2 1/2 Year Old Daughter Complains of Eye Pain

I am an RN and I think moms know their kids best - yes take her to an ophthalmologist, not just an optometrist and keep on taking her to another doctor and another until you feel she has been thoroughly examined and all you questions have been answered.

My son is 3 and he has eye problems. I first noticed it in pictures, his eyes didn't seem to be in alignment with one another. I took him to Riley Ophthomology and they were able to tell me right away that he wasn't seeing properly out of his left eye. At that time, he was 18mos old and I could not get him to keep the glasses on that were prescribed to him. One day, he threw them out the window and that was it. I had spent $350 on those glasses and could not afford another pair. In September of this year, we went back to Riley where they administered a test that he was able to complete because he was now old enough and they informed us that his vision in his left eye was 20/200 which is legally blind. He has a condition that most people know as "lazy eye". The problem with this condition is that if left untreated, it can result in a permanent loss of vision in that eye. If it is caught at a young age, they can reverse it through the use of glasses. They gave my son glasses and he wore them for three months. We just recently went back and had his vision tested and it is now 20/65. So we found the problem and the solution and I hope you can do the same. I would definately take her to a PEDIATRIC OPTHAMOLOGIST and have her evaluated. Good luck.

Hun, you really need to get a second opinion. I would go see your family physician and have them refer you to the next best doctor. Eye doctors over look alot in children... trust me I been there and done that. Our eye doctor wanted to do the third surgery on my daughter and i demanded a second opinion. We then went to Rileys and found out that she couldn't see at a distance, we got glasses and she is cured. Second opionions never hurt! Also make sure your going to a ped optho not just a optho.

You say a brief exam...can you describe what they did in the exam? They should have had each eye covered one at a time and have her identify objects, dialate her eyes so they could look inside of them, etc. Define strange...the reflextion of the flash in her eyes...was the reflection in the same spot on each eye? If it was in the middle of one eye and off to the right or left in the other eye, then chances are that one eye isn't lining up right...and if it's not taken care of then the week eye will end up turning in or out as the brain ends up shutting it off for not functioning propperly. My son has been wearing glasses since he was 2. We never noticed a problem as he never complained, until one day I noticed that one eye seemed to be turning in a little bit while the other eye was looking straight ahead. At that point he was almost completely blind in his left eye and they've been having to penalize his right eye to try to force his left one to work. Look for an eye doctor that specializes in children. I would refer you to one but I see that you don't live in Indiana.

I would get a second opinion....I have learned from experience that if you don't fight for your kiddo, no one does....

I was also told the difference between allergies and pink eye is that pink eye is painful when a flash light is shined into them....at 2 1/2 she will probably flinch anyway...but just a thought....

Good luck~

you need to call your pediatrician and ask them to refer you to an opthamologist who specializes in pediatric eye problems. i have a strange little problem with my eye that makes it extra sensitive. I just found out about it this past year, becuase all ther other eye docs i've been to did not pick up on it. When i was younger, my cousin hit me in the eye with a really hard rubber ball. It caused some trauma to my pupil. A piece of it is not wrapped around the lense of my eye and attached to the retina. it now causes that eye to be more sensitive to bright lights and when i'm driving at night, the glare from oncoming cars headlights is awful. so yes, seek a second opinion and a 3rd or 4th or 5th, until someone acually takes the time to help your daughter. i went to the eye doctor at wal-mart in nicholasville rd in lexington. i saw the dark haired girl, sorry i can't remember her name. she was very nice and thorough. maybe she can help you.

J.

i owuld get a second opinion, and have them dilate them...your eyes are a very important part of you...i would definetly have her checked some where else....

my husband too works nights, it gets lonely sometimes, even with the kids doesnt it? well goo luck

L.

If you are not happy with the service that your doctor did, then by all means take her for the second opinion. Maybe she has a eye infection? Hope that she is better soon.

I would really consider going to an eye surgeon....they are more indepth than a regular opthmalogist. Obviously at this age, she's not making it up, so I'd keep searching until you got some answers. It does sound like you need a second opinion!

Go with your gut feeling, find a pediatric eye doctor....
Never doubt your feelings.......moms are always right.

Please go see another doctor. If you have photo proof of her eyes being different in flash photography (ie, one is dark and one is typical red eye) take it with you to the next doctor you see. Then there could be something inside the eye blocking the retina (which flash off the retina causes the red eye effect in photos) and you need to find out why immediately.

If could be nothing or something.

But definately see another eye doctor. Contact a LASIK center as those doctors are much more specialized and they may not see your daughter, but they may be able to refer her to someone. If all else fails call the specialty childrens' hospital in your area and find out who their eye specialist is and get an appointment.

I hope it goes well for you.

get a second opinion and a third if you aren't happy. This was 33 years ago, but when I was a baby I had a floating (lazy eye) and the first doctor wanted to immediately due surgery on an infant. My parents moved right along to someone else who explained it to them gave them options and instructions as to how to help me and never made a cut. I am fine. And my parents still say they wouldn't have stopped until they were comfortable with what the doctor was saying.

Move right along to the next one until the feeling in your mommy gut is OK. Check with your pediatrician to see if they know an eye doctor that works well with children.

Good Luck!

What ever you do don't stop till you have a opinion that seems right to you. All to often a parents concerns are over looked and blew off. talk with your family doctor, and call another eye doctor and tell them what you have notcied and what you would like to see done as fare as an eye exame gose.

J....
i would definitely get a second opinion - and then a third if you still aren't happy with the doctor's response. you have to go with your gut - you're her mom, you know her best.
good luck and God bless!

Hi J.
My daughter had the same issue with one of her eyes and I took her to the eye doctor and they did not dialalte her eyes either and said it was due to dryness and told me to try an eyedrop for dry itchy eyes. I did and that did not work as she got older she complained of everything being blurry, so I went for a 2nd opinion and and they said if her eyes are dry to use Thera-Tears which is a gel type eye lubricant and the 2nd doctor did dialate her eyes and said it was an attention getter (she is now 12) but try some Thera-Tears or any gel type eye lubricant. Any good eye doctor can tell you what you can buy OTC without an appointment. Good Luck and Happy New Year

The funny looking eye with the flash is not abnormal. My son and nephew both have that in pictures. Maybe she is having a hard time seeing, that could make her eye tired and sore. It is hard to do eye exams on children. You might want to try a pediatric eye doctor.

my only advice is to take her to your family doctor and have them check her eye.