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Original poster

Who knows about eyes? I have a question.

22 replies

TooTicky · 17/05/2008 19:05

My ds2 had an eye injury 3 weeks ago, lacerated cornea, had it stitched, has been having check ups.... but they don't know quite how well his eye is working yet. They are examining him under GA in just over a week BUT I am getting anxious.
When I ask him what he can see with that eye he says nothing, or that he doesn't know. He is still very sensitive to light.
I have noticed today that the pupil of the sore eye has been much bigger than the other. Why is this? Is it because it is not functioning well and is trying to pull in more light? Or what?

Many thanks to anyone who has made it this far...

OP posts:
Original poster
TooTicky · 17/05/2008 19:45

Hopeful bump

OP posts:
FrannyandZooey · 17/05/2008 20:26

bump for you TooT
sorry I have no idea of answers

aviatrix · 17/05/2008 20:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

SpeckledHen · 17/05/2008 20:30

My dh is eye doc. I know what he would saY: he would say if you are worried get it checked by a doctor in person Impossile to provide reassurance without examioning person. Sorry if this is not helpful. I just know it is what he would say.

Original poster
TooTicky · 17/05/2008 20:32

Thanks. Thing is, he was seen at the hospital yesterday and they are not urgently worried - he will be examined in just over a week, I just don't want to wait that long

OP posts:
chipmonkey · 17/05/2008 21:39

TooTicky, has he been given eye drops? Sometimes drops which dilate the pupil are given to people with corneal injuries. How old is your ds?

Original poster
TooTicky · 17/05/2008 22:44

oH REALLY? yES, HE HAS TWO TYPES OF DROP ATM. Darned capitals!!
I've only noticed his pupil today really, although I suppose he hasn't been opening his eye much in general.
Why do they want to dilate the pupil?

OP posts:
chipmonkey · 17/05/2008 22:57

Apparently it's more comfortable if you dilate the pupil.

Original poster
TooTicky · 17/05/2008 22:59

I didn't know that
Oh, is this the first day we have managed to get the drops in the right place or am I just a bad, unobservant mother for not noticing before?

OP posts:
Original poster
TooTicky · 17/05/2008 23:00

Actually, the pupil dilation would add to the light sensitivity, wouldn't it?

OP posts:
chipmonkey · 17/05/2008 23:00

And how old is he?

chipmonkey · 17/05/2008 23:01

Cross posts, yes it would!

Original poster
TooTicky · 17/05/2008 23:02

Oh yes, he is 6.

OP posts:
deepbreath · 17/05/2008 23:52

Hi, just wanted to add that it could well be the eye drops.

My dh had eye surgery earlier this year (and again this week on the other eye), and was on 3 different kinds of eye drops. The specialist said that they have a cumulative effect and build up as you use them. So don't worry, it seems that you've hit the spot

Fwiw, I took dh back to the hospital in a panic a few days after his op because he said his sight was becoming more blurred. That also turned out to be due to the eye drops! If you are at all concerned, do take your ds back though.

deepbreath · 17/05/2008 23:54

Forgot to say that if the pupil is dilated, this will make that eye more sensitive to light. Wearing a baseball cap or sunglases might help.

Original poster
TooTicky · 18/05/2008 08:10

Thank you deepbreath and chipmonkey

He is using his sunglasses a lot.

Suppose I'll just have to resign myself to waiting

OP posts:
duchesse · 18/05/2008 11:04

My son was poked in the eye with a security key by a friend when he was 3. He had the checkups etc (luckily no need for stitches). What you describe sounds like the effect of the eye drops, but only a doctor with the appropriate scope can reassure you properly. It's a horrible time, isn't it?

Incidentally he was poked in the other eye by a demented toddler armed with a dinner knife when he was 6. So far (now 14) his eyesight seems fine and dandy.

Original poster
TooTicky · 18/05/2008 12:22

Goodness Duchesse, your poor son!!

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duchesse · 18/05/2008 12:28

I know- I'd seen so much of his blood by age 6 that it hardly even fazed me any more... Stitches, steristrips, glue, bruises, eye-poking... It's a wonder I'm not more of wreck than I am.

Original poster
TooTicky · 18/05/2008 12:31

For a family with four children we've come off fairly lightly so far - until the lacerated cornea, we'd only had two elbow dislocations on top of the ususl bumps and scrapes.

OP posts:
chipmonkey · 18/05/2008 22:04

Probably not much point in asking him what he can see until it's fully healed either as
1/ The cornea will be slightly cloudy in the affected area until it has healed
2/ The drops themselves can "relax" the internal eye muscles making him unable to focus

When the doctor is satisfied that the cornea is fully healed they would normally do a final vision check. I have seen a fair few corneal injuries and generally if the laceration is not in the centre of the cornea, there should be little or no loss of vision.

Original poster
TooTicky · 18/05/2008 23:03

Hmm, it is fairly central.
Thanks. I'm just fretting because we are close to finding out how things are working and I'm not good at waiting.

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