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I am so, so worried. For a couple months now, my 'almost 2 yo' has been constantly talking about his eyes, rubbing them, squeezing them shut, whimpering about them, and kinda shouting, "eyes! eyes!!!" Well, he's not stumbling around and he sees things from a decent distance, so I'm trying to remain calm and not freak out. My mother suggested he might have allergies and they're just sensitive/bothering him.
Well, his 2 year well-check is approaching, so I just kept telling myself to wait until then and we'd have him checked out. But, yesterday he was kinda crying and shouting "Eyes! Eyes!" so I got a warm, wet washcloth and was wiping his eyes a bit... I gave him some Benadryl thinking possible allergies...
Today he's done it several times!!! I am getting so worried! I saw the movie Ray about Ray Charles a few months ago, so now I have a sick/terrified fear he could have some degenerative eye disorder/disease or something! Yes, I'm a bit of a hypochondriac, but oh my gosh I worry about my kids so much!!!!!!
I called the doctor and made an appointment for Wednesday morning. I'm sure there's nothing they can do except perhaps refer me somewhere???
Has anyone else had anything similar? It is an unusual problem... oh these kids keep my stomach in knots!!!!
Answer:
Who knows, maybe your child has a stuy that is bothering them? The only problem my son had was goopy eyes. His eyes were terribly goopy since Birth. Then when he was 10 months old they cleared up. We visited an eye doctor that we were refered too.
My son's eyes were fine, he just had narrow tear ducts. They had him scheduled to get the tear ducts probed, but fortunatly his eyes cleared up before that!
Sounds to me that it is likely that they are fine if they aren't stumbling around and can see well. Good luck with your doctor apppointment. Hope that they can put you at ease!
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First off, IF something is wrong with a child's eyes, they typically don't realize it. They have lived with it all their life so they don't know any different.
However, if you are truly worried, take him to an opthmologist. I wouldn't even bother with a stop at the general physician's office.
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How strange. Little diva's only 17 mos., but she does the same thing. She started doing it when she learned where her eyes were, then when she wanted to play with our eyeglasses. She, indeed, did it more when she had pink eye, but that one was obvious. If you're really uncomfortable, take her in. I do think my little girl has allergies, as do the rest of us, and this AZ air is soooo dry. She actually touches her eye and says, "Eye". Do they seem red and a little puffy? And, the buds are coming out.
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My first thought would be allergies too (I've had them since I was 6). Itchy eyes can be really aggravating, and I can imagine that they would easily upset someone so small who can't understand what's going on. Does he have any other signs that he might have allergies? Either way, I would definitely get him checked out if you're worried - if only for your own peace of mind.
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Could it be teething, when my ds gets a tooth coming out in the back, he cant differentiate the pain in his jaw to his eye or ear, so I would check her upper gums to see if any back teeth are coming out.
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My dh works at an opthamologist's office, so I will second the opinion strongly, don't bother talking to your general practician when it comes to eyes. As a matter of fact, my son's doctor was ready to ship him off to children's hospital for surgery on his eyes until I had him checked by my dh's boss (and the pediatrician got mad at me for it).
My youngest son has really chubby cheeks and they were pushing on his lower eyelids and making the eyelashes turn toward his eyes. It was very bothersom to him. The opthamologist took one look at him, pinched his chubby little cheeks and said, "No worries, he'll grow into those cheeks and his eyes will be fine." No surgery needed!
My other son has pretty bad allergies and has to take eye drops for them (again, not from the pediatrician).
Kelly, don't worry until there is something to worry about. And if you get a scenario that sounds scary from one doctor, be sure to get a second opinion.
Just another thought and question....Is there anything that you can see? Are they red or anything? If not, he could be yanking your chain. My oldest son was doing this weird breathing thing when he was around 2 years old. He would act like he was weezing and gasping for breath so naturally I took him to the doctor. The doctor laughed and said it was just something he was doing to get my attention and thanks that'll be $10 for you copayment!
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We had to have my oldest daughter's tear ducts open. We thought only one was blocked but they both were and she hasn't had any trouble since. She had lots of drainage though, does your son have anything coming out of his eyes? My daughter (same one) also had pink eye a year later - but again had drainage.
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His eyes are totally clear, and he's been doing this for weeks (2 months?) now... he will just suddenly squint, look down, cry out "Eyes! Eyes!" and put his hands near them. Now he asks for a washcloth because I have wiped his eyes with one in the past.
Ohhhhh dear me <<trying not to worry>> I do have an appointment tomorrow morning at 8:30 with a new pediatrician. I have to get a referral to see a specialist, so I think I have to start with the ped.
He did this eye thing two times today. I get this sick, scared feeling when he does it. I worry so much about my kids
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I think it would be worth it to go ahead and schedule a visit to an opthalmologist, just for peace of mind, if anything. I understand your concern. I keep trying to teach the word hurt to little diva. She's so smart and picks up on so many words quickly, but this one alludes her. I just would like to get to the point where she can tell me where and when something hurts.