Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Eye Update

Gwyneth had another appointment with her eye doctor last week. Although the surgery in early March made an immediate difference, her right eye has reverted over the past few months to crossing and dipping again (it's more noticeable when she's focusing on something close to her face), nearly as bad as it was before. And, although we can tell that it is not affecting her vision nearly as much as it was before the surgery, it is still an issue that is slowing her ability to develop and communicate.

The pics below show what I'm talking about...although you may not be able to tell...I can see it most of the time, but Tricia does not see it so much.




We'll continue to patch her left eye a bit each week over the next few months and hope that it will fix itself, but we might be looking at another surgery in early fall. But, regardless, Gwyneth is as happy and energetic as ever, and we certainly don't feel like we have anything to complain about!

Nate

29 comments:

Unknown said...

Crossed eyes or not, your little one is a dolly!! Pure sweetness :)

Anonymous said...

Your little girl is absolutley gorgeous definitley a wee heart breaker in the future

auntrene said...

All I can see is Cuteness!!! She is adorable, Hope the patch takes care of the problem...
Love seeing the pictures of Miss Gwyneth

Michelle said...

If that is the least of your worries, after everything you guys have been through, then you are truly blessed! I saw the crossed eye in a previous post, and I thought it was cute!

Rebecca (Ramblings by Reba) said...

I was wondering about her eye's progress the other day. (I'd noticed her right eye in some photos. I had eye issues as a child, so I tend to notice this in others.)

Thanks for updating, and I hope the patching helps. I agree with others, though. She's adorable, and I'm glad she's doing so well all in all.

Aspiemom said...

My teenage son thinks she is adorable with the crossed eyes. :) She is such a happy little girl. I'm sure some of that is because of her parents.

Twinkletoes said...

I am sorry to hear that it's affecting her ability to develop and communicate but am confident that you two will continue to progress her through leaps and bounds and she will be all caught up in no time. Hoping and praying that the patch, alone, will do the trick!

My Diabetic Sweet Life said...

I agree with the first comment! Hop ethe patching works - you are all in my thoughts and prayers as always.

Just the 5 of us said...

I agree with everyone else, she is so adorable! :)

Leslie said...

Long time follower of your blog.....My 9 yo daughter had 2 eye surgeries for the same issues. We patched and did eye drops to dialate her dominant eye for years....She wears glasses (so cute!) and finally her vision and crossing has stabilized...Praise God! It's a bummer, for sure, to have to patch and excercise her eyes, when she is older she will have no recollection of the events...such a blesssing! Don't worry about the bumps...just enjoy the ride!!!

Susan said...

She's a doll. I hope the patching works. My son has exotropia and we are currently waiting on surgery. He had a bad reaction to anesthesia in a previous unrelated surgery. He's 32 weeker.

Jodi said...

My daughter, Olivia (23 weeker), had strabismus surgery last Sept on both eyes. We saw immediate improvement after the surgery. She began using her arms and sitting up on her own. Sadly, her eyes have reverted back as well. We are currently trying her in glasses in hopes to strengthen her eye muscles. We are probably looking at a 2nd surgery in the future as well. It's hard at this age when they can't tell you how well they see.

Gwyneth is always in my prayers and she is truly one of God's great miracles.

Tricia said...

I know it is not the same...but since my brain surgery to remove a tumor (January 17)...I have had double vision and focus issues. I kindof feel bonded with Gwyneth in that way...glasses are kindof correcting the double vision but I am likely to have it for life. I am so thankful hers is not affecting to much for her. I will pray for her often!!

Tricia said...

Sorry...I didnt put the year in there...the surgery was January 17, 2007. I also had a stabismus surgery to try and correct things. Mine was quite bad according to the doctors so I have come quite far...even though for me it doesn't feel that way. Anyway...this blog is not about me! I will be praying more for Gwyneth!!

Anonymous said...

As an adult with a lazy eye, I noticed her eye right away. My eye is really only noticable in pictures unless I'm really tired. Maybe Gwynth's is similar. I hope the patch works! Unsolisited advice: I'm self conscious about my eye and wish I would have had the surgery. They tell me it wasn't "done back then" and by the time I was a teen, it was too late. Night driving would be tons easier too!!

Julia said...

My son had strabismus and some other underlying eye issues and with 5 surgerys, patching , eye dilating drops, and glasses he went from being legally blind in his left eye to seeing 20/30!! We live in Currituck County and see Dr Crouch in Norfolk. I can not speak more highly about them. It was hard to have a surgery - see success - and then see it revert back. The 5th surgery seems to have been the most successful - but we never know if scar tissues will build back up again. Gwyneth is absolutly precious!!!

Shellie Salza said...

The peek a boo picture is just about the cutest thing I've seen (minus pics of my own kids...I am biased of course)

LocalvoreFarmGirl said...

I was a double surgery kid :) My first eye surgery led to over correctness and my eye started to drop the other side. After trying to patch it, the doctor went in for a second surgery.
My parents always say I was more excited about the second surgery! I loved getting attention as a kid, and surgeries are like 24/7 attention :)

The first surgery made my eye strong enough the second surgery took and I have perfect vision since :)

Best of luck during this journey and road :)

Judy said...

Praying that this resolves itself. It's still amazing that this is the only thing you're dealing with considering how early Gwyneth was born! We serve an amazing God! She is a miracle.

Tricia said...

Thanks for the eye update - I've been wondering about this with the recent pictures but figured you all were on top of it. But then I'd worry that maybe someone should say something in case you weren't...

Anyway, while it doesn't detract from her natural cuteness, it is a developmental hindrance. I hope the patching will help, and that her doctors will have the wisdom to know the best course of treatment for long-term benefits!

Anonymous said...

Just saw your tweet...don't keep us in suspense! What was the word???

Anonymous said...

the magic word is????

(and WOW thats exciting!!!)

Mother of Invention said...

Wow...you guys continue to inspire me with your unfailing hope and courage. It is so nice to see you have come so far! Keep on!

Amy said...

Just the cutest little thing despite the problem with her eyes. Love those baby blues!

Brown Eyed Girl said...

I had noticed it too. But knew that you two were on top of it and would be doing everything possible to keep and make baby G. as healthy as she can be. She is so cute and it is fun to see pictures of her really getting around. I am amazed at how much she has grown. Truly amazing. She is a trooper. I am sure it is frighting and hard as a parent to let your baby go into the arms of a surgeon even when it is for their own good. The beauty of it is that there is corrective surgery and treatments for things like this these days.

Keep posting pictures of your cute kid. :-)

The Swart Clan said...

Please look into vision therapy. (Even if the drs tell you it doesn't work.) We have seen amazing improvement for our daughter with the therapy that the surgery and glasses did not correct. We wished we would have done it sooner.

Thanks for sharing your bundle of joy with us, and your gift of photography.

Brie Latini said...

It's hard to look at those big, blue eyes and see much of anything else!! Just curious- have the docs mentioned glasses for Gwen later? My niece has a pretty pronounced "wandering eye" and her glasses keep it in check! And that said, is it weird that I think little kids are the freakin' cutest thing ever????

Suzy said...

My grandson is having this surgery Friday----I am glad to see how well your little babe did.

amysahoot said...

My right eye does the same thing as Gwyneths eye does. it doesn't affect my vision either, and the one thing cool about it, if you consider having a crossed eye cool, is that when you are looking straight ahead and focusing with your left eye on something straight in front of you, but you can also see what is over to your left out of the right eye. If I can think of it I will send you a picture of me so you can see mine. Take care. Amy Davis.