[Shay]

Britfish...I just replied to your email.

I had to take Daria to the eye doctor yesterday because I have noticed that when she looks at you it seems like her right eye looks outward..just a little..I would say that 30% of the time it doesn't happen. Well the doctor confirmed it and now we have to put Atropine in her left eye once a week and bring her back to the doctor in 3 months. The doctor said if it doesn't get better she may have to have surgery.

It is in the early stages that she thinks it is just a developing lazy eye and it should be fine. Her optic nerve and muscles are great. Her vision is farsighted which she said was normal at this age and a plus for her.

I was wondering if anyone else has had to deal with this and Atropine. Any side effects?

Of course those who know me know I WORRY WORRY WORRY ...I will have an ulcer before she is 2 I just know it.

It seems since she turned a year old it has been downhill for her. Poor thing!

After her eye appt I had to take her to the regular doctor because now she has Roseola. Which we knew could happen from the high fever she ran last week.

Well...I must say God is giving me a lot of practice of
strength and faith!!!!

Also I just wanted to add that my niece was a preemie 31 weeks too and she had an eye that would be lazy every now and again too and still to this day it seems that way and she just turned 13. Could it just correct itself? Could prematurity have something to do with lazy eyes? I dunno...

Thanks friends!!

[Kasey]

Atropine has really become the standard for this as opposed to patching. Basically it blurs the vision in the good eye, forcing the lazy eye to do all the work.
Side effects can include stinging, burning, watery eye, although kids seems to tolerate it well.
Keep a washcloth nearby in case it drips when you administer it, you don't want it getting down near her mouth, also wash your hands before and after and after administering it, try to monitor her for a little bit to make sure she is not constantly touching or rubbing the eye--definitely try to distract her with something.
They are having great results with this treatment.
Best wishes and I am sorry she has been hit with alot lately.

[mycodybear]

Poor little thing! I hope her eye gets better soon.

[mikiment]

Awwww, I hate to hear that sweet little Daria is having a rough time lately. On a positive note, my girlfriend's baby was a premie and they also faced the lazy eye situation. They also treated with Atropine, and her little guy is doing very well.

Hugs to Daria and to you, because sometimes I think it is harder on the mommies than our little 'uns, when we have to watch them with their challenges. She's gonna be just fine, Shay. Keep the faith! Prayers going up that this all passes soon and she does well.

[kretzklan]

My best friend's daughter had the surgery just about 6 months ago. It was a smooth and easy thing. I can certainly get more info from her if you'd like- but I just wanted to put your mind at ease a little -her daughter is doing great and her eyes are in perfect condition.

[angelkisses0102]

Shay~

Breathe, breathe, breathe....Daria will be fine. You are a good Mommy and will make sure of it. Now just don't go & get an ulcer...that would not be good.

Good luck with it...putting eye drops in a toddlers eye can be so much fun!

[Ktates]

Aisling has a lazy eye too - so Daria is in good company! Usually it's worse when she's tired. We tried glasses at first -that wasn't working (she also looks over them a lot). Then we got new lenses in her glasses that have a kind of prism in each lense - it looks like bifocals but I guess it somehow makes the eye focus better. We are also patchiing her 1-2 hours a day. Our opthamologist did say that if it doesn't get corrected soon they will do surgery. What happens is that after a while of not being used the brain stops sending (or receiving can't remember exactly) info from that eye. Our doctor hasn't mentioned using the drops yet but I know they are pretty common. Mike in Texas's Julia had the surgery I believe so I may be turning to him for info! I know it's a pretty common surgery - IF it comes to that.
Don't worry - you'll both be fine!!!
Karen

[emjay]

Try not to worry too much, Shay. I had the surgery when I was three, then was patched to strengthen the newly straightened eye. I've always been farsighted, but my eyes are perfectly straight. I wear contacts, but no lazy eye recurrence. Also, my daughter had a lazy eye that didn't turn - just wasn't working well. We did glasses (she's farsighted, too), and then patched, and the eye improved pretty rapidly. (4 months of patching).

Good luck...Daria will be fine - it really is harder on the Mommies!

- Maura

[proudmommyof 2]

I had a lazy eye when I was young. I wore the patch (this was in the 80s). I wore glasses until I was 14, and then contacts. Wearing the glasses, my eye would only wander when I was tired. Contacts made it happen less often. I had lasik surgery about 5 years ago and haven't had a problem since.

The patch didn't seem to help much, but the problem was never bad. As I said, my eye would only wander when I was very tired, and, as far as I know, doesn't do it at all now (I've asked dh to watch for it. :-))

It's good that they caught it so early. She'll be fine.

[fugie]

Just wanted to say I hope Daria gets better soon. I am sure the lazy eye will be fine. It is a common thing and very correctable. I am sure it is worse on you than her.

Lisa

[aimeemk]

Hey Shay,

Along with Daria and Aisling- so does Rheagan. Hers shows up when she is tired and has gotten much better. The eye doctor did not think it need to be treated. We will see, if by 18 months she still has it we will take her back. I have a lazy eye as well and when I am tired it too starts to act up.

WHAT IS UP WITH ALL THIS LAZINESS?

[jimpol]

I have noticed that one of my son's eyes seems to be a lazy eye as well. We are going to see the opthamologist soon. I did do some research and talked to the doctor's office. They seem to all indicate that as long as a lazy eye is treated before the child turns 9 that it can be fixed. I don't know what it is about 9.

I will be right there with you with the drops soon!

[Brenda Floyd]

Your doctor is sending you on the right path. You are consciencious to have this checked into early. I am reading some good advice from the members on board here (so you don't need me ). Only thing to add so far is that, for those with children over the age of nine, lazy eye can still be corrected in many cases--it is just not as straight forward. My oldest case --a 30 year old. Good look and thanks for being such a great mom.

[Ktates]

Jimpolm - our eye doctor said that your eyes do most of their development between 2 and 8...maybe it's 8 or maybe it's 9 but that's probably part of it.

Kasey - did you have to do the drops with your child? The patching does not seem to improve things with my daughter so I may ask the dr. about this...

[Shay]

I do not have drops either...the Atropine is more of a vasoline type substance. Is it suppose to be drop form?