Comments on: distractions (blog update)

By: Ann Z

Ann Z — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:00:37 +0000

Thanks Danielle, those are great suggestions, I’ll get them on the resources page as soon as possible. The ointment has gotten much better since the ophthalmologist told us that we could just put a dollup on our finger and just put it in the corner of her eye, rather than trying to hold the eye open and squirt a 1/8 inch line of ointment directly on her eye. I wished they’d told us that to begin with. With the original method, there was no distracting to be done at all, but now, I think your suggestion of doing it while eating or playing with something else will work well.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:18:55 +0000

Sorry, I also wanted to add EI (early intervention). I had no idea what this was until a parent from the APHAKIC support group gave me information about this service. Due to our daughters eyes problems she qualifies for services through the state for early intervention. This service is free; they come to your home and assess your child to ensure he/she is developing properly without any delays. This service is available until my daughter turns 3. They give you valuable information to help with development for a visually impaired child such as placing colorful stickers on door frames to help your child while patching. They also help with IEP’s and transition into preschool. I also contacted the state department for the blind and visually impaired and they gave me information about the different services the state offers. This might be helpful information to add to your blog.

Talk to you soon,
Danielle

By: Danielle

Danielle — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 05:51:15 +0000

I’m really glad that your daughter’s surgery went well; her eyes look great.

I wanted to suggest the PGCFA (Pediatric Glaucoma & Cataract Family Association) forum. This site has a lot of information about glaucoma and cataracts; they post different articles and information that I have found extremely helpful. There is also the PGCFA support group.

Post surgery –my daughter is only 3 months old so the biggest dilemma we ran into prior to both of her surgeries was not being able to feed her 6 hours before surgery. I think best part for her was waking up in my arms and guzzling down sugar water (yummy). She is most likely going to need surgery in 3 weeks due to the increased pressure in her eye, the glaucoma drops aren’t working. I will let you know if there are any suggestions I can give other parents. I do have advice for the ointment; try to place the ointment in her eyes when she is eating. I have had to place 4 different drops in ointments in my daughter’s eye, up to 8 times a day and I found this to be the best method. My 17 month old son recently had pink eye and I used his sippy cup, or I let him play with something I usually don’t let him touch (Mia’s glasses for example) and this distracted him enough to place his drops in.

Danielle