Eye Checkup

Followed up with Dr. T for Livi's eyes today.  Prisms of 20 are working well & though I think it makes her eyes look funny, that is apparently the way it is supposed to be.  It makes her eyes appear very close together, but they stay very steady, not turning much.  And it seems our few patching weeks did wonders as it appears her turning is quite balanced again.  Which is great news!  So he says we are all set.  I guess I have to trust the eye guy on this one (& cross my fingers everyone's positive recommendations of him are spot on!)  Feels a little different (& not all that great) to be on the parent side trusting the Dr & nurses recommendations on stuff I don't know all that much about!

So besides double checking with insurance, scheduling it & mama getting over her sudden realization of "oh crap, surgery means general anesthesia!" we are a go.  And while one part of my brain (the nurse part) says... lets do this & get it over with.  The sooner the better.  The other part of my brain (the mommy part) has some reservations.  Surgery is a big word.  Even outpatient.  Deep breath Katie! 

Risks:  Well folks it is surgery.  Risks abound.  Dr. T was pretty blunt & honest with us when we asked.  Infection, damaged vision/blindness, scar tissue, & everything that goes along with general anesthesia.  So please, please start the prayers early that we turn out 100% on this! 

Benefits:  Vainly, the cosmetics.  Straight eyes.  Medically, improved long term depth perception.  Again, she will most likely still need glasses for her vision.  And she may need patching on & off to treat a lazy eye  that may develop because she is at risk because she has strabismus.  And while surgery helps with depth perception, strabismus from my understanding, is a pretty on-going process.  And somewhere in our conversation I know Dr. T mentioned the time frame of 9 years of age.  So I'm guessing even though surgery helps, we're probably in for a good handful of years yet of eye intervention & follow-up for her.

They handed me a list of available dates in July & August.  And said the sooner the better.  So assuming I can find the time to get this all organized, it probably won't be long.  It will be at Children's.  And done on a Thursday, as that is when Dr. T is there. 

So thats what I know.  We'll keep wearing the (less than attractive) prism lenses until surgery date.  Which I guess is motivation to get the ball rolling?  I hope this is the right thing to do?!?!

Anybody out there with experience please do share!!!!