I just can't believe all the problems that my son has. I feel so bad for him. He was just diagnosed with ADHD and sensory integration issues--mainly noise sensitivities. At his 5 year old well visit his doctor thought that he might not be seeing well out of his left eye. I just thought that he wasn't paying attention to the test, but made an appointment with a pediatric ophthalmologist. We just had the appointment today--it too awhile to get in. My heart just sank right away as the nurse told Ben to first cover his left eye and read the letters with his right eye (his good eye). He did this fine. Then she had him switch eyes and he couldn't do it! He kept trying to cheat and move the cover. This is the same thing that he did at his well visit. So then the eye doctor dilated his eyes and looked at them and could tell that he was definitely farsighted and that his left eye was much worse than his right eye. He said that his right eye has been compensating for the left and that is why it is hard to catch and on the surface it seems like he can see fine. Strange that he is farsighted because he is already reading well.
In any case, not only does he need to wear glasses, but for 2 hrs. per/day he is supposed to wear an eye patch over his good eye to help strengthen his bad one. The doctor said that if we don't do the patch, his brain will never learn how to use his bad eye since it is basically shutting down the function of his left eye at this point because his vision isn't as good. So wearing the patch will allow his brain to recognize what 20/20 vision is, even if he still continues to need glasses to help his eyes achieve 20/20. I asked him how I was supposed to get him to wear an eye patch and he said that I'll just have to try and that most kids will respond to a reward system, etc. I replied that he wasn't "most" kids, but that I'll try. I just felt like crying, one more thing! He already struggles, but will now have to wear glasses and an eye patch for 2 hours a day.
We tried the eye patch tonight and while we were able to keep it on for the two hours it was a struggle. Hopefully it will get easier once he has his glasses on and his eye gets stronger. Tonight we had to use extra first aid tape because he kept trying to peel off a corner to peek. He was so frustrated because he really can't see well at all out of his left eye. He couldn't read, play computer or even watch TV well and as a result he was just bouncing off the walls hyper and upset complaining that he couldn't see. I told him he could take it off at bath and after he tore it off I asked him how his eyes felt. He replied, "they work again!" Poor guy, wearing the patch will be really hard for him for awhile.
DH and I both wear glasses so hopefully he'll accept them and won't break or lose them because they aren't going to be cheap!
In any case, not only does he need to wear glasses, but for 2 hrs. per/day he is supposed to wear an eye patch over his good eye to help strengthen his bad one. The doctor said that if we don't do the patch, his brain will never learn how to use his bad eye since it is basically shutting down the function of his left eye at this point because his vision isn't as good. So wearing the patch will allow his brain to recognize what 20/20 vision is, even if he still continues to need glasses to help his eyes achieve 20/20. I asked him how I was supposed to get him to wear an eye patch and he said that I'll just have to try and that most kids will respond to a reward system, etc. I replied that he wasn't "most" kids, but that I'll try. I just felt like crying, one more thing! He already struggles, but will now have to wear glasses and an eye patch for 2 hours a day.
We tried the eye patch tonight and while we were able to keep it on for the two hours it was a struggle. Hopefully it will get easier once he has his glasses on and his eye gets stronger. Tonight we had to use extra first aid tape because he kept trying to peel off a corner to peek. He was so frustrated because he really can't see well at all out of his left eye. He couldn't read, play computer or even watch TV well and as a result he was just bouncing off the walls hyper and upset complaining that he couldn't see. I told him he could take it off at bath and after he tore it off I asked him how his eyes felt. He replied, "they work again!" Poor guy, wearing the patch will be really hard for him for awhile.
DH and I both wear glasses so hopefully he'll accept them and won't break or lose them because they aren't going to be cheap!