Patient Testimonial: Thea’s Squint Correction Surgery
Thea was four years old when she had corrective squint surgery with Professor Saurabh Jain, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon. Her Mother recalls their experience of how we got to that point and how her recovery has been since.
We first noticed issues with Thea’s eyes when she was about two and a half. From then on, we were under the care of the NHS, with regular appointments to monitor the measurements of her eye and make sure everything stayed stable. She was prescribed glasses, which she wore all the time. At the time, we thought they were just supporting her vision — we didn’t fully realise how much they were compensating for issues with depth perception.
She absolutely loved her glasses. She loved choosing them, wearing them, and honestly wouldn’t go anywhere without them. She even woke up in the mornings asking for them straight away, which really made us believe she needed them to see properly. At one point it was mentioned that the glasses might also give her a sense of confidence or protection socially, but for us it was clear she genuinely relied on them.
I first spoke to Professor Jain’s secretary in mid-July, and we arranged a virtual consultation because of the distance. They were incredibly accommodating — even scheduling the appointment for 8am on a Sunday morning. From the very first conversation, Professor Jain was calm, clear, and brilliant with Thea. It was honestly the first time in two years that we fully understood what the actual issue was from a technical point of view, and that alone was hugely reassuring.
Not long after that, we travelled over to London for a day of assessments. Thea had several tests done — I had already sent her notes in advance, so everything was well prepared. We met with the orthoptist, then with Professor Jain, and it was confirmed that she was suitable for surgery and that they were happy to proceed. The surgery itself took place about a month later, in August.
When we explained to Thea that she was going to have surgery, I showed her in the mirror what the issue was and why we were doing it. She genuinely hadn’t realised that her eyes were pointing in slightly different directions, which really brought home how young she was and how little she’d questioned any of it.
The surgery was a day-case procedure. We arrived in the morning and were home again that afternoon. Thea was incredibly brave throughout. The only moment she seemed even slightly anxious was when she squeezed my hand a bit tighter going into the anaesthetic room — which, if I’m honest, was far harder for me than for her. Handing your child over is never easy. But the staff were absolutely brilliant. The facilities were clean, child-friendly, and calm, and everyone was so kind and reassuring. The nurse chatted to her constantly and really put her at ease.
When she woke up properly, she was upset — but only because she wanted the cannula out of her hand. It had nothing to do with her eyes at all. Within half an hour, she was completely back to herself.
One of the strangest (and most amazing) things after surgery was that she refused to put her glasses back on. She said, very matter-of-factly, “I don’t need them.” Hearing that from a four-year-old was both surprising and incredibly powerful.
*Names have been changed to protect patient privacy.*
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