Eye Doctor

Ryan and Brooke both went to the eye doctor on Thursday. Ryan has been going ever since he got out of the NICU. While in the NICU, he developed retinopathy of prematurity (R.O.P.) in both eyes, which is common in preemies. Due to this and the laser surgeries he underwent (more in the right eye), he had significant scar tissue in his right eye, which caused his retina to start to detach. They tried to reattach it, but it didn't exactly work. Ryan is most likely legally blind in his right eye. He's very nearsighted in his left eye, which is why he wears glasses. The same prescription lens is put in both sides of his glasses, only to balance it out and not make his glasses heavier on one side (his prescription is very high and his lenses are very thick). The glasses don't/can't do anything to help the vision in his right eye. The doctor keeps a close watch over the pressures in Ryan's eyes. The pressure in his right eye is elevated and he recieves eye drops daily (one he gets 3 times a day and another he gets right before bed) to keep the pressures down. So far the pressures in the left eye have been normal, which is great. If the pressure gets too high (and can't be controlled), it can result in loss of vision. The eye doctor likes to keep a very close watch, especially over his good eye because we don't want anything to happen to damage the vision in that eye.

In order to check the pressures in the eye, an instrument (it looks sort of like a pen) is placed on the eyeball to measure it. It doesn't hurt and is sort of like having a contact lens placed in (or so I've been told...I've never experienced it). Ryan's old eye doctor (whom I did not care for and eventually switched to this new one a couple years ago and LOVE) used to struggle with Ryan to get the pressures checked. The first time we went to this new doctor (who is much, much better with kids), he told us he would like to do a sedated eye exam on Ryan to get a very good look at his eyes and easily check the pressures and know he was getting an accurate reading. It's a very quick procedure and well worth it. He had his first one two years ago last month. He was supposed to have another one this past April, but we had to reschedule it after Brooke was born and he had it done in July instead. Everything is holding steady so far and looking good. When he gets a little older and more mature, the doctor will be able to do this without having to put him to sleep.

At this appointment, the doctor told us he would like to do another sedated exam in May. He said he didn't see anything that concerned him from his exam in the office, but he wanted to get in there and get a good look. At that time, he'll also check his vision and see if he needs a new prescription or not. The first time Ryan had a sedated exam, he was a MESS when he woke up from the anesthesia. My mom and I had taken him out and we had a heck of a time getting his coat on him to leave and then getting him buckled in to his carseat to get him home. He was just so out of sorts : (. After we finally got him buckled in and on the road, he was sleeping within 5 minutes and was fine once we got home (it's almost an hour's drive). This past July when he had it done, he did GREAT : ). He didn't even go to sleep in the car on the way home! So I'm hoping this time will be just as easy : ).

Brooke passed her eye exam in the NICU with flying colors. We had her with us in July when Ryan went for his sedated exam and I asked the doctor about when she should be seen for the first time and he said at a year old. So we just set her appointment up the same day as Ryan's even though she's not *quite a year old since, like I said, it's almost an hour away. He did the initial exam and then dilated her eyes. He checked her retinas and her vision. Everything looks good! We knew she wasn't having problems seeing, but we wanted to be sure there wasn't anything going on we couldn't see. He said she is farsighted, but just how a "toddler" should be. Whew! (Ryan got his first pair of glasses at 14 months old and it was impossible to get him to keep them on. He didn't start wearing them regularly until he started preschool and now he only takes them off for baths and bed.) So he wants to see her back in 2 years and if everything looks good then, then he'll see her at age 5! We just have to keep an eye out (ha ha...no pun intended) for any drifting or crossing of her eyes or anything like that, but he's not expecting anything to pop up.

Both kids were VERY well-behaved while we were there and we were there for nearly 2 hours! It does not normally take that long, but they were a little backed up that day and then with him dilating Brooke's eyes and having to wait an additional 15-20 minutes....it was just a very long appointment. Afterwards, we went to the mall out there and got lunch and did a little bit of shopping. It was kind of a long day, but the kids were both awesome (even at the mall) and it was fun : ).

I do believe this is probably one of my longest posts ever! Hope I didn't bore anyone ; ).