little four eyes

As we come to the end of January, which this year is Glaucoma Awareness Month, I wanted to post a few resources for families who are dealing with pediatric glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness, and while older people are more at risk, glaucoma can occur at any age.  Pediatric or Childhood Glaucoma may be congenital (1 in 10,000 babies in the US are born with glaucoma) or may develop later in childhood.  Glaucoma is also closely associated with cataracts, children who have cataract surgery are at higher risk of developing glaucoma, and so are often closely monitored.  Some symptoms of childhood glaucoma include light sensitivity (photophobia), corneal opacification (hazy gray cornea), enlarged eye and cornea, epiphora (overflow of tears), and vision loss. (Information is from the Pediatric Glaucoma and Cataract Family Association, and the Glaucoma Research Foundation).

You can find more information about pediatric glaucoma and support support for those dealing with it here:

• Congenital Glaucoma Network - this is a social network for all people affected by childhood glaucoma come to share their story.  There is a forum, blogs, a place to share photos, videos, and links to more resources.
• Pediatric Glaucoma – information on pediatric glaucoma from the Pediatric Cataracts & Glaucoma Family Association.  You may also want to check their Knowledgebase for more articles on glaucoma.
• Children’s Glaucoma Foundation – a non-profit dedicated to supporting children with glaucoma.
• Childhood Glaucoma – symptoms, treatment options, and stories about childhood glaucoma.  From the Glaucoma Research Foundation.

You can also read other posts on Little Four Eyes that deal with glaucoma.

If I’m missing anything, please let me know!

I just learned that January is National Braille Literacy Month.  Braille is the reading and writing system for the blind and visually impaired.     In recognition of the month and the movement to improve literacy rates among the blind and visually impaired, Online Colleges has an interesting post with 15 facts about Braille, including the fact that Braille was developed by Louis Braille when he was only 15.

Other links of interest about Braille:

• Reading to your blind child – from the Louis Braille school
• Braille resources for parents – from the American Foundation for the Blind
• More about Braille Literacy Month and the low rates of Braille literacy among the blind and visually impaired – from Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired

More

A question was posted on the Little Four Eyes facebook group by Danyelle, whose 3 month old will be getting glasses this week.  She’s  looking for resources to help prepare her older children for their younger sister’s glasses.  I thought I’d post here and see if anyone had any good ideas to add.

Books

Books would be my first place to start (but I’m a librarian, so of course they’re my go to resource).  Most books on our list are written from the perspective of the child who needs glasses, but some also follow friends or family members of kids who get glasses.  One person has already recommended Magenta Gets Glasses! by Deborah Reber, a Blues Clues book.

Shows

I’ve written before about some kids’ TV shows with characters who wear glasses.  Depending on the age of the siblings, the Yo Gabba Gabba episode from season 2 called Differences tells the story of Muno getting glasses, and his friends reacting to that.  I didn’t like that at the end Muno wears contacts (because I had hoped that he’d become a character who regularly wore glasses), but I think it talked a lot about other people’s reactions to seeing someone in glasses for the first time.  Sid the Science Kid also has an episode called Grandma’s Glasses in which Sid learns about vision and why some people need glasses.

Websites

There are a whole lot of websites aimed at kids that explain how the eye works (my favorites are from the Exploratorium – warning, it contains graphic images of a cow eye dissection, and the National Eye Institute), but not nearly as many that talk about glasses. Here’s a few:

• Whyzz - a site that helps kids explore questions, it provides not just answers, but also experiments to help learn more, and links to more information.  I’d start here.
• Annie’s Unite for Sight website for kids - a dog named Annie, who wears glasses, explains how the eye works, amblyopia, strabismus, as well as other vision issues.
• Kid’s Health has sections about eyes and glasses.

So what other resources are there?  Have you had to prepare an older sibling for their younger brother or sister getting glasses?  Any words of wisdom?

This question came in as a comment from Misty on the last post.  Danielle was kind enough to write up a reply.  -Ann Z

Question:
My 26 month old son chews on the rubber nosepads on his metal frames.  I’ve lost count on how many times we’ve had them replaced.  Nothing seems to work.  The tech at the doctor says that he’s going to have to start charging me for them since we’ve cost them a small fortune.  I’ve tried soaking them in vinegar so he doesn’t like the taste and we’ve given him other things to chew on.  Nothing has worked.  Any suggestions.

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Answer:
No worries, any optician who has dealt with children knows that this happens from time to time. It is just a phase or a new habit. Quite frankly, I know that it is more bothersome for the parent then it is for me. Changing nose pads only takes a few minutes and they cost pennies for me, but as a mom and a dad you have to take the time to come in and deal with the scrapes on your child’s nose because the pads are all chewed up. I know this is frustrating, but there is something you can do
First, let me explain that there are several types of nose pads. Each one is made out of a different material. I’ll list them here from the softest and more comfortable pads to the hardest pads (or we could say from the chewiest to least chewiest)

1. Silicone
2. Silicone with metal insert
3. Vinyl
4. Vinyl with metal insert
5. Solid Plastic
6. Solid Metal

The plan is to start from the top of the list and work your way down until you find the pad that your child doesn’t want to chew on any longer. I guarantee you child will not be able to chew the solid metal ones. I know the temptation is to go right to the solid metal ones, but I have found this is not the best approach. The softer nose pads are more comfortable and as you go down each level you are giving up some on comfort. The last thing we want is your child to not want to wear their glasses because they are uncomfortable. Once your child stops chewing for a couple of weeks the habit will be broken and you can return to the softer pads.

This question was posted a few months ago on the facebook group by Leah.  I forwarded the question on to Danielle Crull, a master optician who specializes in children’s glasses.  Here’s the original question, and Miss Danielle’s answer.  -Ann Z

Question:
Does anyone have difficulty with a flat nasal bridge? Nolan’s glasses sit too low because he has a depressed nasal bridge, and he looks over the top of his glasses a lot. He has amblyopia and we’re trying to avoid patching, but since he almost always looks OVER the lenses, I doubt the glasses are doing much good! Any suggestions??

Nolan's glasses slipping down his nose

Answer from Danielle:
“I definitely understand a parent’s frustration with glasses slipping down on children with flat bridges. In fact, most kids don’t have much of a bridge at all. First of all, it’s important to know that in a properly fitted pair of glasses the nose holds about 90% of the weight of the glasses. The other 10% is distributed behind both of the ears. So when your child has a very flat bridge or very small bridge, we need to make sure that the ears have the right size temples fit behind them. To help with that, you can have your child fit with comfort cables. The comfort cable will carry more weight of the frame behind the ear and then distribute it evenly around the entire ear, keeping your child from getting marks behind his ears. Frames that have two seperate nose pieces give the best possibility of fitting well on a flat nose bridge. It is also important that those nose pads stay in adjustment or the glasses will begin to slip down. That means you may need to get more frequent adjustments! Again the comfort cables will hold the gap when the nose pieces get bent out, minimizing the slipping.

What I’m trying to say is that it may not be the way the bridge fits as much as it is how the temples fit. Parent’s should make sure that both the temples and bridge are fit properly and don’t be afraid to go back in when your child get’s their glasses a little askew “

. . .

Leah sent a follow up note to say: “We found that her advice is perfect – we have cable arms and they are snug enough to help with the ‘slippage.’ He also has the saddle-nose bridge piece. We had to get wire frames to fit alongside the hearing aids, but everything is fitting together very well now!”

I had too much fun going through my email inbox these past couple of days.  The pictures everyone sent in of their children all dressed up for Halloween are beyond cute.  So without further ado, here they are, enjoy!  (And if you have a picture you want added, send it my way, I’ll try to get it up – ann @ shinypebble . com)

Zoe, in her outfit as "Zoe princess"

Sukkot and Halloween at the office

Glamorous Glowing Glasses

a blue witch

9 month old, Madeline Christine as a Baby Blossom for her first trick or treating at the Pittsburgh Zoo.

little shark Judd...so handsome

Santa's little helper took a day off to take part of Halloween's Trick or Treat Party.

spectacled halloween cuteness

Under the Sea Specs (also, awesome pumpkin! - Ann Z)

Superman wore glasses!

Ms. Abby, who turned 6 in September - she wanted to be a vampire bat for halloween - so one old black umbrella for "wings" later - and, voila - one very, scary vampire bat!!

Kathryn, 10 months old

Simon dressed as DJ Lance Rock from Yo Gabba Gabba! We figured that since he already wore glasses he'd love this costume too. Simon gets comments on how cute he is in his glasses all the time. This costume just made him that much more awesome.

Here's Nathan as a St. Bernard Puppy!

Mikey as 'Woody"

James (3) with big brother Sam (8). James is wearing Sam's costume from 5 year ago!

Karson (6) as a racecar driver in his glasses and Kendyl (13 months) as a bumblebee.

Goblins in glasses?  Bespectacled beasties?  I’d love to do a post featuring pictures of our kids all decked out for Halloween – or any other glasses-related decorations.  Send me your pictures, with whatever caption you’d like added to it to ann @ shinypebble . com (take out the spaces).

Princesses Wear Glasses, by Kristin Ellsworth, illustrated by Christina Turner

UPDATE:  “Princesses Wear Glasses” is now available from Amazon.  It’s bundled with the cape and crown that were included in this giveaway.

The book I’m reviewing, Princesses Wear Glasses, by Kristin Ellsworth, is not available in bookstores or libraries (yet – update, it’s available now).  It is also sold in conjunction with the Peeps Eyewear glasses.  Ellsworth, founder of Peeps Eyewear, wrote the book to accompany the glasses and sent me a copy to review.  And fear not, if you’d like to read the book, read to the end of the review, because she’s doing a giveaway.  She tells me that she’s working on getting the book released separately from the glasses.  And that she’s working on one for boys.

The story is based on one that Ellsworth told her own daughter when she got glasses at age three.   The story is told in rhyme, and follows Annie, a brave and curious princess who is off to do some adventuring.  Oh, and Annie just happens to wear glasses.  This is one of the parts that sets this book off from many others.  Annie is simply introduced as a princess in glasses.  This isn’t a story of starting out in glasses or learning that she needed glasses..  This story takes place after that initial introduction of glasses that most books focus on, instead taking place when the glasses are simply one of the things that she wears.  I think that stories about getting glasses are important, but it’s refreshing to run in to books that feature kids who are already comfortable in their glasses.  Annie is a fun character, and you have to love a princess who goes off on her scooter (wearing helmet and glasses), looking for adventure.

Annie decides to seek out a dragon because she wonders what makes their scales so bright.  Upon finding one, she realizes that the dragon must need glasses, since he is having trouble seeing:

“I’m lost,” the dragon sniffled.
“And I can’t see far away.
It’s hard to fly.  Which way is home?
What an awful day.”

“I’m sorry you’re so sad.
My glasses help me see.
Try this spare pair from my pocket.
Then you’ll see like me.”

The illustrations by Christina Turner are bright and charming.  They often surround the text, an effect that I think is lovely.

The book is small and thin, it’s designed to fit in a box with a pair of glasses (that match Annie’s from the book) and a dress up princess cloak and crown.  If I had any complaint, it would be that it feels like the binding might break.  Though Zoe’s copy has weathered repeated readings just fine, I wouldn’t expect it to hold up well to a baby or young toddler’s readings.

…

So, now for the giveaway! … Author and Peeps glasses creator, Kristin Ellsworth and I, are doing a giveaway of two of the kits that go along with her glasses, and one book without the kit.  The kits include the book, a princess cape, and a crown – great for Halloween or dress up!  To enter, become a fan of Peeps Eyewear facebook page, and then leave a comment here.  Three entries will be drawn at random on October 24th.

Princesses wear glasses kit - the giveaway does not include the glasses, but will include the book, crown, and cloak.

…

Full disclosure, I was given a free copy of this book for review.  That did not impact this review.

…

UPDATE:  I went to random.org to generate random numbers for the giveaway.  Congratulations to Rebecca and Alyssa who won the kits, and Cody B who won the book!

UPDATE #2:  Surprise! Kristin would like to thank every one who participated in the Peeps Eyewear Giveaway,  by sending all of you a copy of the book!   Thanks again for commenting, any feedback on the book is welcome!

I haven’t done a link round up in a while, so here’s a few to check out!

• 

  2012 Visions of Home calendar

  Children’s Eye Foundation 2012 Visions of Home Eye Care calendar (this link goes to the store, but you can see the full calendar by clicking the “View the 2012 Calendar” link).  This is a beautiful calendar, featuring images of children, many of whom wear glasses.  Children’s Eye Foundation has run a photo contest each summer since 2009 to find photos for their annual calendar, and this year’s calendar is my favorite so far.  Proceeds from the sale of the calendar support the Children’s Eye Foundation.

• VSP Eye Pledge.  VSP is asking people to take a pledge on their website to take care of their eyesight.  For every pledge they receive, they will donate an eye exam and pair of glasses to a child served by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
• Pinterest board – Little Four Eyes.  There’s been a lot of discussion on the facebook group of cute clothes for our kids that are glasses-themed.  Christie has started a Pinterest board of images of such clothes.  Check it out, and feel free to leave links to others you’ve found.
• 

  "A Book Lover"

  Speaking of cute glasses-themed attire…I just today realized that all of my favorite t-shirts from Threadless were created by the same designer, Lim Heng Swee aka “Ilovedoodle”, and that many of his designs feature animals that just happen to wear glasses (and many of them clearly love reading, too).  You can see all of his shirt designs here.

I mentioned a while back about the Prevent Blindness America “Most Beautiful Eyes” contest. The contest is in full swing now, and voting will continue until the end of the month.

The winner of the contest (chosen from a group of top vote-getters) will be the face of the Star Pupils program – a program designed to educate parents about the importance of vision health for their children.

I would LOVE to have a child in glasses represent that program.  One of the concerns I hear so often from parents who learn their child needs glasses, is that their child’s eyes will be obscured, that others won’t see their child’s beautiful eyes.  We know that’s not true – that our children’s eyes shine through their glasses.  What a great way to show that, and to alleviate some of those fears: to have a child in glasses or a child with vision issues as the face of Star Pupils.

As voting is winding down, we don’t have a lot of time, but I know this community reaches a lot of people.  Voting is easy, you don’t need register or log in anywhere, and you can vote for multiple entries (but only once a day for the same entry).  Please join me in voting for our Little Four Eyes children!

I know of 7 entries from the Little Four Eyes community – if there are any others, please let me know (email me the link: ann @ shinypebble.com).  Click on the photo to get to the voting page.  Remember, you can vote for all of them, and you can vote everyday!  Please feel free to share with others, too!

Stella's Smiling Eyes - Stella wears glasses and does vision therapy for strabismus and amblyopia

Beautiful Eyes - Elly wears glasses for exotropia and amblyopia

Zoe's Eyes - she wears glasses for strabismus and farsightedness

Austin (had a congenital cataract in his right eye and has been patching)

Cutie Pie - she wears glasses for amblyopia

Smiling Eyes (after his surgery for infantile esotropia)

Eye scream for ice cream - Caitlyn wears glasses for vision correction and strabismus