FED UP!!

[catrin]

DD 21 months is profoundly deaf, went for 6 monthly eye test today and the opthalmologist said, in a very blase way "right, she's long sighted so will need glasses".

Now I know it's not the end of the world and EVERYONE wears glasses, but hearing aids and glasses just seems like a joke. Just when you think you are coping with stuff, the buggers chuck something else at you. I know I am being unreasonable but I'm SO gutted for her. And for us.

Sorry to moan, but cannot ring friends with the news, their babies are all lovely and 'normal' and can hear and see and talk. Good for them.

Sorry again!

Must be tough for you. Sorry you're not having good day.

Moan here all you like catrin. Its so hard when your child is 'different' in some way.

Thank you
I know she'll be fine, but I just wish things could be easy for her. Shape of things to come I suppose...

I agree with Riven. Astigmatism can easily correct itself at toddler age. It did with DS!

DS is a bit longsighted and had astigmatism (more in one eye than the other, so they monitored him regularly) - because he wasn't getting a lazy eye they didn't see any need for him to have glasses till he was at least three. And then at the first appointment after his third birthday, I was told that the astigmatism had fully righted itself in both eyes, and he was discharged.

They said she needed the glasses to stop the lazy eye developing and that she may grow out of it. Also told me that around 40% of children with deafness also have problems with vision.
Anyway, went back today and she is having rainbow frames with pink arms, so at least they will coordinate well with the hearing aids (and stop her looking so much like Ben from Eastenders).
Thank you all for your replies x

I think i know how you feet Catrin, I feel upset every time the experts want to do something to my ds or diagnosis something new (epilepsy the latest). My ds has cerebral palsy, and wears splints, special shoes, has equipment etc etc. When they said he needed glasses I was upset. THEN when they said he needed to wear a patch over one eye to strengthen a lazy eye, I got so angry for the same reason as you. I felt like telling all the professionals where to go! Leave my son alone!! Anyway I refused the patch, then later it was agreed that he didn't have a lazy eye after all...

Just a thought....most children don't have an eye test until just before they start school, so is wearing glasses necessary at the tender age of 21 months?

I sympathise Catrin.

We saw an orthoptist yesterday who said DD2s squint will most probably need glasses to correct - I feel like it's just ONE more thing to add to the ever growing list...

And I have no idea how I am going to keep glasses on her - she won't even wear a hat in the cold or have the raincover over the buggy!!

Are you sure she needs glasses? DS3 is seeing a consultant because of a squint (he's 2 and a half) and I asked whether he would need glasses and she said "no because he's long sighted, most children his age are long sighted so we wouldn't usually correct it". I said I was asking as a friend's son with a squint has glasses and she said they correct short sighted squints with glasses, not long sighted squints. He goes backwards and forwards between opthamologists and consultants, is your dd going to see someone more senior at any stage?

This thread was worrying me a bit! Forgive me for getting on my high horse!
It is best to take the advise of the child eye specialist (ophthalmologist+orthoptist or paediatric optometrist) who sees your child with regard to wearing spectacles. Of course get a second opinion if you have doubts - from an suitable eye specialist skilled with young children.
Spectacles are given for several reasons in children. The visual system (eye shape and power, brains ability to perceive and process detail, fine control of the two eye working as a pair for depth perception etc) is still developing in young children. Eye professionals will know what the average range of refraction (long or short or astigmatic 'out of focusness') is acceptable for each childs age/development. To oversimplify young babies are often shortsighted, young children slightly longsighted.
Spectacles may be given to assist focusing to allow detection of fine detail to develop (visual acuity) to its full potential - such as when one eye is more long/shortsighted than the other or if both are very long sighted or astigmatic. Without correction during the critical early years the acuity would be limited and the eye called 'lazy'.
Spectacles may be given to control or prevent an eye turning in (squinting) due to moderate longsightedness. A squinting eye is also sometimes called lazy. This type of constant turning in squint typically occurs in the late toddler/ preschool years. Many of these visual problems need recognising quite young (between 2-6)for best results. HTH!

I was gutted when Ellie had to wear glasses, she was about 15months old, has special needs. Glasses are lovely now days, she really suited them, nothing wrong with having to wear them...but, like you, just thought she had enough to contend with and didnt want her to wear them at all

still would rather she didnt now, they are always slipping to the end of her nose lol