Welcome to our new blog site. We hope to use this blog as a way to inspire others that may be going through strabismus in their lives. We welcome feedback, comments, and questions and hope to get to know you better through this site.
At the birth of our first born child we were greeted with the smile of a beautiful baby boy. After a few months we soon noticed that our child was cross eyed. Relatives called it “lazy eye” but we soon found out that this condition is called strabismus and that it is something completely different than lazy eye which is actually the common name for amblyopia.
This began our journey as we sought to find the answers to our questions. This journey forever changed our lives as we consulted with eye doctor after eye doctor (ophthalmologist) and learned about different ways to treat eye problems including strabismus surgery (also called eye muscle surgery), the possibility of having to wear an eye patch, and various alternative therapies.
Our life changing story has now gone on to be read by many across the country as a story of inspiration, hope, and faith. Of course being part of this story makes it one of the most inspirational stories of all time to my family. We invite you to read “Our Journey with Strabismus” (available at: www.ChildhoodStrabismus.com ) and find out more about the story that is quickly becoming a story read around the world.
What good timing. Our daughter (she’ll be 2 in October) has been wearing glasses for 7 months for her strabismus. While they’ve certainly helped, we had an ophthalmologist appointment today where we decided that they were still crossing too much and she’ll have surgery in a month. While intellectually I know that this is the best thing for her, it’s hard to reconcile that with the part of me that just wants to keep her from harm. I look forward to reading more.
Thank you for posting Ann. A few years ago we were very much in your same situation. You may have already heard this from your doc but the day of surgery will be harder on you than on your baby. From our personal experience we found that as much as we try to protect our children we often do so as a reaction to protect our own emotions. They (our children) on the other hand, are usually fearless and ready for more than we think.
Take some time during this month before surgery to find some indoor ways to relax with your child. Perhaps fingerpainting, coloring (yes perhaps even on walls), reading books, etc. This will bring peace and calm to everyone involved. Then after the surgery when you repeat the activities they will do the same for you then as well.
Let me know how things go!
Thank you, I really appreciate your reply. You’re right that our kids really are pretty fearless and can take on a whole lot. It’s good to keep in mind.
Thank you for sharing your very encouraging story. Our son just turned 3, and he was diagnosed last year with intermittent exotropia. We’ve patched for the past year. It initially affected only the right eye, but it’s now affecting the left eye as well. He will undergo lateral rectus recession on Sept. 12, and I am petrified. His doctor recommends he have the surgery now, however, while he still has good binocular vision. If we wait, she says we run the risk of the strabismus developing into amblyopia. My husband and I are confident in her ability and trust her professional judgment, but we are still very concerned. She can call it a “routine” procedure all she wants… it’s still my baby under general anesthesia!
I wanted to share my strabismus story for adults who are considering it. First, it is never too late, but earlier the better. I developed esotropia in my righ eye at age 2 after a high fever. I had strabismus surgery in France at age 11 in 1956. We came to the U.S. and we had no money to do eye exercises as was recommended. Gradually, my right eye started drifting outward over the years. I am now 62 years old and I had extreme exotropia in my right eye and a lazy eye since I was two. I had the procedure 6 weeks ago under general anesthesia. Only my right eye was operated upon with fixed sutures. I had no pain whatsoever and no nausea. My right eye was out about 45 degrees, and now it was measured as about 5 degrees. The doctor says cosmetically, my eyes look straignt, but since I have suppressed the use of my right eye for 60 years, I see double if I force myself to use both eyes, so I do not try. I am sure I had all the social problems with this conditions as most of us who have lived with this condition. For practically the first time in my life, I can look people in the eye and they look back. Before, I could not even look at myself in the mirror, so how could I expect others to look at me in the eye? This is a great psychological feeling. I would be glad to answer any questions anyone has.
My baby was diagnosed with alternating esotropia when she was 9 months old. She wore glasses for a period of time and patching for 30 minutes. She did not respond well with these and so she underwent surgery just this Feb 2010. Three weeks after her surgery, her eyes started to go in again. She has to wear bifocal glasses as she crosses her eyes when seeing near things but look straight when looking from afar. I hope she’ll respond well with the use of bifocals…
I wanted to share my strabismus story for adults who are considering it. First, it is never too late, but earlier the better. I developed esotropia in my righ eye at age 2 after a high fever. I had strabismus surgery in France at age 11 in 1956. We came to the U.S. and we had no money to do eye exercises as was recommended. Gradually, my right eye started drifting outward over the years. I am now 62 years old and I had extreme exotropia in my right eye and a lazy eye since I was two. I had the procedure 6 weeks ago under general anesthesia. Only my right eye was operated upon with fixed sutures. I had no pain whatsoever and no nausea. My right eye was out about 45 degrees, and now it was measured as about 5 degrees. The doctor says cosmetically, my eyes look straignt, but since I have suppressed the use of my right eye for 60 years, I see double if I force myself to use both eyes, so I do not try. I am sure I had all the social problems with this conditions as most of us who have lived with this condition. For practically the first time in my life, I can look people in the eye and they look back. Before, I could not even look at myself in the mirror, so how could I expect others to look at me in the eye? This is a great psychological feeling. I would be glad to answer any questions anyone has.