I was wondering if anyone was ever told their child had Duane Syndrome - the case where one eye doesn't seem to move all the way to one side. I thought my daughter had a lazy eye (she's almost 4 months), so one of her doctors referred me to a pediatric opthamologist who we saw earlier this week. The doctor said her right eye doesn't move to the right and she believes she has Duane Syndrome and there is no correcting this and that you won't notice much when she gets older because she will learn to turn her head to look to the right.

I think I spent all of five to ten minutes with this doctor, and she didn't give me any further information about this, so obviously I'm going to take her for a second opinion. I will probably wait until she is six months and the muscles have developed more, but was wondering if anyone else was ever told this or has a child with this.

It definitely makes me a little sad on the inside for my little girl because we all know kids can be mean and I hate to think of this being an issue for her, but I'm more interested in other complications that may arise from this regarding her sight, etc.

Thanks.

I would so go for a second opinion, just so you can gather more information and see if there isn't any physical therapy your daughter can't undergo--I find it hard to believe that there is nothing you can do about it. *shrug* I have a pretty rare defect in my eye (Marcus Gunn Eye Jaw Winking disorder) and my parents searched high and low for a solution, even going to a different city to meet with a doctor who knew something about it--and in a few years I was having an operation to correct it. It is something my parents never regret and I love them so much for doing everything they could to help me look "normal." It is somewhat noticable, and yes I got teased in school, but who doesn't get teased? I am a stronger person because of it, and because my parents were so supportive and loving with me.

I wish you the best of luck--I truly hope you find out some good news for your daughter <3

4 months seems early to be making that kind of assessment... between birth and about 6-7 months, my youngest used to just freak me out with her weird eye movements! like your daughter, one of her eyes didn't seem to work right (can't remember which one, or which way it didn't move...), and like you, i was worried about her having a lazy eye, but her doctor said not to worry about it because her muscles were probably still developing. now at almost 20 months, her eyes work just fine! point is, definitely get a second opinion before you get too upset!!! :)

Thanks very much for both of your replies. I'm going to schedule a second opinion on Monday and see what the specialists in town think.

I appreciate your responses. :)