lazy eye - help, thoughts, experiences

[Peaceful Isle]

My 5 year old  son was just to the eye doctor yesterday. I knew he needed glasses because he has been squinting lately. His right eye will also go in when he gets really tired. 

 

Well, to my shock, the eye dr told me that he can hardly see out of that eye, and the other eye has been making up for it. She said we could get a heavy prescription, but chances are, he might lose the sight in that eye. I sat there in shock. How could have I missed this?

 

He did have torticollus ( tilted neck and mis- shaped head ) out of the womb, and 2 doc helmets and physical therapy later, he looks beautiful. Maybe that had an impact on his sight?

 

Any insight on this?

 

My mom gut tells me that there is more to do to help him. Maybe the lazy eye just needs more work/exercise? 

 

 

Any experience with this would be helpful. 

 

 

 

 

[Guest]

Did the doctor recommend patching?

[ReadingMama1214]

I've not heard of a prescription or blindness from lazy eye. I've heard kids doing a patch for a couple of years to help the eye strengthen. I'd ask about patching and I'd get a second opinion. Blindness from lazy eye in a5year old seems extreme

[Arcadia]

Usually patching is suggested for lazy eye and corrective surgery for squint if medically appropriate. I have both. Lazy eye and squint are common in my side of the extended family. My SIL (hubby's sister) twins also had lazy eye and squint. My DS10 has lazy eye only.

 

The link below explains patching and lazy eye in children.

https://nei.nih.gov/news/briefs/eye_patching

 

Your child likely have convergent squint. Link explains http://www.rnib.org.uk/eye-health-eye-conditions-z-eye-conditions/squint-childhood

Edited November 17, 2016 by Arcadia

[theelfqueen]

I have a mild lazy eyeing. I had to do exercises to practice shifting focus and we have tried glasses for it a few times (thought it might help with migraines, it didn't) ... I've never been told that it would contribute to blindness but as I said mine is not severe.

 

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[scoutingmom]

What did the eye doctor recommend? Was it an optimist, an ophthalmologist, or a pediatric ophthalmologist? You want at least an ophthalmologist, and preferably a specialist if available.

 

Yes, this would have been an easier journey if caught earlier. I don't know if the birth would have affected this or not. There can be a generic component.

 

Treatment from my understanding depends on severity. It could include glasses, a patch or surgery, or a combination of those. If left untreated blindness can occur in the one eye. At that point there is no treatment. Is that what the eye doctor has said has happened?

 

I am sorry. I know this is hard and a lot of information to take in. This is very time sensitive, so you need to find out if this is the best specialist if there is someone else that needs to check him.

 

Hugs!

 

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[scoutingmom]

I've not heard of a prescription or blindness from lazy eye. I've heard kids doing a patch for a couple of years to help the eye strengthen. I'd ask about patching and I'd get a second opinion. Blindness from lazy eye in a5year old seems extreme

Yes it can be treated sometimes by prescriptions. And it can cause blindness in the one eye, but 5 does seem a bit young for that to have occurred. Treatment is easier and has better results the younger the treatment is started.

 

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[NicksMama-Zack's Mama Too]

Get a second opinion. I have a lazy eye. It was much more severe when I was a child. Now it is turns slightly inward when I open my eye wide. I never had a patch.

 

I never had double vision from the misalignment. I just used one eye more than the other; I am right-eye dominate. My depth perception is affected. My left eye is week, but I can see well enough even without glasses.

 

My oldest has a lazy eye also, but it was so slight that I missed it until he had his first eye exam at age eight. By then it was too late for patching. I really would encourage you to try patching if at all possible. His vision is good enough with corrective lenses to drive, play sports, etc.

 

I would definitely get a second opinion from a opthalmologist that specializes in strabismus.

[Storygirl]

I am not sure how old would be too late to address this, but since he is only five, I would do everything I could to try. If this doctor says there isn't anything she can do, I agree with getting a second opinion.

 

My dad had an untreated lazy eye, and he is legally blind on that side, so that can happen, unfortunately.

[SeaConquest]

Amblyopia is the most common cause of blindness, but I'd be skeptical that it couldn't be corrected in a 5 year old. My oldest DS started patching around that age, and a year later, his vision in both eyes was equal. Now he is just a kid who wears glasses. Definitely see a pediatric ophthalmologist for a second opinion and start patching immediately. You can order cute patches on Amazon. My kid didn't mind patching at all.

[SeaConquest]

Oh, and if you have other kids, get them checked by a pediatric ophthalmologist as well. Amblyopia is genetic. My 3 year old was recently checked and cleared. You need dilation to be sure.

Edited November 17, 2016 by SeaConquest

[SeaConquest]

Regarding the prescription, that is just for kids who refuse to patch. You can actually blur the vision in the dominant eye with drops, so the lazy eye is forced to work. But, that's generally not necessarily. Order the patches immediately, though. This is truly time sensitive. I encourage any parents with an inkling that their kid is having eye issues to get it checked asap. Amblyopia is actually very common, and it's unfortunate that more people don't know that it can be corrected if caught in time.

[HappyCrazyMama]

I had a severe lazy eye as a child, to the point my left eye didn't move. I surgery and a patch but since I was about 7 I don't know much about it. I've never of anyone losing sight due to lazy eye. Was patching mentioned at all?

Edited November 17, 2016 by HappyCrazyMama

[Peaceful Isle]

Thank you all for your comments!

 

We only saw a regular optometrist so I asked for a second opinion to a children's ophthalmologist. It will take a few weeks for the referral.

 

I actual read about patching the eye myself ,and have tried that a few times. He hates it, but is a good boy and will wear it for at least an hour. The eye place was so quick and didn't really give me much time to process anything so I researched myself.

 

It scared me so badly when they said he could be blind in that eye soon. :( She acted like it could happen pretty quickly.

Edited November 17, 2016 by Peacefulisle

[SeaConquest]

Thank you all for your comments!

 

We only saw a regular optometrist so I asked for a second opinion to a children's ophthalmologist. It will take a few weeks for the referral.

 

I actual read about patching the eye and have tried that a few times. He hates it, but is a good boy and will wear it for at least an hour.

 

It scared me so badly when they said he could be blind in that eye soon. :(

I think we initially patched for 4 hours per day. You can't over do it, so try to increase the patching if he is compliant.

[gardenmom5]

find a developmental ophthalmologist yesterday, and get him in ASAP.    infantsee.org should have a list in your area.  (infantsee.org sponsers free eye exams for infants to get problems identified early.)

 

I have strabismus and amblyopia.  words cannot express my anger at the "good" ophthal I went to from the time I was 3/4 until I was 16 (when I finally got to a developmenal.  it was too late to correct anything, but somewhat improve  things - which came with their own drawbacks).  I have nothing  nice to say about that regular ophthal.  My vision is so screwed up - I still - as a middle aged woman - go to a developmental eye care provider because she understands what the . . is going on with my vision when "regular" (no matter how "good") eye drs do NOT!

 

 

eye drs should have been screening for this.

treatment varies - but  expect patching the strong eye, surgery to change the musculature on the weak eye, etc.  first goal is to save the vision in the weak eye - the 2nd goal will be to promote binocular vision.

 

he's getting old for this - but someone who knows what they're doing should still be able to help him.

[gardenmom5]

I've not heard of a prescription or blindness from lazy eye. I've heard kids doing a patch for a couple of years to help the eye strengthen. I'd ask about patching and I'd get a second opinion. Blindness from lazy eye in a5year old seems extreme

 

blindness from untreated lazy eye is common.  the competing messages to the brain  cause the secondary/weak message to be shut down.

[Peaceful Isle]

blindness from untreated lazy eye is common. the competing messages to the brain cause the secondary/weak message to be shut down.

This is my biggest fear. :(

 

I've been down the urgency road with my little boy when he had his whole mishape head, twisted neck thing as a baby. I feel that sick pit feeling in my stomach again.

[Peaceful Isle]

Usually patching is suggested for lazy eye and corrective surgery for squint if medically appropriate. I have both. Lazy eye and squint are common in my side of the extended family. My SIL (hubby's sister) twins also had lazy eye and squint. My DS10 has lazy eye only.

 

The link below explains patching and lazy eye in children.

https://nei.nih.gov/news/briefs/eye_patching

 

Your child likely have convergent squint. Link explains http://www.rnib.org.uk/eye-health-eye-conditions-z-eye-conditions/squint-childhood

Thank you for these links!

[ReadingMama1214]

blindness from untreated lazy eye is common. the competing messages to the brain cause the secondary/weak message to be shut down.

I did read about that. But 5 seems incredibly young for this to occur. And from the OP it doesn't sound like the lazy eye was that severe initially. Maybe I read that wrong?

 

I'm glad you're going to see a specialist OP. I'm shocked that the optometrist didn't recommend that. It would be the last time I went to that doctor.

[SparklyUnicorn]

I was patched around 5 for that.  I had already been wearing glasses since 1.  I was at the eye doctors several times a year because your vision changes like crazy at that age.  If they "missed" something that seems kinda crazy to me since I was always being checked out for stuff.  Lots of kids at that age are patched.  I'm rambling here, but I don't think you are in some sort of danger zone for not being able to deal with it.  And I do not think it's always easy to notice.  I had one of mine patched at 3, but since I had had the condition I brought him to a specialist to check it out.  The regular doctor never noticed and I didn't notice either. In fact I asked the regular doctor if I should bring him given my history and he said "nah" they check vision.  I ignored him and brought him anyway.  With patching and glasses he was able to stop wearing glasses by the age of 8. 

[SparklyUnicorn]

This is my biggest fear. :(

 

I've been down the urgency road with my little boy when he had his whole mishape head, twisted neck thing as a baby. I feel that sick pit feeling in my stomach again.

 

I assume the doctor was pointing out that if left untreated it can cause these problems and not so much that you have no time left to treat it.  Really, there are so many kids patched at that age. 

 

I was upset about the head thing too.  And torticollis.  I think it's from the whole freak out over not letting them sleep on their stomachs ever.  But really now that's a long distant memory (that kid is almost 15 and has a perfectly fine noggin). 

[Miss Tick]

((Hugs)) we have similar issues in our family. You are right to pursue it aggressively because the brain develops the pathways for stereo vision while we are young.

[medawyn]

Hugs, mama!  Getting him in to see a specialist is the right step, and he'll be fine until that happens.

 

My daughter had extreme esotropia (inward crossing of the eyes), and we had to pursue surgery to help correct it.  In the process of correction, she also developed amblyopia (lazy eye).  If she had not been under the care of a specialist, I would not have noticed.  We think of lazy eye as "wandering", but it can be more of an inability to focus with one eye and the brain shutting off signals.

 

Patching is hugely effective.  A PP above said you can't over patch, but that is not true.  A good specialist will monitor the patching closely to make sure the eyes don't over-correct or compensate.  We patched my daughter for 12 hours/day for a month, and then stepped down to 6 hours, then 4.  It's tough to get them to comply, but definitely worth it.

[medawyn]

Also, at this point you are working to save vision in the eye, but your son's depth perception/stereo vision will most likely always be compromised.  Several specialists told me that the best way to preserve both was to receive treatment before two, but even that was not a guarantee.  Of course, your son has never known any differently, and the human brain has amazing ways of growing and processing.  Despite early and frequent intervention, my daughter only uses one eye at a time to see, so she has very little depth perception.  You would never know it the way she dashes about keeping up with big brother!

[SeaConquest]

Hugs, mama! Getting him in to see a specialist is the right step, and he'll be fine until that happens.

 

My daughter had extreme esotropia (inward crossing of the eyes), and we had to pursue surgery to help correct it. In the process of correction, she also developed amblyopia (lazy eye). If she had not been under the care of a specialist, I would not have noticed. We think of lazy eye as "wandering", but it can be more of an inability to focus with one eye and the brain shutting off signals.

 

Patching is hugely effective. A PP above said you can't over patch, but that is not true. A good specialist will monitor the patching closely to make sure the eyes don't over-correct or compensate. We patched my daughter for 12 hours/day for a month, and then stepped down to 6 hours, then 4. It's tough to get them to comply, but definitely worth it.

My son actually liked to patch, so I specifically asked the ped oph if he could do damage by patching for more than the alloted time. She told me that he could not, so YMMV. Edited November 17, 2016 by SeaConquest

[Peaceful Isle]

You all are helping me calm down a bit, so thank you 💕

[medawyn]

My son actually liked to patch, so I specifically asked the ped oph if he could do damage by patching for more than the alloted time. She told me that he could not, so YMMV.

 

It probably does depend on the condition/severity.  It's just why I would recommend waiting to patch until a dr has evaluated.  Then everyone knows the right course for the specific individual.

[prairiewindmomma]

edited for privacy

Edited November 18, 2016 by kbeal

[Tree Frog]

Regarding the prescription, that is just for kids who refuse to patch. You can actually blur the vision in the dominant eye with drops, so the lazy eye is forced to work. But, that's generally not necessarily. Order the patches immediately, though. This is truly time sensitive. I encourage any parents with an inkling that their kid is having eye issues to get it checked asap. Amblyopia is actually very common, and it's unfortunate that more people don't know that it can be corrected if caught in time.

 

Our daughter needed patching when she was 3. The adhesive from the patch irritated her skin, so we tried to cover the lens of her glasses to force her to use her weak eye. That didn't work very well at all- the little stinker would look out the side of her glasses!- so we tried a pirate's patch. Also didn't work. We solved the problem with eye drops in her strong eye. She didn't like the drops, but she HAD to strengthen the weak eye, so it was a battle once a day instead of many times a day.

[kbutton]

Infantsee.org is a great place to start as someone mentioned.

 

Depending on what is available in your area, a COVD might also work. (Our COVD would be excellent for this and would refer if needed; I would not trust all COVD's equally for this issue).

 

I am completely leery of all practitioners who talk about not normal things going on with my body or my kids' bodies as if those things are just a blip on the radar. We had an optometrist find strabismus in my son and then completely dismiss it, and it ended up being TOTALLY FIXABLE without surgery. It was causing problems, but his eye didn't move except under a lot of strain, so we hadn't seen it yet.

[umsami]

I had strabismus and amblyopia as a kid.  Patching and surgery around 3.

 

Five is still young enough that there's a very good chance he will not lose vision, but you need to move now.  (DH is an ophthalmologist and was horrified that my cousin was still patching at 9, as that is very late to try that approach.)

 

Did you consult with a pediatric ophthalmologist (MD/DO)?  That's who you need to see, not an O.D.  (All go by "eye doctor" so making sure.)

 

You can find one via the AAO https://secure.aao.org/aao/find-ophthalmologist

 

AAPOS....+ info on amblyopia   https://www.aapos.org/terms/conditions/21

 

 

 

 

Edited November 18, 2016 by umsami

[AK_Mom4]

Happy story here for you.

 

Oldest DD was a little clumsy and one eye rolled in a bit when she was tired, so we took her in for an eye exam.  Surprise - Amblyopia!  Eye doc gave us exercises and games to help strengthen her eye.  She was 6 at the time.

 

But, I had her younger brother along that day and the eye doc insisted that she should examine little brother as well.  Bad Surprise - the 4yo had amblyopia as well and was nearly blind in one eye.  And we had no idea - there were no symptoms we could see other than the doctor had noticed he tipped his head when he talked to her.

 

The 4yo got exercises, games and patches.  6 months later, he passed his eye exam with flying colors. If you can see my siggie, you can see that these kids are 22 and 20 now.  DD has perfect vision.  DS is still very far-sighted, so wears glasses when he reads.  A Happy Ending!

 

Get a second opinion.  I would encourage you to not give up without at least trying the exercises and patching to see if it helps.

[Upptacka]

I agree with previous posters -- get him in to see an ophthalmologist ASAP. Pediatric ophthalmologist would be great, but general ophthalmologists have plenty of experience treating this kind of thing. And as already pointed out, make sure he is seeing an ophthalmologist, not optometrist.

 

For a long time, age 7-8 was considered "too late" to correct amblyopia. I am hopeful and optimistic for you; age 5 is not too late! Kindergarten-ish is actually a common age to diagnose amblyopia. Do not blame yourself for "missing" this! But the sooner you get him in, the better. In the meantime, it will not hurt his eyes if you do some trial patching at home. You don't need to -- I would wait for the evaluation and recommendations before moving forward with anything, but I know that sometimes it just feels better to be proactive while you wait to be seen. The idea is to make the poor eye work harder and get stronger, and encourage the brain to make those connections and visual pathways stronger. For some, the weaker eye never sees as well as the strong eye, but it is often a minor difference that doesn't impact their lives at all. Either way, any improvement is worth the effort.

There are some treatment options you have, depending on the cause of the amblyopia (is it an alignment/muscle issue, is the eye significantly more nearsighted or farsighted than the other, etc). The doctor will discuss those things with you at his evaluation.

 

If you have other children, I would also recommend a full dilated eye exam (with ophthalmologist) for them, too.

Edited November 18, 2016 by Upptacka