Do you know someone with a squint/lazy eye?
Specialist Nurse Rachel Andrews works on a daily basis in the Eye Clinic specialising in patients who have squints/lazy eyes. She has worked with Mr Vivian (Ophthalmic Consultant) for 15 years and both have discovered there is a great need to provide the general public with more information on surgery for squints as an adult. Approaching this subject with an acquaintance, friend or family member can be a very sensitive issue, Rachel offers you some advice if you are facing this situation. If you have a child with a squint please see our 'What do I do next?' page for information on possible treatment.
"If you know someone with a squint, also referred to as a 'lazy eye', and you feel you a need to talk to them about this subject, the first thing to do is to assess whether or not they feel they have a problem with it. If the person covers their eyes with a hairstyle, or wears sunglasses a lot or talks to you with their head tilted or fails to make eye contact and if they seem to generally lack confidence then there is a good chance they are unhappy with the way they look. If, however, the person has an obvious squint but looks you straight in the eyes and seems confident in themselves then they have probably come to terms with it, accepted it and not let it affect their lives.
To approach the subject with someone who you feel would benefit from help - is not easy. I would say at this point, as a way of encouraging you to speak to them, that so many of the people I see in the clinic had wished they had known about it years ago and that someone had told them.
There are a few ways to approach this subject. One way I have used myself, is to bring the subject of operations into the conversation, I have asked them if they have ever had any surgery. Twice recently the person has said they had an eye operation as a child and that has given me the opportunity to make them aware that if their eye is now squinting again, there may be further help available as an adult.
The other way would be a more direct approach and at an opportune moment ask the person whether they are aware that help is available through the NHS for people who have a lazy eye. If the person is then receptive to this comment then you can go on and address the subject in more detail from the information available on this website. If, however, they seem embarrassed leave the subject there and tell them about this website if you feel it may be of use to them.
If you receive an interested or positive response and they are keen to know more about possible treatment available and discussing the subject further with a consultant, then offer them the information from our 'What do I do next?' page or refer them to this website. It is worth bearing in mind that surgery is not an option for every patient, therefore we cannot promise that something can be done, but it's worth pursuing possible treatments and seeing the consultant to see if anything can be done.
From personal experience, I believe this subject should always be handled with sensitivity - but I would encourage you to try, as the results can be most rewarding. Knowing that there is help available has often reduced patients to tears from the relief of finding that something could be done - as many of our patient experiences will testify."
