Eye Doctor Visit!

Jack had his visit with the eye doctor on Tuesday. I was really curious the ways they would test a two year old's vision. Marley went along as usual for moral support and I am sure Jack was really glad to have atleast one of his sisters with him. When they first called us back, they had him follow a light with his eyes, just like the checks at his well visits. About 10 feet away, they had the usual letter chart but since he is so young they had a really neat alternative. There was a large cabinet with several different shelves. It was fairly dark and each individual shelf would light up with a different animal on it and his eyes would automatically look at the shelf where the light and fun sounds were coming from. They would cover each of his eyes one at a time and watch how his eyes focused. After this they dilated his eyes and told us to go back in the waiting room and they would come get us in 20 minutes. Well, 20 minutes turned into an hour! Luckily Jack and Marley were both really good and patient. When they called us back the nurse said one of his eyes wasn't dilated enough so they had to put more drops in and make us wait even longer. When the doctor came in she did similar tests to the earlier ones and also put on her super magnifying glasses to check the insides of his eyes. Jack was very good thru all of this and only got upset with the eye drops going in his eyes. They said one drop was extremely cold and the other stung, so I don't blame him for crying! As soon as he could sit up he calmed right down. The doctor said that his right eye is not being used effectively. When she covered his left eye, he would panic a little and try to move his entire head so his left eye could look at the objects. She said his brain has become so used to not using his right eye, that he does not know how to use it when his left eye is covered. His right eye also turns in a little when he looks at objects and he has a hard time focusing it. The good news is that his inner eye is fine and there is no permanent damage done, it just needs some strengthening which will happen once he learns to use it. Our first attempt to get him to use his right eye will be with the use of glasses. At first I admit I was disappointed when the doctor told us this. Going in to any doctor appointment, your first hope is that they will say there is nothing wrong, everything is perfect and go back home. So when we did not get that news, it was a bit hard. Then I thought of the fact that I had three premature babies who could have had SO many other major issues and how many other parents wish their biggest worry was their child needing glasses and I realized I was being silly. I did ask the doctor what would happen if he won't wear the glasses because Jack does not really like things on his head or face and he also happens to have two sisters the same age who may enjoy pulling his glasses off of his face! She said he really needs to wear them because glasses usually work great for this type of issue and if he won't wear them then the next option would be surgery. Obviously I do not want him to have to get surgery so please pray that he will keep these things on!

I took him today to go get fitted for his glasses and he did look pretty dang cute with them on!! I let him pick which ones he liked and he seemed to be okay with them on, for a few minutes atleast. I have read that once children realize how much the glasses help that they will be putting them on first thing in the morning but it often takes a while for them to realize it and get used to them. He goes back in 4 weeks for a recheck so he better get used to them fast! I was not able to order his glasses today as I received the worst customer service EVER at my beloved Target. I have never left that store so annoyed! There were two ladies working there and when we got there they were each helping someone else. I found the kids glasses and one of the ladies said she would be with us once she was free. Two people came in after us and were seen before us. By this point, Jack and Marley were getting bored and I was getting frustrated so I asked her when we would be seen. (The other lady still had her original customer.) She said she would help us next. Well, two MORE people came in and she helped them instead! I walked over to her and told her since we were obviously being ignored that we would just leave and I expected her to realize how rude she was being and apologize and help us. Instead she simply said, "Have a nice day" and looked away. I could not believe it! If she did not feel comfortable- or just did not want- to help a young child, she should have just said so originally or told me the other lady would be helping us. I will definitely will not be going back to Target for glasses or any eye care! When we left there I drove by the eye doctor Mike and I use to see their selection but because it's a holiday weekend they were closed. I will go on Monday to hopefully get my boy his glasses! So, that is how Jack's eye doctor appointment went and once he gets his glasses I will be sure to update on how that is going.
On a sidenote- they are all doing GREAT in their new beds!! So proud of them.

He really liked seeing himself with glasses on!

Jack & Marley waiting at the eye doctor