She's had an issue with the tear gland in her left eye since birth. We were told back then that it was clogged and to massage it and yada yada yada and it would open on it's own by her first birthday.
Come her first birthday, it still wasn't opened but very rarely caused her enough issue for them to mess with it.
Come her second birthday; same thing.
The tearing comes and goes and really doesn't seem to bother her, so we all live with it.
Then a few months ago (I honestly don't remember exactly when), we noticed that her right eye (not the tear issue eye) seemed to be "straying". Basically if she was ever tired, or focused on something, or "dazed", her left eye would be focused but the right would drift right on down to the lower corner.
Honestly, I didn't think too much of it. We just learned to snap our fingers at her or do something to cause her to focus on us. And that worked. For a while.
It has gradually gotten worse so our pediatrician decided we should be referred off because he was afraid her vision was possibly affected.
So we packed up today and headed into town to see what was going on.
We found out that she does in fact have Amblyopia or "lazy eye". The problem is, at this age, they can't test her vision so we don't know how well she's seeing or isn't seeing. We can only assume that her brain is not getting the visual images it's supposed to from the right eye.
Our solution is to patch it. Every single day for a good 30 minutes a day. I'm thankful that she doesn't have to wear it all day every day at this time. And if every night is like tonight when we try to put it on, we're all going to be praying we never have to wear it longer.
Of course the doctor put the fear in us by telling us that missing one day of wearing it wipes out a weeks worth of work. So the kid will be wearing it.
She'll be reevaluated in three months time and at that time he'll take a look at the muscles behind her eye again and see how they look. If we don't see enough improvement, we'll have to talk other options. That's not even on our radar now though. This patch is going to work.
So thank you for those of you who were praying for us today. I'm thankful that we finally have some answers and some solutions to hopefully get her back on track.
Now my question? Anyone out there have a little one have to do this? How did you make the patch "fun"? We tried to play Pirates tonight and she was not having it. She cried for 25 of the 30 minutes tonight. I'm really hoping that doesn't become routine. Is there any tips to making them wear this? Or just making it bearable??
17 comments:
Neither of my girls have it but I did. In fact there are two types, one that can only be fully corrected by surgery and the other that requires daily use of the patch. I had the first type although they did try patches as well. The process is difficult but she (and you) will make it through. My suggestion would be to try and save one of her FAVORITE things solely for the time she is wearing the patch. Her favorite show, a special treat, a trip to the playground...anything that will help her equate the patch with a good thing. ;)
So glad you got some answers today and I'll be praying that Ella becomes more tolerant of wearing the patch so it can do what it's supposed to. Sweet girl. I have some friends who have gone through it and had good results!
Girl can rock an eye patch though ;)
I agree with the first comment. I clearly don't have any experience with patches, but I know how long thirty minutes of having to do something she dislikes can seem. With the nebulizer we just try to get through it, but since she's old enough to have favorite things maybe that's the key. I'll be praying for you all.
Hi there!
I studies to become a Child Life Specialist in college, they are people who work with kids who are in the hospital or any type of medical environment.
Does she have a favorite stuffed animal or doll? At her age it can really help if you make her feel less alone by putting the eye patch on a toy or something else she really likes. Also, it might help if you even wear an eye patch with her, just to make it fun.
Those are my suggestions. I hope they help!
xo.
I'm glad you got some answers. I will be praying that the patches work and work fast and that it gets easier and easier for her to wear them! And I'll be praying for you too! :)
E looks adorable as a little pirate :)...I will be praying it gets easier and her eye is much better quickly!!!
Hey girl-Emma has accommodative esotropia, which is where one eye turns in and she has trouble seeing close up. She was 18 months when diagnosed with an eye exam by a pediatric ophthalmologist, so I'm not sure why they said they can't test her vision. Try to give her a fun thing to do while patching it. We went straight to glasses 24/7 but she could see so she wore them happily.
I have no experience with this whatsoever. I just wanted to tell you that her eyepatches are super cool.
Aww, poor sweet Ella! I hope she starts to fight wearing it less! Sorry I don't have more experience to help you with!
I'm with the nebulizer mommas. When L had to do his breathing treatments, he watched his favorite show and ate a special treat. Eventually, he didn't need those things anymore. Praying for you guys. XOXO
The patch will work! I'll be praying it does, anyway :) She is still a precious little dumpling. Glad the doctor gave you guys some answers!
That sweet little girls makes that eyepatch look awesome :) I don't have any experience at all with this, but I know it will get better/easier with time... just like all things! I think the suggestions above are good, distract her, etc. You both can do this!
Does she wear the same patch every day or is it a different one or how does that work? If you use different patches, maybe find something you can let her decorate with stickers or little sticker rhinestones? Then she can sport her cool self-decorated eye patch for a half hour. It might make it more fun for her.
Poor thing, but good thing it's caught early! No experience, but considering I've lived through 3 toddlers, I recommend finding a time of day when she is less cranky (our boys is the morning, as they are tired toward naptime and even between naptime and bedtime they are more cranky than the morning) and then I would recommend distracting her with something fun. I don't know if she likes blowing bubbles? Our boys would love to go outside and play with bubbles. It might distract her from what's going on.
Good luck!
My 2 year old daughter started having her vision checked at 6 months old. She began wearing glasses then for farsightedness. She has been through a MRI and 2 surgeries for Strabismus and Esotropia. We've had to patch one eye off and on, and although we started her very young, the thing that worked the best was putting a patch on her favorite musical seahorse. :)
Maybe your doctor didn't have the right equipment for testing her vision? Sounds like a 2nd opinion might be a good idea.
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