Photographing your child's eyes for the eye doctor

Parents often notice that one of their child's eyes sometimes turns in, out, up or down, usually when the child is tired, unwell or daydreaming. Then, in the clinic, the eyes look perfectly straight. Photos and short videos from home help the eye doctor see what you see.

Getting a useful photo

• Use soft, even light. Daylight from a window in front of the child works well.
• Get the eyes in the frame. Hold the phone at the child's eye level, not above.
• Give them something to look at. Hold a small toy or sticker right next to the lens so they look towards the camera.
• Take several. Children move. Burst mode helps.
• Try a short video. A few seconds of the child looking at something near, then far, often shows a turn better than a still photo.

Capture the moments it happens

Keep your phone handy at the times you usually notice the turn, such as late in the day or during screen time. Write down the date, the time, which eye, which direction it turned, and what the child was doing.

A note about flash photos

In flash photos, pupils normally look red or dark. If one pupil repeatedly looks white, yellow or very different from the other, contact your GP, paediatrician or eye doctor within the next few days, say that you have seen a white pupil in photos, and bring the photos. Sometimes the angle of the photo explains it, but only an eye examination can tell, so it should always be checked.

Babies

Eyes in young babies can briefly wander or cross in the early months. If you notice a turn after about four months of age, or an eye that turns constantly at any age, ask for an eye check. Some babies have a wide bridge to the nose that makes the eyes look crossed when they are not. An eye examination is the only way to tell.

For more on lighting and distance, see our guide to taking consistent eye photos at home.