Eyes, Eyes, Eyes

I've been meaning to do an update about Holland's eyes. Probably a good thing I waited, because now I need to update on Eden's eyes as well!

Less than a month after Holland's last eye muscle surgery we started noticing that her left eye seemed like it was turning out instead of in. After totally obsessing and over-analyzing it for a couple of days I called her opthamologist office and asked what we should do. She told me to start patching her again for two hours a day and to bring her in for an earlier appointment two days later.

I kind of freaked out a little after that appointment, because not only did the doc confirm that the left eye was turning out, but also that Holland was not using her left eye well, and definitely not seeing as well with both eyes. We went from her "reading" the pictures on the chart at about 20/40 down to 20/70, maybe less.

The doc did think that Holland was able to pull the eye in, and feels that we should be able to correct the problem with a new prescription and more patching, rather than needing another surgery. So, that's what we're doing...again. For those that know about such things (and for my own future reference), her prescription is now at -3.75 sph +1.75 clyl. 100 axis in her right eye, and -10.00 sph +1.75 clyl. 076 axis in her left eye. The first negative number is the degree of nearsightedness and the next two numbers have to do with astigmatism. That -10.00 kinda hurt. Even though I knew it was coming, I wasn't looking forward double digits.

Also not so happy about more patching. I was so hopeful that after the surgery we would be done with that forever.

On the bright side... We had an appointment this week and she is back to 20/40 on the chart and is using both eyes equally well again. I am still noticing the turn-out with her left eye, but she was able to track pretty well with it for the doctor. We're going to continue patching for a month and see where things are then.

Eden had an eye doctor appointment this week as well. It was her first appointment in a year, and we had a good idea going into it that she would probably need glasses this year. She goes to all of Holland's appointments with us, so she knows the drill and was really looking forward to picking out her own frames. She did an excellent job "reading" the chart for the first time and she was proud of herself. Her first prescription is -2.00 sph in the right eye, and -2.25 sph in the left eye. We had a pair of purple frames with pink temple bars picked out from previous visits (I really loved them), but Eden saw a new all-pink pair when we got there, and quickly had her heart set on them.

They should be ready in about a week, but until then, here is a preview of her wearing Holland's old pink frames.

I know that she looks super-cute, and in the grand scheme of things it's not a big deal at all, but I still kinda wish that we didn't have something else to worry about keeping on her head, in one piece, unbroken and functioning properly.

And just to make the whole eye issue a little more complicated...our wonderful eye doctor, who has seen the girls since they were in the NICU and whose opinion I really value and trust, is retiring in November. Boooo. This really bums me out. It's so hard to find good doctors who take adequate time to get to know you, value your input as parents, and are really, really sharp at what they do. We are really sad to lose another one of the best.

But, not to end on a bad note. I am so grateful that both of my girls can see, hear, talk, smile, laugh, love, and learn. They continue to amaze me everyday.