Tiramisu Posted July 27, 2017 Share Posted July 27, 2017 (edited) I haven't visited for awhile but something weird happened at D's optometrist appointment and I'm curious for feedback. D has had vision therapy. I should have gone back for a follow up last year but things have been very good and money was tight so I didn't bother. She had been diagnosed with convergence excess, a tracking problem and accommodative spasms. Her focusing is really slow. The covd found her optic disks in her eyes are also unusually large like you might see in glaucoma, but her eye pressure was normal. The size and pressure has not changed. During the test today, the regular optometrist (not our covd doc) had her read lines. He then did other things with her and had her read the same lines again and she could not read them at all. He's thorough but really chill, and he made sure he got my attention without alerting DD so I could also see what he was noticing, the being able to read a line and then not. Meanwhile, he goes through some more eye doctor stuff and asks her to a line again. And she looks and asks, "Wait, are those letters or numbers?" ?? DD is eleven and very bright and reads extremely well, and she has normal vision. And for a minute couldn't tell if she was seeing letters or numbers!? So then doctor started using shapes for awhile, like you would with a kid who didn't know their letters yet. He then did some tests of her focusing speed which seemed worse than ever. Though he's not a covd optometrist, he did some VT training in school and will do some special tests if he's trying to figure out to refer to the covd doc. He is having D come back for a visual fields test to be thorough in light of what happened today, since he feels there a lot of weird stuff going on. This could be related to processing, right? We do have other kids with weaker visual processing. Could it be ADHD related even though DD was attentive and participating well? We're going ahead with the visual field test but then I will probably run it by the the covd guy and maybe an consider an ophthalmologist. Any thoughts? Edited July 27, 2017 by Tiramisu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted July 27, 2017 Share Posted July 27, 2017 We worked with a pediatric opthamologist, a COVD, a low vision specialist, a psych-Ed and a OT at the same time. Each brought different skills and knowledge to the table. We used the team for both my dd who had a brain tumor and my son whose main label is now dyspraxia. My ds's vision issues have fully resolved, 6 years and 1$,$$$ later. He started off with full double vision and severe convergence insufficiency as well as the dyspraxia. He remains dyspraxic and dysgraphic and dyscalcic and with some other SN but it took a while to sort everything out. Sometimes is takes a village. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted July 27, 2017 Share Posted July 27, 2017 My bet is processing with fatigue issues. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lecka Posted July 27, 2017 Share Posted July 27, 2017 If it makes you feel any better, another person might say something like "it is blurry now" or something like that. I have had things like that (very vaguely -- probably much more minor) sometimes (especially if there has been a bright light in a dark room) but I would describe it as blurriness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted July 27, 2017 Share Posted July 27, 2017 Wow. This may be hard to tweak out. I have funky vision issues, too, and it can be a very long, involved process to find out what is REALLY going on. No specific suggestions for cause, just general hugs and encouragement as you seek answers. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbutton Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 This differential diagnosis list talks about larger optic discs and some other things that might be relevant: https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/ce/the-differential-diagnosis-of-an I think I would want an ophthalmologist to check just to be sure. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiramisu Posted July 29, 2017 Author Share Posted July 29, 2017 If it makes you feel any better, another person might say something like "it is blurry now" or something like that. I have had things like that (very vaguely -- probably much more minor) sometimes (especially if there has been a bright light in a dark room) but I would describe it as blurriness. Yes, this makes me feel better and it is very likely given her slow focusing. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiramisu Posted July 29, 2017 Author Share Posted July 29, 2017 Wow. This may be hard to tweak out. I have funky vision issues, too, and it can be a very long, involved process to find out what is REALLY going on. No specific suggestions for cause, just general hugs and encouragement as you seek answers. :grouphug: OneStep, I'm curious if you have slow focusing, too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiramisu Posted July 29, 2017 Author Share Posted July 29, 2017 This differential diagnosis list talks about larger optic discs and some other things that might be relevant: https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/ce/the-differential-diagnosis-of-an I think I would want an ophthalmologist to check just to be sure. I think I might do that. I also used a neuro-ophthalmologist once and he was absolutely the most knowledgeable doctor I've ever met when it comes to understanding various medical issues. He was really kind, too. I might be bold and dig up his email address. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted July 29, 2017 Share Posted July 29, 2017 OneStep, I'm curious if you have slow focusing, too? Slightly delayed focus, but a whole host of other things, too. Frankly, after finally getting my eyes examined by someone who genuinely knew what they were doing I wish I could have traded my eyeballs in on a better model. LOL. The biggest issue for me, though, is the multiple images. They overlap so it makes it hard to distinguish things. Thank goodness for typing. On days when my eyes are fatigued I can still type, even with my eyes closed. And I can enlarge the screen. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiramisu Posted August 12, 2017 Author Share Posted August 12, 2017 This differential diagnosis list talks about larger optic discs and some other things that might be relevant: https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/ce/the-differential-diagnosis-of-an I think I would want an ophthalmologist to check just to be sure. I wanted to update everyone who kindly replied to my post here. My Dd saw an ophthalmologist today, confirming that her optic disks are abnormally large. Even the tech could see it right away. The doctor did a thorough eye exam, dilating her pupils, checking her pressure, etc. She had a visual field exam. I think it may have been a little iffy because it requires attention and apparently kids usually don't do well in it the first time. It is actually a lot like a computer ADHD test. But it didn't show anything specifically abnormal either, like the pattern they were looking for to confirm a problem. They also took pictures of her optic disks and did something else with a camera device that showed even though her disk were large they were normal. So now we have a baseline record with the visual field test and the pictures of her optic disks. She will need to go back every year to make sure there are no changes. The doctor doesn't think it is related to her very slow focusing and confirmed that her vision is normal, though I could see that she took note of the slow focusing when D did the eye chart stuff. I read that low blood pressure can be related to normal pressure glaucoma. Poorly regulated blood pressure and heart rate runs in our family on both sides so it makes me wonder. But it could be just they way she's made and not caused by anything. Let's hope! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heathermomster Posted August 12, 2017 Share Posted August 12, 2017 Thanks for the update. It is frustrating when an issue with our littles cannot be clearly identified. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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