Last week, I alluded to an eye appointment for Maureen, and if you follow me on Twitter, you already know what I'm talking about.
Shortly before she turned eighteen months old, I started noticing that one of Maureen's eyes was turning inwards from time to time. It was so infrequent that I started to wonder if she was doing it on purpose, but I mentioned it to her pediatrician when we went for her well child visit. He looked at her eyes and said that he thought she was okay, but to watch her, and if it continued, have her checked out with a specialist. After that, she stopped doing it and I thought we were okay.
A few months ago, the eye crossing started again, so I went ahead and made an appointment with the same pediatric opthamologist I took her to back in January for her blocked tear duct. She also saw her regular pediatrician for her two year well child exam. She is healthy, weighs 22 1/2 pounds, which is 10th percentile and is 31 inches tall, which is 5th percentile. However, he concluded that both eyes were wandering, depending on which eye she was using to focus.
In this picture from Halloween, you can see that her left eye is turning inwards.
We saw the specialist last week, and she has esotropia, which is a form of strabismus. The causes behind strabismus are varied, but in all cases it needs to be treated to keep from losing vision.
In Maureen's case, she will eventually have surgery to move the muscles that control eye movement and correct the misalignment. I'm not thrilled about the prospect, but her condition is not treatable with glasses.
First, she needs an MRI to rule out any underlying neurological problems, and then we'll go to surgery. In the meantime, we're using eye patches to train her eyes to focus. I wasn't sure how the patching would go, but she has proved to be a little trooper. She holds still for me to apply the patch, she leaves it on, and she points to it frequently and tells me, "Eye patch!" Johnny has been chiming in too. "Maureen, you look like a pirate! Say Arrrrrrrrrr!!!" In fact, the worst part of the patching is taking it off, because the adhesive pulls at her skin.
Here she is modeling the patch. Hey, if you have to wear an eye patch, it might as well be pretty!
I was very impressed with the eye specialist and the team of doctors he has behind him, and we'll deal with the MRI and the surgery when we get to that point.
Until then, do any of my readers have tips for me?
Shortly before she turned eighteen months old, I started noticing that one of Maureen's eyes was turning inwards from time to time. It was so infrequent that I started to wonder if she was doing it on purpose, but I mentioned it to her pediatrician when we went for her well child visit. He looked at her eyes and said that he thought she was okay, but to watch her, and if it continued, have her checked out with a specialist. After that, she stopped doing it and I thought we were okay.
A few months ago, the eye crossing started again, so I went ahead and made an appointment with the same pediatric opthamologist I took her to back in January for her blocked tear duct. She also saw her regular pediatrician for her two year well child exam. She is healthy, weighs 22 1/2 pounds, which is 10th percentile and is 31 inches tall, which is 5th percentile. However, he concluded that both eyes were wandering, depending on which eye she was using to focus.
In this picture from Halloween, you can see that her left eye is turning inwards.
We saw the specialist last week, and she has esotropia, which is a form of strabismus. The causes behind strabismus are varied, but in all cases it needs to be treated to keep from losing vision.
In Maureen's case, she will eventually have surgery to move the muscles that control eye movement and correct the misalignment. I'm not thrilled about the prospect, but her condition is not treatable with glasses.
First, she needs an MRI to rule out any underlying neurological problems, and then we'll go to surgery. In the meantime, we're using eye patches to train her eyes to focus. I wasn't sure how the patching would go, but she has proved to be a little trooper. She holds still for me to apply the patch, she leaves it on, and she points to it frequently and tells me, "Eye patch!" Johnny has been chiming in too. "Maureen, you look like a pirate! Say Arrrrrrrrrr!!!" In fact, the worst part of the patching is taking it off, because the adhesive pulls at her skin.
Here she is modeling the patch. Hey, if you have to wear an eye patch, it might as well be pretty!
I was very impressed with the eye specialist and the team of doctors he has behind him, and we'll deal with the MRI and the surgery when we get to that point.
Until then, do any of my readers have tips for me?
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13 comments:
MommyK, My cousins daughter had to have the surgery for the condition that you are talking about and if you look on my blogroll Mrs. Furious' daughter also had eye surgery, twice, not sure what for.
I have seen something about the stickiness of the patch, making it less uncomfortable to take off...can't remember where. In the meantime I am so glad that Maureen is not suffering at all and she looks adorable in all of her pictures...I'll let you know if I find out anything...take care, I'll be keeping you guys in my thoughts!!! LTY!!
David had issues along those lines only his could be corrected with patches and glasses. In fact as I recall he was thrilled because I am normally not one to allow video games but the opthamologist recommended that he have some for his eye coordination. Undermined by a doctor :)
I hope all goes well and smoothly, it's good to hear your doctors are a good team.
No tip. But I hope everything works out. Hopefully, by the time it's over and she takes it off, all the cool kids will be jealous and want an eye patch.
no tips, but what a relief that she is doing so well with the patch.
We wish you well. We're grateful the doctors are skilled and we'll pray for her health.
I don't have any tips to offer, but your daughter is beautiful! I am glad you found a good set of doctors, that is what is important!
no tips but hang in there! my cousin had a similar condition (might have been the same) and needed surgery. The surgery went fine and his eyes are perfect 20+ years later. It'll all work out- just stay positive!
I'll ask at work. I think there is something you can put on her skin to make the adhesive bother her skin less when you pull it off. Sorry she has to go through all this but I'm glad its treatable and you have a team of doctors you're comfortable with.
It sounds like you are on the right path - and Kik shared with you about our family member - so I'll just tell you that I'll be praying for her - and wisdom for you and your husband - as you proceed. What a sweet smile with the eyepatch on!!!
no tips to speak of, but i do have the same stats for my kids. Both of my kids sat in that 10-25% range since birth. I can't seem to keep pants on them.
It sounds like you have a great team of doctors getting it all worked out. That tends to be reassuring.
No tips, but awh...I hope everything works out. By the way, were you guys at Towson Town this weekend? I saw a little girl with a similar eye patch near Macy's!
i've had strabismus myself. prior to age 2, i had 3 eye muscle surgeries. for the most part, my eyes were aligned well since then, but when i got into my mid-20s, one of my eyes started drifting out. i eventually had surgery again (about 6 yrs ago) and they have been good since. i will say that i don't have the ability to use both eyes together (binocular vision) - i have a dominant eye. i imagine this totally varies from person to person w/ the condition.
let me know if you have any questions. i know this isn't easy to go through, but it's great that you caught it early and have found a good specialist. hugs to you. :)
What specialist did you see? We saw Dr. Fiergang at Cross Keys. He prescribed glasses but not patches. This is so confusing for me.
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