Severe Visual Impairment - don't know what to do

[gettinggreyer]

DD (12) started complaining of blurred vision just before Christmas. To be as brief as possible, since then her eye sight has deteriorated so quickly that she is unable to read, use computer, TV, walk outside without risk of bumping in to things, misses food on hre plate etc. Eye tests have shown very poor eye sight (at a severly visually impaired level). However, all tests have come back clear from CT scan to how the eye works and electrical impulses. We have been told it will get better and the specialist feels it is an attempt to get attention!! I would add we have tried to catch her out without any success. I am at my wits end and dont know what to do next. I know there are some "eye people" out there and any thoughts from them or anyone else would be very welcome. Is this likely to be a mental health issue?

Thanks Rosemary, yes I have had a look. I just can't get my head around what's in it for her. The only thing she can do is listen to audio books really. There is a genuine vision issue, she can't see to do anything.

Just a thought, how is affecting school life?

Get a second opinion.
Please.
I have no idea what muight be the problem.... but i would get another opinion if i were you

Hope you get it sorted

hello.

Have never heard of going blind for attention. Can I ask what tests your dd has had? Has she had:

Detailed scans of her eyes including her retinas to check for retinitis pigmentosa?

Her pressure tested to ensure she does not have glaucoma?

Detailed brain scan to check there is nothing that could be affecting the visual cortex?

Has she been tested for diabetes?

Whatever this is, I would say that your dd needs to learn some independence. If her visual problems are genuine and do not improve then she will need to learn how to be independent so she can go back to leading a full life. But if she is doing this for attention (even subconsciously), then perhaps pushing her to be independent rather than "pandering" to it iyswim, might help things improve as she's not getting the attention iyswim.

Please don't hesitate to ask if I can help at all (I have been blind since birth and so think I know a fair bit, ).

If they are suggesting it is psycho somatic have they referred her to a psychologist?

As someone whose stress and anxiety manifests itself purely in some pretty severe physical symptoms I can honestly say I do not imagine these symptoms they are very real but there cause is purely psychological.

Agree totally with wannabe.
I've just lost osme vision acutely and have ahd alot of tests- is she being seen by an specialised eye hosp?

OK thanks all. I will answer the various questions. She has been seen by large eye hospital in London beginning with M, so yes ..specialist! She has had CT scan, bloods and electro physiology, plus numerous eye tests, looks into the eye. Everything is normal. I understand they can tell the rough prescription from looking into the eye and doing it this way, she comes out at very slightly normally short sighted. If you test her acuity(?), she measured 6/190 and 6/230, for those who this means something to. I have had to stop her bumping into things when we're out. Because of this safety aspect, I did not feel it was safe for her to go back to school after half term and the paediatrician has supported me in this. She is having a very boring life atm, listenng to audio books, playing with the dog and coming with me to do a bit of shopping. She has dyspraxia, tourettes and is borderline asd but had made a successful transition to secondary school last year. I have read up a bit more on non organic visual impairment since I first posted thanks to Rosemary pointing me in the right direction and now prepared to agree that this could be a possibility. The problem is that the specialist took now time to explain to us ..just kept repeating "it will get better". DH has been very upset, says he feels like a bad father.

Have you thought of taking her to a homeopath as taking the 'pills' may help her and make her feel it is being taken seriously and treated.Even if it is psycho somatic the placebo effect can be powerful

If this does turn out to be non-organic, could stress at school have been a factor given the issues you've outlined re:asd/dyspraxia/tourettes, all of which can result in anxiety. Apologies if I am barking up the wrong tree....

This is why I asked about school. I had the same thing happen to me when I was about 12/13. I genuinely couldn't see well but nothing was found to be wrong. I had all the eye tests at Moorfields but nothing showed. The weird thing is (I'm 45 now) I remember feeling relieved at the amount of time I could have off school as a result but I could swear it wasn't "invented" iyswim. I did actually grow out of it, not sure how long it took.

Is there any way of finding out how stressed she feels (if at all) about school? My gut tells me it's possbly related. Sorry if I too am barking up the wrong tree