little four eyes

Quick poll:  How many prescription glasses does your child currently have?  You can include prescription sunglasses and goggles, if they have them.

I recently got an email asking for recommendations for an ophthalmologist in Perth, Scotland.  If anyone knows of someone, please leave a comment!  But it reminded me that I’ve been thinking about putting together a page for recommendations – a place where people can list doctors that they’ve loved and glasses shops that have provided great service, and of course, great glasses.

So this is an experiment, and I’m curious as to whether it will work, but we’re giving it a try.  But you can head on over to the Recommendations page (it will normally be linked from the Collected Wisdom page) and fill out a recommendation form if you’d like to add a name or place to the list.

There was a question posted on the Little Four Eyes facebook page from a mother with a 2 year old with autism who needs glasses, and she’s struggling to help him adjust to the glasses.

He is just farsighted and I feel I need to get him to wear glasses. I worry how much he is missing out on (eye contact, recognizing people, pictures, etc). The problem is, he won’t even wear sunglasses or a hat. We have had issues with putting his shirt over his head. I think this relates to sensory issues and I have a feeling that the weight of the glasses is too strange. I can’t keep his glasses (or hat) on for more than a second (if that). I don’t know how to get him to keep them on. Most of the time I can’t get them on. His hands are up and now he’s starting to cry if he sees them. We can’t to stay positive, get excited if they are on and practice with cheap glasses since the others will be destroyed before ever worn! I am sure this is somewhat normal, but I don’t see anyone discussing this or at least not like what I am describing. When others say their child doesn’t like glasses. What does that mean? They take them off? Most advice is for children that can be reasoned with at some level. It’s questionable how much my child understands. Characters, discussion is not going to work. He wouldn’t understand. Think baby in toddler body. He is nonverbal, so I don’t know what he doesn’t like. It’s all guessing. I really need him to wear these things. I will con’t to work w/ therapists to assist in this process. If there is any info out there on this specific topic. I would love to see it. Thanks

One of my favorite things about this community is how willing others are to offer encouragement and advice when they’ve been through similar situations.  I forwarded this question on to Dina, whose  son is diagnosed on the autism spectrum and is legally blind.  She has written about her son here, and also blogs at Frazzled Working Mom.  She had the following advice, which I’m posting here for anyone else that might be facing this:

Autism and visual impairment are two separate disabilities and generally treated quite separately. My recommendation to her is that she treat him for sensory integration disorder, which will help reduce the sensory sensitivity; a good Occupational Therapist will incorporate teaching him to tolerate his glasses into the therapy, and his Early Intervention team should make “keeping glasses on” as a goal. Naturally, I faced this problem but it got easier as my son got older and he realized the benefit from wearing the glasses.

If anyone else has information, advice or encouragement, please leave it here.

Eye Exam Video.  This is an oldie, but a goodie from the Sesame Street website.  If you ignore the very outdated clothing and equipment, the exam featured in the video is very similar to what our experience have been.  We have been going about once a month for the last year and a half.  All visits include having Elliana “read” the letters or shapes, have  her track, or follow an object and often have a light shown in her eyes.  Only every once in a while do we have to have her look through the “machine.”  We watched this video after our last visit and talked about how our visit was similar and how it was different, but you could also show your child before you go, so that they have some ideas about the activities that the PO may do.  I also made sure to point out to Elly how calm and patient the little girl was and how important it is to be on your best behavior for the doctor.   (our wait is often 1-2 hours and Elly is SO ready to go home by the time we see the PO)

This question came in from Heidi.  Any advice for her older son?  -Ann Z

Hi, I am a mom of 2 boys that wear glasses.

My oldest is 5 1/2 and just got his glasses the week before kindergarten started.  My youngest is 2 1/2 and has worn glasses for 9 months.  My oldest is the one who doesn’t want to wear his glasses now.  He picked out his frames and we have 2 different retainers to keep them on his face.  His little brother and I both wear glasses.  We, also, just found out a girl in his class now wears glasses.  He has always been terribly outgoing and wanting people to notice him, a showman, really, but now all of a sudden he is self conscious.  Any ideas?

I know without a doubt that someone out there is watching over me!  Last month, in the middle of our patch hating eye prescription worsening time, our new neighbors moved in. 

I have to say, there is no way I could be happier.  How often is it that you have another sweet little 3 year old move in next door that wears glasses and a patch, accompanied by her kind 5yr old sister who is also in glasses =)   It has been SO wonderful playing with them and I couldn’t have asked for anything better!

I am a very lucky mom!

This question came in from Darlene.  -Ann Z

My son had surgery to correct his exotropia but it hasnt seemed to help straighten his eye.  Does anyone have any experience with their child needing multiple strabismus surgeries?

With a special thanks to our OT Ms. Fuller for helping us “play” and strengthening our vision at the same time!  I think these are fun activities for all Pre-school – kindergarten kids, no-matter their vision!  Most can be adapted for different ages.  As always – I am just a parent sharing ideas; this is in no way medical advice!

1. Flashlight Tag – In a dark room (we play in the evening) the child takes their flashlight for an eventful game of flashlight tag. The parent slowly moves their light along the wall in all sorts of directions and the child’s job is to catch their beam. This works best if you have 2 flashlights or laser pointers that make a very clear beam on the wall. 
2.  Hit my ballon (or ball) on a string. – Tie the balloon on a 1-2 foot string and have your child watch the ball and “hit” it when it comes close to them.  We aim for making contact 10 times.   Today we played with a ball, but it moved too fast and Elly was not able to keep her eyes tracking on it and ended up just batting at it and getting lucky a few times.  A balloon would slow the game down. 
3. Dancing Finger Puppets. – Hold the puppets in front of the child’s face and have them follow the dancing puppet as you move it slowly back and forth, up and down and in a circle.  Ask them to tell you the attributes of the puppet – what color is the face?  How many dots are on the tummy?  Ext. 
4. Pop the bubble. –  Have your child put out their pointer finger and practice popping imaginary bubble gently with a slow tap.  The key is to make sure the kids are looking at the bubbles.  Then begin blowing bubbles and having your child slowly pop them.  If they are having trouble with their fingers, a paintbrush also works and they can “paint” the bubble to pop it.
5.  Tricycle or Bike obstacle Course- Set up a few cones and place a card on top of the cone with a picture or letter on it.  Have your child “Drive” through the course avoiding the obstacles.  Encourage them to read and call out what is on each card as they go around it.

My friend just sent me this link to print our own stickers.  I  like the idea of making them into iron-on transfers too.  They were bright colored, fun, and great for a little one in glasses, so I wanted to pass it along!

http://www.nickjr.com/printables/backyardigans-glasses-stickers.jhtml

Hellokittiemama over at Amblyopia Kids recently reviewed the book 45 Lazy Eye Exercises, and raved about it and recommends it “especially to parents who are just starting out with patching, as well as parents like me — who may have been patching now for several months but feeling like they’ve hit a wall on things to do.”   You can read the full review here.

Now she is giving away a copy on her blog to one lucky commenter.  Deadline is September 17, 2009.  Check it out if you’re looking for patching exercises!