Comments on: Why Can’t We All Just Get ALONG???!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:02:20 +0000

My daughter, Tess, who is 4 months old has been seen by three pediatric ophthalmologists (PO) in the past 3 weeks and each is diagnosing her with Accomodative Esotropia, but giving us various recommendations on what to do: put glasses on her now OR to “wait and see”. The first P.O. diagnosed her eyes at +8, second at +5.5 and third at +7.25 (both eyes equal). We brought her in because we were noticing that her left eyed crossed occasionally (once a day or once every two days and mainly happening when she looked a horizontal blinds). Needless to say, we are completely confused by the lack of agreement between the 3 PO’s. I agree with Linda’s suggestion to lock all of these doctors in the same room and just let them go at it, for the sake of my child. Their ego’s cannot allow this it seems. What IS consistent between them was thier lack of experience with AE in infants this young. Anyone out there with a similar experience of Accomodative Esotropia in a 4 month old?

By: update on Braden - before and after surgery pictures « little four eyes

update on Braden - before and after surgery pictures « little four eyes — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 04:22:09 +0000

[...] surgery, she scoured the web for pre and post surgery pictures. (She wrote in August about their journey to finding the right eye doctor for Braden). Braden shortly before his surgery Braden, post surgery Braden, post surgery – look at [...]

By: ingrid

ingrid — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:45:10 +0000

Fantastic post! I can TOTALLY agree with you and can totally understand where you are coming from. It could have been me writing it. I was sitting shaking my head yes as we too have had different opinions on treatment. I absolutlely agree with you that Optometrists and Opthalmologists are arch enemies! They definitely come at the problem from totally different angles. It is very hard to decide what to do when yes, as you say, they are supposed to be the experts yet in the end you are left to decide what to do and you are dealing with your childs vision and essentially their quality of life for the rest of their lives! It’s a big call. I am always seeking opinions and searching for new information too. I just want someone to tell me this is what you need to do and it is the right thing and she will be ok but I know also that eyes are unpredictable especially at a young age and every child will react differently to different treatment, a lot of the time they dont actually know what way their are going to go. You are also right in saying the doctors generally dont like you coming across like you know too much and hate the word internet. However they need to know that of course parents are going to research all they can and try to find out as much as they possibly can. Luckily I think I have finally found a doctor I am happy with, he is brilliant with children and seems to be The expert on strabmisus where we live and I have to trust someone at this stage. So I am going to do what he says to the letter and cross my fingers and toes he is right and it is the absolute right thing for my little girl. Thank you for taking the time, it is great to read something that I can TOTALLY relate to. Ingrid

By: counselorjb

counselorjb — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:41:01 +0000

Linda, What a good mommy! Thanks for sharing this. I’m so glad you found peace about your decisions. These decisions are SO hard to make especially when you are challenged and contradicted at every turn. You persevered through the confusion and now your baby has straight eyes. How encouraging! Luckily, we had a great experience with our one and only PO, and he answers questions, takes time, and has surgery as an option if needed, but we’re trying to get straight eyes with patching and glasses.
My son is 2 1/2 and right after his second birthday his left eye started turning more and more. I had ALWAYS thought that I saw them cross but it was subtle and nobody else saw it, including the pedicatrician at the wellness checks. It got WAY worse almost overnight and nobody could miss it.
Moms DO know what they are talking about even if nobody else sees the problem. I wish I hadn’t been right, but at least its fixable.
Thanks again!

By: Linda

Linda — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:15:37 +0000

Welcome!
I know exactly how you feel, the differing opinions of treatment are enough to make anyone go crazy. I was completely in your shoes about doing surgery= I REALLY did NOT want to, in fact, I was still unsure until the first visit with our 3rd PO. It was only then that I finally felt at ease.
The stories that I read of adults with strabismus are heart breaking, this is one of the biggest reasons I went for it, I had also read somewhere (who knows where at this point) that VT for Braden’s specific type of eso was not particularly effective.
I spent a lot of time actually reading medical studies (luckily I am getting my Master’s so I have access to many journals through that).
The worst for me was when they kept telling me it has so much of a better chance before 2 to gain depth. (Of course VT specialists disagree) but I kept thinking WHAT IF? Many research articles I read confirmed this, and it really made me nervous to just ignore it. I could not find very many articles on VT through medical journals. I am not in any way discounting it- I just feel that it is just starting to be researched. There are a few out there though.
Best of luck, I will be thinking of you as you begin your journey. TRUST YOUR GUT!! : )

By: tjmtoms

tjmtoms — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:09:26 +0000

Hi Linda, very interesting blog. My daughter McKenna just had her first PO appointment and through confusion we were told she has Left eye Esotropia-possibly accommodative. She needs +4 lenses for both eyes-which tells me she is farsighted. I say that because the PO never said it. He ofcourse told me to look at his site to read about eye muscle surgery. Well, I spent many of late nights reading many many sites and came across the same information you did regarding the “cosmetic” perspective of the surgery. If the eyes are working together perfectly, then multiple surgeries would be needed. And how the brain may still tell the eye to turn regardless of cutting the eye muscle. This scared me more than enything. Should I risk multiple surgeries? Or should I just focus on treatment with glasses and as long as she can see (with both eyes) let her go through life with a possible target on her back for teasing? But, I cannot jump ahead of myself- we haven’t even gotten the frames in the mail yet!!! I am just trying to focus on working with her to keep her glasses on so that effective results can be measured. I am sure that the Rx may need to be changed several times, though I am hoping that with glasses she will be able to see better. Our biggest concern is that she is almost 16 months and she doesn’t walk yet. I was told it may be due to her not being able to see things clearly and is afraid to let go of things. With glasses we are hoping that she will get more confident.
Doctors rarely like to be questions, though some take pride in having informed patients. The handful that despise it, make it very clear. THEY ARE THE DOCTOR!! The Internet can be a really good or really bad resource for information. It is important to get information from reputable sites- by either hospitals or medical journals. You should never feel though that you cannot question a doctor about a diagnosis or steps in treatment. This is your child’s life!! If a doctor ever makes you feel that you don’t have that right to be an informed parent then turn around and walk out. And, if they don’t want you to do your own research then they better be willing to answer all of your questions completely and patiently.
I am glad to hear that though you clawed your way through the process, everything is turning out well.

By: Lori Clendenen

Lori Clendenen — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:15:01 +0000

Hi Linda. I’m in the Eyes Apart yahoo group and saw your recommendation to Jenn about this web site. I’m glad I found it!

I was brought to tears reading your story because I can’t imagine how stressful it must have been to get so many different opinions and not know who to believe. I was fortunately to connect with our PO and he has been incredible. Even with that encouraging PO/patient relationship, it was very stressful to make decisions on treatment.

My heart really goes out to you and your son.

I totally agree with following your gut!

Lori Clendenen
(my daughter Zella was diagnosed with infantile esotropia at 7 months. She is now 20 mo. old)

By: Linda

Linda — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:01:03 +0000

Of course that is fine to link this. I truly feel that now that I have been through this, I must be a voice for parents who are also going through it. I have heard of Optometrists and Ophthalmologists working together- just not in my “neck of the woods”- Those who find such doctors are VERY blessed!!

By: brighteyesnews

brighteyesnews — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:28:50 +0000

Linda,

Thank you for posting this. This is a reality that parents with children with visual conditions often face. Ophthalmologist are very well trained in surgery but not vision. Optometrists are very trained in vision but not surgery. They have hard time communicating.

Since there is frequently disagreement between professionals, I suggest the following to parents: 1) If a mom is certain she saw something, she is almost always right. 2)Relentlessly question your doctor about your child and if they refuse to answer questions, be suspicious. 3) A 2nd or 3rd opinion is never a bad idea and you should never feel bad about requesting one.

Fortunately, there are Ophthalmologist and Optometrists that do get along. Unfortunately, you didn’t encounter them.

If it is OK with you, I’d like to link to this post from my blog with some comments for parents.

-Dr. B

By: Linda

Linda — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:12:13 +0000

HA- I know- You should have heard all the responses I came up with in the car on the way HOME from her office!!!
Oh well- That which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger right??!