The Follow-Up

Last week was Anthony’s 6 month follow-up visit at the pediatric ophthalmologist.  It was 6 months ago that we learned that Anthony has astigmatism in both eyes as well as anisometrophia.  Anisometrophia, I have learned, is a visual condition in which a person sees differently from each eye.  Left untreated, anisometrophia may cause a person to develop a “lazy eye.”  I had never speculated that Anthony had any vision issues so hearing this for the first time was an emotional experience for me.  I am pleased to report that 6 months later my feelings of worry, fear and sadness have subsided (mostly) and a new emotion has very unexpectedly come to the surface when thinking about my little boy wearing glasses… PROUD.

I took Anthony to pick up his glasses on a Saturday not knowing what to expect when he would be given his first pair of glasses and expected to wear them all the time.  Anthony sat down across from the optometrist who showed him his glasses, adjusted them to fit perfectly on his little face and told him how to take care of them.  There sat my little boy, just 3 years old, nodding his head and listening intently.  Other customers who walked by smiled at him and then at me and I wanted to cry.  Not because I was sad or worried or scared of what was next, but because I was so PROUD of Anthony.  He seemed like such a big boy sitting in that chair and getting his first pair of glasses was another notch in his “growing up belt.”

The first day he worse his glasses until about 6PM and then asked to take them off.  I expected that he wouldn’t be able to wear them all the time at first because even for me it takes a little while to adjust to a new prescription.  The following day, we had a family party and he seemed to forget the glasses were there and wore them right up to bed time.  I breathed a sigh of relief and was again so PROUD of him.  He’s worn his glasses every day since.  Anthony does need to be reminded to take them off before going to sleep and usually to put them back on when he wakes up but rarely complains about wearing them throughout the day.  Several (and sometimes a hundred) times a day I get, “Mommy will you clean my glasses?” which I am more than happy to do.  And the eye rubbing that brought me to the pediatric ophthalmologist?  Completely dissipated.  He doesn’t ever rub his eyes anymore. 

The summer time complicates things a bit because he takes them off to go in the pool or run through the sprinkler.  It worries me when he has them off for long periods because I know that they are helping him to develop healthy vision.  I also have to make sure that he’s put them in a safe place and that they go right back on when he’s done with the water. 

When people meet Anthony for the first time or we see people we haven’t in a while, the first comment to him is usually a compliment on his glasses.  I don’t think he minds the extra attention at all!  And I am happy to see people being positive and encouraging. 

 

 

 

 

Our follow-up exam did not require a full eye exam.  We just met with the ophthalmologist who quickly examined his eyes and had him look at some pictures.  I wasn’t sure if we would have to move on to patching, as it is a possibility with his condition.  (Some children have to wear a patch on their “good eye” for a certain period a day in order to strengthen the weaker eye.)  And although I did feel somewhat emotional at that appointment, I watched my son following directions, answering the doctor’s questions and even ask some questions of his own, and I felt PROUD of my little boy.   I am super happy to report that the glasses are doing their job of correcting his vision and that the doctor doesn’t see any patching OR surgery in his future.  There is even the possibility that he will not need to wear glasses later in childhood.  The doctor said that we had caught his vision issues early on and that really has helped to make glasses his only necessary treatment.  We’ll be back there in 8 months for a full eye exam and to re-evaluate his prescription. 

 

 

 

Sharing this experience on my blog has led to some really positive things for me.  So many people reached out to me whose children have vision issues or who have experienced some issues of their own.  When going through something for the first time, it’s always nice to hear from those who have been down that road before.  It was encouraging to hear their stories and know that how I felt was normal and hear the success that their children have had with wearing glasses.  I was also able to share my story and “Anthony Is Getting Glasses” book idea on a website for parents of young children with glasses.  I was more than happy to share with other parents what I found helpful. 

The most common comment I get from people when they see Anthony wears glasses is actually a question – “How did you know he needed glasses?”  The answer, I didn’t.  I now feel so fortunate that I didn’t ignore his eye rubbing or cancel my appointment with the pediatric ophthalmologist when it seemed to stop.  Anthony was just rubbing his eyes and my pediatrician recommended I check it out.  It opened up a whole new area of interest for me and I am just so glad that we were able to get my son the help he needed. 

 

 

Wondering how to know if your child has vision problems?  Here are 5 signs of eye and vision problems, according to the American Optometric Association:

1. Excessive tearing

2. Red or encrusted eye lids

3. Constant eye turning

4. Extreme sensitivity to light

5. Appearance of a white pupil

 

·            And from my own experience and readings:

• Eye rubbing

 

•     Complaining about things being blurry

•     Complaining about pain in or around the eye

• Squinting

 

• Sitting close to the television

 

• Tilting the head

 

• Covering one eye

 

And if you're just concerned or unsure, follow the advice of my

pediatrician, who always says, "it's never too early to get a good

eye exam."

The American Optometric Association is a great resource.  You can find information about vision development, what you can do as a parent to encourage health vision development, as well as what you can expect at your baby’s first eye exam.

I’ll leave you with some facts about children’s vision:

Nearly 1 out of 4 American children between the ages of 3 - 16 wears eyeglasses.

1 in 20 has amblyopia (lazy eye).

10% of American children under the age of 12 need vision correction.

Vision and eye health problems are the second most prevalent and chronic health care problem in the United States; affecting more than 120 million people.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

Love & Language,

One PROUD Mama