For the longest time we thought kiddo's eyes were better. The patching seemed to work. It was almost like the visits with the pediatric opthalmologist were a formality.
Yeah, that didn't last.
So his eyes are worse. To the point where someone besides us might notice the wandering eyeball if they watched him closely enough. Sometimes he seems to do it deliberately, push them in opposite directions to get a rise out of us, and then he looks a little like a lizard creature. Which kills me, because he's a pretty adorable kid.
And the doctor's verdict, so far, has been, and I'm paraphrasing here: "Huh. Looks worse. See you in three months."
I cannot believe there's nothing else we could be doing right now. What are we supposed to do, sit back and wait for it to get bad enough to require surgery? Because that seems to be the doctor's strategy. And surgery doesn't always work. And also: It's surgery! He's not even 3 yet.
So I'm taking him to another specialist for a second opinion, because I'd like to feel like we really did exhaust all other options.
Periodically I meet another adult who clearly has a variation on what he has, and it's incredibly disconcerting. You can't tell whether they're looking at you, so you can't watch their face for social cues. Makes conversation difficult. I always want to ask them about it -- have you always had it? did anyone try to treat it? how does it affect your life? -- but of course that would be crazily rude so I don't. And then I feel like a jerk, hoping my son doesn't turn out like them.
On the plus side, he seems to function pretty well with a wonky eyeball. He loves being read to, and is starting to figure out the words in books (by having them read to him over and over and over and over and sigh). He can focus on his toys or his food or that godawful "Super Why" show with no problem. Just sometimes, when he's tired or cranky or when he feels like it, he unfocuses.
I hope the doctor tells us something useful.
Hmm. I would be mad at the doctor too, it's good you are getting a second opinion. That boy is absolutely one of the most adorable children I have EVER seen.
ReplyDeleteYou know, as far as asking other people, they may not mind. When I had really bad bursitis and limped, one of my co-workers had a limp too- from a car accident. When we would walk toward each other in the hallway we would laugh.
I asked him one time something I used to wonder. I used to wonder as I limped toward someone with a limp if they thought I was making fun of them. He used to wonder the same thing. Which made me feel better.