squinting in toddler

[Libby268]

Hello. My daughter turned 2 at the beginning of October. In the last 3 days, she has been blinking and squinting a lot. I'm wondering if she may have a vision problem. She sometimes falls for no reason. How do you test the vision of one so young? She screams bloody murder and climbs on me like a monkey when the doctor walks in the room. I have to pin against my chest when he goes to look in her ears. How on earth would he check her eyes?
since I have your attention anyway, my husband and I have noticed that she has become a real fusssy budget the last few weeks. She is clingy and cries over everything. She is not one to deal with strangers and turns her head away from anyone who is seeking her attention. We don't live near family and rarely leave her. When we do it is with our trusted neighbor with whom she has a good relationship. I know the clinginess is a stage but she does it with her daddy too. any suggestions?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

First, be sure she is well medically. Fussy, clingy behavior, particualrly with rather acute onset, is often an indication of illness with a child so young. The blinking behavior should be called to the attention of her pediatrician. I can be a type of tic (involunatry muscle movement), it can be due to inflammation or some irritation in the eye, etc. It needs to be looked at.

[rashminair]

A related discussion, my 22months son has strated squinting. was started.