slight, you may not notice it until he is tired or sleepy. My little girl would do that turns out she was seeing double, she did not know it wasnot normal, this is the way she saw and at 2 you really dont know any better, its "normal" (she did have a lazy eye, only noticable until sleepy, we did not do anything about it until she was 6 and really noticable). If you are worried take him to the eye doctor, they can tell by the shape of the eye if he needs glasses.
