Well, for me this is the big appointment, as it will tell us if the bifocal's are working to correct Abbi's crossed eye! I have been worrying about this since the doc prescribed the bifocal's a month and a half ago! Also the fact that this will be the last appointment with this doctor, and then we will have to "search" for another one in AZ! Part of my concern is that if they aren't working, we then go to patching her left eye, to force the right eye to work! And, of course, if that doesn't work it will be surgery! UHG!!!! If I could just keep my mind on the positive thoughts and believe that the glasses are working and not have to do any surgery!

As for the glasses, Abbi does wonderful with them! They still get VERY dirty, but she leaves them alone for the most part! There are times when I haven't gotten them on right away(after naps or early morning) when I look at her, and it seems as if something is wrong. Then the older kids will mention that she's not wearing her glasses, and I realize what's wrong! The glasses are definately a part of her now, and she's adorable in them!

Anyway, thank you for your prayers. Her appointment is this Monday at 9:30 am (Hawaii time). I will do an actual update after her appointment.

Love,

Tigger

<small>[ September 16, 2002, 04:26 PM: Message edited by: tigger4jdt ]</small>

T,

She must look so adorable in them. I had eye surgery when I was 3 to correct a lazy eye and I've been fine ever since. They didn't do glasses first for whatever reason. The only time I wear glasses now is when I read or at work on computers. Not to see better but to prevent the eye muscles from straining too hard to focus and thereby prevent a lazy eye.
Surgery wasn't so bad, I still remember it. Well, at least being in recovery. I got alot of attention and got to eat ice cream. I still remember going to the nurses station crying looking for my mother, she had gone to the waiting room to smoke a cigarette. (the good old 70's when people could smoke indoors!) I had to wear patches over my eyes for a few days I believe and then I was fine. My brother had to wear a patch when he was little, which did correct his lazy eye. Although whenever he is spends hours reading or working on his PC, you can see a bit of laziness once and a while.
I just wanted you to know, that no matter which path is required to correct Abbi's lazy eye, she will come out of it just fine.
Even now, when I go for my annual eye exam, the Dr. always spends more time with me, having fun watching how eye muscles that were surgically corrected control the focusing process. Fun for him anyway!

CM

Tigger,

I will keep you and Abby in my prayers and thoughts. I'm sure she will be fine. I had a cousin who had to wear glasses when he was not even a year old and I thought he was adorable in them.

With love,

Awwww, Tigger...

Little Abbi will be fine. When you get to AZ, get an opthamologist or someone specializing in the field of children's eye care. I'll pray for Abbi (and for you!) that everything will work out well for her.

It's getting close, Tigger...not much longer now and you'll be stateside!

Catnip =^^=

Well, we just got back from the doctor's office, and he said that the bifocals are working, I just need to get the glasses adjusted so they stay higher on her nose. I also asked how long he felt she may need glasses(lifetime or will they correct themselves) and he said it all depends on if the glasses ever stop working. He said that she doesn't need to be seen for another 3 months, but if we notice her eye crossing while she's wearing the glasses, we need to see someone sooner. If that does happen, he said the next step would be surgery to correct the muscles. So, it's still a wait and see type of thing!

Thank you all for your prayers! It really helped, as I was not nervous about what he would say in regards to possible surgery.

Love,

Tigger

Tigger,
That is great that they are working! Hopefully, they keep working!

Dawn

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by tigger4jdt:
<strong>Well, we just got back from the doctor's office, and he said that the bifocals are working, I just need to get the glasses adjusted so they stay higher on her nose. I also asked how long he felt she may need glasses(lifetime or will they correct themselves) and he said it all depends on if the glasses ever stop working. He said that she doesn't need to be seen for another 3 months, but if we notice her eye crossing while she's wearing the glasses, we need to see someone sooner. If that does happen, he said the next step would be surgery to correct the muscles. So, it's still a wait and see type of thing!

Thank you all for your prayers! It really helped, as I was not nervous about what he would say in regards to possible surgery.

Love,

Tigger</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">I know she is young yet, but I'd go for the surgery v. having her wear glasses all her life when she doesn't need them to correct her vision. This is not the Mommy in me, but the kid who was spared having to wear them all my life, especially as a young woman in my teens. I'm sure I'd have looked fine, but teenagers are very critical of their appearances. If she doesn't need them for vision, why not consider the surgery? It was a one shot deal with me.
CM

Really, Tigger, since CM went through everything Abbi is going through, perhaps you should listen to her and consider surgery. You sound kind of afraid of it or something...I could be wrong but I was just wondering if you might be too apprehensive about surgery. Find a real opthamologist, Tigger. If you found someone you had confidence in, you might feel a little better if you knew Abbi is in capable hands.

She sounds like such a little doll baby, Tigger...

Love

Catnip =^^=

Tigger,

I know how you feel. My son's surgery was elective too. But I knew he'd go through life getting constantly questioned about whether he was tired and kids are so mean with teasing. I couldn't bare to allow him to go through it if there was an option.

Trust in God and a good doctor if surgery is where you end up. Luckily we had the top dog surgeon and he took our insurance. Don't be afraid. God watches over the little ones ... his eye is on the sparrow.

Z.

Hi Tigger,

I didn't know Abbi was going through this. Sorry I missed any earlier posts. I am glad that the glasses are working but wanted to tell you not to worry too much if surgery winds up being necessary. 3 out of 6 kids in my family wound up needing the surgery for strabismus. It was very minor surgery and worked in all cases.

BTW, I saw the eye surgeon yesterday and we talked about my strabismus. It is not noticeable to anyone looking at me but I have it. I don't have double vision, but am unable to make binoculars work--I can't "fuse" my vision and my brain ignores the input from one eye most of the time. I have reduced depth perception as a result. Not a big deal, it just made learning to drive a little bit more of a challenge and a lot scarier for my parents and other drivers. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

MJ

If the surgery is primarily for cosmetic reasons, I can understand your hesitance. Sometimes the eye crossed eye corrects itself. At least that's what happened with our son (without glasses or surgery but we did use patches and he would snatch them off)... It's not even noticeable that his eye was ever crossed and it was very crossed when he was a baby!!! If your heart is telling you to hold off, then hold off. If the glasses don't bother her, then great! Although I believe that the surgery is just a matter of snipping the muscle that is pulling too tightly on the eye ball and probably not that big of a deal. It's all relative tho! Our kids have had multiple surgeries so the sound of the word "surgery" is not all that scary to me anymore... Good luck, it sounds like Abbi is doing very well! That's great news!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Thank you everyone for trying to "calm my fears". I know that if Abbi ends up needing the surgery that she will be just fine.

CM,

Well, unfortunately, Abbi does need the glasses to correct her vision as well as correcting her crossed eye. The pediatric opthymaligist said that by 15 -18 months of age, a baby's vision is at about +2 to +250. Well, Abbi is at +4 in her left eye and +450 in her right eye(which is the one that is crossing). So, she may need glasses either way for the rest of her life.

Catnip,

I wish that we could take this doctor with us! I am VERY comfortable with him and his course of action so far. In fact, he is so popular with both those who need the pediatric specialist, and just opthymaligy, that they often double and triple booked even as much as 2 months in advance! I do pray that I can find a doctor that I am as comfortable with once we move!

Z,

Thank you for your support and words from experience. Hopefully, if it does end up with needing surgery, we do get the best surgeon, and that the military insurance covers it. I don't know how far they will cover it if we go to a civilian doctor. I do know that they don't cover the cost of glasses, and they may not cover the whole surgery, if they feel it is for cosmetic purposes. We will just have to trust that God will provide no matter what happens!

MJ,

Yet more words of experience that are greatly appreciated. I believe that you and Abbi's eyes are the same. The doctor said that's why her eye is crossing, as the brain has to work too hard to use that eye, and so "ignores" it. I am also glad to hear that the 3 in your family who've had the surgery were successful. Oh, and you've been so busy with your neice, and the medical problems that you've been having, don't worry about not being current on my boring little life! I've been more concerned over those here who've been through the ringer, so to speak, that I almost didn't post about Abbi at all. Speaking of, how's things for you?

BTDT,

And yet another voice of experience. I am just greatful that this is Abbi's only problem! Compared to so many other's it is so minor! I am glad that your little ones are through with all their surgeries, and that even if more come up, you are strong for them! I will just trust God, that he will show what needs to be done, and he will protect Abbi if surgery is needed.

Dawn,

Thank you for your prayers and support! I, too, hope that the glasses continue to work for her. I just don't want to put her through anything that is un-necessary.

Thank you all again for your support!

Love,

Tigger

Tigger,
My experience has been glasses and surgery combined helped to correct my weak eye. My brain ignored it just as Abbi's is. Corrective glasses at first which later became unnecessary for vision improvement. I was probably 10 when that happened. I was 3 when I had the surgery and I wore glasses before the surgery and after. The surgery wasn't for cosmetic reasons, the muscles were repaired as a crossed eye were the result of weak muscles that could be surgically repaired.

CM

Glad the dr visit went well.
<img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />