Eye Appointments for the Kids

Katie and Michael had appointments at Johns Hopkins this morning for an eye checkup.  It's been about 5 months since Katie's last appt and about 9 months since Michael's last appt.  The appointments were actually rescheduled from a few weeks ago.  It just so happened that I was able to reschedule them during spring break so no school was missed.  Unfortunately, Michael had some sort of stomach bug the morning of the appointments.  Somehow, he managed to get through the appointments without vomiting on anyone.  I am amazed at the control he has when suffering through a stomach bug.  He is my hero!

All that aside, the appointment went really well.  Of course, there was the typical screaming about getting drops put in their eyes.  Katie used to be OK with it but after watching Michael throw the perfect fit, she has now mastered it as well.  This time the nurse went to give her a tissue after putting the drops in her eyes and Katie actually threw the tissue down and screamed at her.  Not her finest moment but I wouldn't want drops in my eyes either.

Michael went first.  He was able to read a good bit of the chart and did well on the depth perception measurement.  When he met with the doctor, he was extremely cooperative.  His lenses have not moved since the last visit.  His vision has gotten just a little bit worse but nothing major.  The doctor did write him a new prescription for glasses that will allow his vision to be corrected to 20/40.  This is great!

Katie was next.  At her last appt, the doctor wanted us to patch her right eye for one hour a day.  We did this and he said that he saw an improvement in her left eye.  He wants us to continue with the patching as he doesn't want to lose what has been gained.  A quantitative measurement of her vision was able to be obtained, which wasn't possible at her last appointment in November.  She is seeing better, although her left eye is still considerably weaker than her right eye.  She is also not showing any further lens dislocation at this time either.  She did not get a new prescription as her vision did not worsen.  This was wonderful news.

The doctor wants to see Katie back in 4 months so we will try to coordinate these appointments with our summer visit to Johns Hopkins.  He said that he could see Michael at that time as well so that's probably what we will do.  A good visit was just what we needed!