I hope ya'll don't mind

[Lily's Mom]

Hi Kath,
We don't have glasses, but Lily also had some mild strabismus, also alternating eyes. Â*The first ophtho we saw was a real loser. Â*He said "Well I looked up partial trisomy 7q in my book and couldn't find anything, so just come back in a year and a half." Â*Duh.

Anyway, Lily's fabulous new ophtho (who happens to look like Clark Kent) suggested that she wear a patch on one eye for 3 hours a day, alternating eyes each day. Â*Yeah, right. Â*We tried that for a few weeks but it was ruining our life; I had to keep Lily's arms in splints to keep her from pulling the patches off. Â*Good news is that the strabismus is better on its own and at our recent followup visit Dr. Clark Kent said that we didn't need to do anything else.

My understanding is that most of the time strabismus is an issue of eye muscle weakness, and wearing the glasses or patches "exercises" those muscles until they get stronger. Â*It's most often a temporary thing. Â*You can also use drops that "blur" one eye so the other eye has to work harder for a few hours, causing the same effect. That seemed so much easier than trying to keep glasses or patches on a little kid. (I always want to say stuff like "Yeah, go home and try that on YOUR kid for a few days and let me know how it goes.)

If you don't like this ophtho, DEFINITELY get a second opinion. Â*It can't hurt. Â*I'm a big fan of firing doctors who suck and getting new ones.

Good luck! Hugs to Lili

Erica (Lily's Mom)

[cariaad]

Alli had "alternating estropia" in both eyes, and we had the surgery to correct it. Our optho said that in cases as bad as hers, patching or glasses just wouldn't have any effect. The surgery was quick and simple, altho her eyes looked bloodshot for two weeks after. The night of the morning of surgery she let go of all supports and walked alone, and we also observed her looking at things much more intently (like "Wow, Mom, Cheerios have hole in them!&quot. She has nystagmus (her eyes dart back and forth while trying to focus) as well, which can't be corrected, but she compensates for it by turning her head to the side to achieve a better focus. She seems to be seeing fine now. I'd definately get a 2nd opinion. Deb

[TanyaLea]

Cody also has mild strabismus and is supposed to wear glasses. Â*He pulls at everything and only leaves the glasses on for a maximum of 1 minute. Â*The dr. told us to just start him and leave him until he pulls them off, then wait and try again later and eventually he would leave them on. Â*It has been 3 months and he still won't leave them on! Â*I told the dr this and she said that I must not be trying enough...right!!
He just doesn't like anything on his face - he was the same with his NG tube.

Good luck with the glasses, I hope it all goes well,

Tanya

[christyw]

Kath,

We are supposed to have Gaithy in glasses. We bought the absolute most adorable pair of Ralph Lauren frames for around $100. I had a big issue with "the look." Gaithy is adorable - all of our kids are - and I didn't want to take away from that. I was REALLY upset at her needing glasses (meaning, emotional) and I know that sounds rediculous, but that's how I felt. Her frames are something she could wear for a long time (they look like frames adults would wear in fact - sort dark burnt copper colored). HOWEVER, she is just now turning three and has had these for almost two years and WILL NOT wear them! I mean, it is a real fight and I have given up for now. Gaithy had retinopathy as a preemie and needed laser surgery, she will always be nearsighted until she is old enough to get lasik and that's if lasik improves to the point that she will need the correction. Still, she gets around perfectly, doesn't ACT at all like she can't see - even tiny things and far away, it's weird. Anyway, IF Kyle needs correction for a long time, eventually (age 9-12 or so) contacts might be an option, and they give much better and more accurate vision correction. I have a friend who always needed glasses to correct her crossed eye, but once she was 12 or so she got contacts and that was awesome for her because her lenses were thick and that was before they made the nicer, thinner high-strength lenses.

Gaithy's left eye seems to be a TINY bit off center. However, the pediatric ophthalmologist at our children's hospital says she won't need surgery or anything, just needs glasses. She also has an astigmatism, but I don't know which eye or how that effects anything.

Still, once you get over whatever initial issues you have with the glasses, I THINK you'll feel ok about it and Kyle may too. Glasses are really becoming a fashion statement, although with kids, that can still be debatable. You might try getting him two pair, a really sophisticated pair for normal stuff and then a pair for sports. I don't know how much money you want to spend, but there might be some really neat sporty glasses nowadays by Adidas or Nike, I don't really know, but that would be a cool idea if there aren't!


christy

[annerae63]

Kath-
Well looks like there are quite a few out there that are dealing with eye issues! I suffered from "crossed" eyes and wore the wonderful eye patch when I was little and went to therapy-it didn't do much for me 'cause i ended up needing surgery at age 7, 13, 17 and 27. Since they say its hereditary, I KNOW we're going to deal with it with Evan 'cause he's got one eye that turns in a little. His pediatrician noticed it as well and suggested we see someone this summer (I have yet to make an appt. 'cause I can only imagine how much THAT will freak him out!!). ANYHOW, don't have any words of wisdom but just wanted to let you know you are not alone and I'm sure soon I'll be reporting on our visit to the eye doctor.