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good news if your child has to wear an eye patch!

5 replies

leglebegle · 16/03/2005 15:49

I wanted to leave a positive message for anyone who might be feeling terrible if their child has been told they have to wear an eye patch. I was told this about 2 weeks ago. My ds1 has already had an operation to correct a squint when he was 11 months old but we have just discovered now he is 3.3 that it didn't work at all. His eye is still turning and he needs another op. We also found out that his brain had switched off completely from his weak eye and he had no vision in it at all. We were told that we needed to intensively patch him for 6 weeks (from morning till night) which would dramatically improve his vision. Then they would operate and correct the turn in his eye. We were massively depressed about this as its not the easiest thing in the world to do to a 3 year old and we were told he would have no vision for up to a week so it would be hard work and we needed to be cruel to be kind. But it has worked like a charm. The first day was hit and miss but within 20 minutes he could see! Day 2 he was happy wearing the patch all day. This thread will probably sink from the board like a stone as I don't recall anyone talking about patches lately, but I've really posted it for future posters who might archive "patches" and come up with this. Have faith, it works and it's not as bad as you think its going to be. Top tip : we sat him on the floor, gave him chocolate cake and told him stories until his vision kicked in. Then we took him to the cinema which kept him distracted. Good luck future poster looking at this!

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chipmonkey · 16/03/2005 16:45

its tough if you're tod they have to wear a patch but really is worth it in the long run. Lot of careers depend on having reasonable vision in both eyes. The first day is the worst, after that it gets better!

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KathH · 16/03/2005 16:59

i had to wear an eye patch - much to the amusement of my younger sister - not for very long tho and my eyesight is fine now!

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Prettybird · 16/03/2005 17:22

That's good news Leglebegle as you were so down when you first got the news.

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uwila · 16/03/2005 17:23

I had this too. I had surgery at age 3, followed by a patch, which at age 3 I remember thinking was quite cool. I remember that pressure made the eye hurt (like blowing up a baloon). Then I wore glasses for about the next 5 years or so (when I remembered).

My eye is reasonably straight now, and I am very glad my parents had the insight to get this surgery for me. Some people think they can wait and look into it later. But, what I have heard is the earlier the surgery is done the more succcessful it islikely to be. It is apparently common to have the procedure repeated after the eye turns back in. Luckily, mine didn't do that.

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Prettybird · 16/03/2005 17:23

... of course I meant "when you first got the news that he was going to have to wear a patch and would have no vision".

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