When you've just found out your young child needs glasses

Surgery redux

Patching

when are children prescribed glasses
I recently got a question about when a doctor would prescribe glasses for a child, even if they are nearsighted or farsighted.  I did some research and found consensus guidelines for prescribing glasses published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Pediatric Eye Evaluations: Screening and Comprehensive Ophthalmic Evaluation, 2007, link to full text). Before jumping to the guidelines, it’s worth emphasizing that these are general guidelines only, based on professional experience, and each doctor needs to take into account everything about the pati

Happy News
I’m very happy to announce that Amomofelly gave birth to a little boy on Nov. 7. They’re hoping to head home from the hospital today. She writes, “Elly is in LOVE with him and tries to give him tons of kisses and hugs. We are already running into a glasses issue as his skin is so sensitive and she wants to get cheek to cheek with him. When I told her she has to be really careful that her glasses don’t scratch him, those glasses flew off quicker than you could imagine and she was rubbing her cheek to his. (very sweet, but will need close monitoring!)” Posted in toddlers with glasses

Story about a corneal surgery to save a baby’s sight
Kristin from Children’s Hospital Boston’s pediatric blog, Thrive, wrote about a baby undergoing a new surgical procedure, called keratoprosthesis to replace her damaged cornea with an artificial one.  It’s an interesting story with a hopeful ending.  I have to say, writing this blog has given me a new appreciation for vision, and how fragile it can be, and some of the amazing advances in medicine.  I feel like I’m forever learning more and more (that&#

Reader question: glasses and physical activity classes
I just got this question from Jenny.  Her daughter is almost 4 and has just (this weekend) gotten glasses for strabismus, amblyopia, and farsightedness.  She’s wondering whether her daughter should wear her glasses in her gymnastics and skating classes.  She was also thinking of signing her up for skiing class this winter, but is hesitant now with her daughter in glasses.  What, if any, physical activities has your child done with glasses?  Any constraints or tips? Posted in amblyopia (lazy eye), glasses, hyperopia (farsighted), kids with glasses, strabismus (misaligned eyes) Tagged: gymnastics, skating, skiing

Monday round-up: November 2, 2009
Humor and patching – at Insights, a sweet post about her daughter’s sense of humor around patching. Interview about Corneal Reshaping – Dr. Bonilla-Warford (Bright Eyes News) has an interview with Dr. Despotitis, an author and Doctor of Optometry who specializes in Orthokeratology (corneal reshaping – I wrote about it