Tips/advice needed....my 4 year old son

[countmein]

My four year old son has been diagnosed with a lazy eye. That same eye has an astigmatism and he is far-sighted. The pedi .opt. has prescribed eye glasses (+400 strength) and an eye patch. My son has to wear the eye patch (which is really an eye sock that fits directly on his glasses) over his good eye all day, every day until the end of the month, when he goes back to the doctor. Well we picked the glasses up Thursday. Thursday wasn't too bad. Friday he kept telling me in a sad little voice that he wanted two eyes. He has also said that he wanted two windows. It is not the glasses that are bothering him, thank goodness, because he will be wearing them for now on. It is the eye patch. Yesterday he kept coming up with excuses to take off the glasses. For instance, he kept sticking his fingers on the lenses so he could take them off for me to clean. He knows that he doesn't have to wear the glasses (patch) when he sleeps, so he tried to con his way out of the glasses because he was taking a nap on the couch (was really watching TV). Today he has just been taking them off and setting them down and claiming that he lost them.
Just to let you know, I let him pick out the frames and the eye patch that he wanted. I have also made a countdown/sticker chart to cross off the days until he goes back to the doctor and he gets to cover the number on the chart with a sticker if he has done well with the glasses that day. He has also been told that he will get a toy (a Larrymobile that he has really been wanting) at the end of the month if he does as the doctor has told him. I have put a sport strap on the glasses to make it harder to get them off. I have a constant eye on him to make sure he keeps these glasses on. If he does not do what the doctor tells him, he will have to have surgery on his eye. I do not want this.
I am looking for some tips from other parents who have delt with this. How do you get them to WANT to wear the glasses so it is not a constant fight for the next month (at least)? I do not want this to be a negative thing for him, but it is necessary, so I will ride him and make him do this because it is best for him. Any advice?

[Ex_Spy_Guy]

play pirates with him, get him a sword and a hat and one of those parrots that repeat everything you say. make a month long game out of it.

Thats all i can think of.

[Lisa4Catholics]

My four year old son has been diagnosed with a lazy eye. That same eye has an astigmatism and he is far-sighted. The pedi .opt. has prescribed eye glasses (+400 strength) and an eye patch. My son has to wear the eye patch (which is really an eye sock that fits directly on his glasses) over his good eye all day, every day until the end of the month, when he goes back to the doctor. Well we picked the glasses up Thursday. Thursday wasn't too bad. Friday he kept telling me in a sad little voice that he wanted two eyes. He has also said that he wanted two windows. It is not the glasses that are bothering him, thank goodness, because he will be wearing them for now on. It is the eye patch. Yesterday he kept coming up with excuses to take off the glasses. For instance, he kept sticking his fingers on the lenses so he could take them off for me to clean. He knows that he doesn't have to wear the glasses (patch) when he sleeps, so he tried to con his way out of the glasses because he was taking a nap on the couch (was really watching TV). Today he has just been taking them off and setting them down and claiming that he lost them.
Just to let you know, I let him pick out the frames and the eye patch that he wanted. I have also made a countdown/sticker chart to cross off the days until he goes back to the doctor and he gets to cover the number on the chart with a sticker if he has done well with the glasses that day. He has also been told that he will get a toy (a Larrymobile that he has really been wanting) at the end of the month if he does as the doctor has told him. I have put a sport strap on the glasses to make it harder to get them off. I have a constant eye on him to make sure he keeps these glasses on. If he does not do what the doctor tells him, he will have to have surgery on his eye. I do not want this.
I am looking for some tips from other parents who have delt with this. How do you get them to WANT to wear the glasses so it is not a constant fight for the next month (at least)? I do not want this to be a negative thing for him, but it is necessary, so I will ride him and make him do this because it is best for him. Any advice?
My oldest went through that and the surgery.You will have to be firm but compassionate with the poor little guy. They can not understand at that age that this helps them.

[bsleplatt]

the pirate thing is a cute idea...

unfortantly I am betting this is just gonna be one of those constant battles for you for the next month.

When my daughter had her tonsils out...they had her taking iron supplements..and it was a battle just getting those in her. I can not imagine how hard this is gonna be for you...but unforantly I bet it is just gonna be one of those hard months.

It sounds like you have some great ideas already. Since he is so young....could you do something small for a little more instant gradification. like....maybe at the end of each week he could have a special dessert? or.....maybe buy some of the little birthday party favors...and every other day...or every day he does good with the patch he gets to pick something from a little treasure box...that could be a good pirate tie in.

I feel bad for him and you.

[sandgal]

You might call the dr and ask about using eye drops instead of a patch. There is an eye drop that can be used if you can not keep the patch on.

My son had the surgery because the patch did not work for him. He wore the patch without too much trouble. If your son has to have the surgery it wasn't a bad procedure. It looks nasty afterwards, but the pain didn't seem to be bad at all.

[VRWCbabe]

Can you find one of those pairs of kiddie glasses (gag glasses) that has a weird eye sticker on the front of them? Cut it out of the gag glasses and paste it to the front of the sock so that when he looks at you, it looks like he has two eyes - one normal and one really goofy. Then make a big deal about it every time he looks at you. Kids LOVE to be goofy, and the positive attention he will get from the hilarity might help him wear the glasses more. Make a game out of it? See how many giggles/looks he gets from people at the grocery store, etc. Kids LOVE to be clowns and the center of attention. Might as well let him have some fun with it, too. If anyone happens to ask about it, coach him with some outrageous story - like "I lost it playing football with Tom Brady" or "An elephant stepped on it!" If a 4 year old can deliver a punchline like that, he'll be sure to get some serious laughs and positive attention.

Sorry I don't have any other/better advice. You and your kidlet are in my prayers, though, that he can avoid the surgery. Sending a big hug :hug: to a great mommy and her fabulous boychild.

[countmein]

Thanks everyone and please keep the ideas coming.
My little boy is the most reserved and shy of my 3 youngest. People have been asking constantly "what's the patch for"? How many reason's are there for a young child to wear glasses AND a patch? Some people have been nice, some downright rude. We have been talking it up, making games of it, and trying to have fun with it within the family, but I think all the strangers asking is embarrassing him.
As far as drops go, if they are the ones to relax the eye, the doctor had me put some kind of ointment in his eyes 2x a day for 3 days before his 2nd exam. That was on the 23rd of October and his eyes are still 50% dialated. The doctor doesn't want to go that route with him.
I will keep high-5-ing him when I walk in a room and he has his glasses on and keep reminding him to put them back on when he doesn't. I really do not want to punish him for this, I think he feels the patch is punishment enough. Hopefully, after this month, he will not have to wear the patch ALL DAY, EVERY DAY. If it is so many hours a day, I think he would handle that better.
Once again, thanks everyone.

[madasheck]

We used the Coverlet Eye Occusler. It's like a bandage, but easy to remove. I remember my son wore them without too much complaining, although when they're that age, it's obviously hard. I'd suggest a regular non-bandaid patch and do the pirate thing (great suggestion!).

[stormy]

Countmein,

My boy just got NEW glasses about one month ago. Only within the last two weeks has he started to actually look for them. Just "stay on him" and gently remind him to put them on and be certain to keep the lens clean. They really hate having finger prints on the lens.

Also understand he is having to get used to the feel of the glasses on his face; the feel of the patch on his face; learning to see with one eye; and learning to see the world in a new way. This is a lot of stress and change in a short amount of time. It's quite physically and mentally exhausting.

As for the lazy eye, I STRONGLY recommend you find a behavioral optometrist in your area. My son has been doing vision therapy for about a month now and the difference has been phenomenal.

This may certainly be something that works for your son as well and most medical insurance covers vision therapy.

http://www.optometrists.org/public_eye_care.html

[Paul-w]

When I was a little kid, I had to do the patch thing and hated it. It wasn't exactly helpful either. It's one of those situations where today it's the only thing they can think of to do for lazy eye/astigmatism like that. The problem and what causes lazy eye really has nothing to do with the eyes themselves. It has to do with brain development on that part of the nervous system. The theory is to cover the good eye to "develop" the bad one, but it's one of those things that I've never seen work.

I'm not trying to be negative here, just honest. Your little one isn't ever going to like it. It's a bad feeling having that thing on your eye. I still remember it all to this day and I'm almost 25. The best thing you can do is just make sure he's relaxed/having fun/distracted in doing other activities so he doesn't think about it as much. It's just pretty difficult when he knows he has a better eye that he can see things with easier.

[countmein]

My understanding of the reason for the patch is not to strengthen the eye itself, but to retrain that part of the brain to use the bad eye. He is four and they say that this is the best of the best time to use this method since there is so much brain developement during this stage and the brain should be able to heal and correct itself much easier now rather than even in a couple of years.
The eye patch that my son picked out has a socker ball and net on it. I had the option of the bandaide like patch, but that was used during his exam and THAT really seemed to bother him. He has to wear both the patch and the glasses all the time.
He is just being stubborn now. He doesn't want to be a pirate, he wants two eyes, there are fingerprints on his glasses, he can't eat with them on, ect. ect. ect.
I am just going to keep reminding him to put them on when he takes them off, reward him when I "catch" him with them on, give him stickers at the end of the day, and think of a smaller prize for the end of the week, and keep dangling the "Larrymobile" for the long run. I really don't think punishment and threats are going to work in this situation.
If anyone can think of anything else, please post your ideas. Thanks again.

[jeepers]

I think that you've gotten a lot of great ideas, and can't add anything to the reward/distraction part of things. I definitely would use any and all of those things. Being distracted is much better than dwelling on what you hate (and that applies to grown ups, too).

What I can say is that although I'm sure that some parents might disagree with me, I would tell him in non-emotional, straightforward language that we're trying to avoid surgery on his eye.

NOT in a scary or threatening/punishing way, but in a calm, matter of fact, way.

When I deal with medical things with my kids, from the very beginning, I've been straight with them. It's engendered a great feeling of trust between us. Like if a kid needs a vaccination shot, and they ask "Mom, is it going to hurt?" I will answer, "Yes, but it's not that bad, and it will be over quickly"...."I will be there with you and it will be fine."

I choose my words VERY carefully so that I'm saying exactly what I mean, exactly what I want to convey. I want to convey a calm demeanour, lack of worry, trust in the situation, and belief in the child that they can handle it. It works in the doctor's office. It works with the dentist. I've never seen it not work.

If this were my son, I would sit with him and lovingly and gently let him know that I KNOW that what he's dealing with is annoying and a drag. That it would 'feel' better to not have the patch and glasses on. That I understand that it's hard to have patience when you're four. Matter of fact, sometimes it's hard to have patience when you're an adult.

But I would also say that this is the easier way of dealing with this. That we want to try to 'fix' his eye so that it really does act normally, and to try to do it right now in the present while he's little and still growing, so that hopefully we won't have to go through any more of it in the future.

Kids might not be able to understand the finer points of things, but they certainly can understand more than we sometimes give them credit for. This is not to say that he still doesn't need rewards and distraction, he most definitely does. But understanding of what the ultimate goal is, can get the kid motivated to be on their own side.

And a LOT of support and praise when they're cooperating.

[rhet 2]

My understanding of the reason for the patch is not to strengthen the eye itself, but to retrain that part of the brain to use the bad eye. He is four and they say that this is the best of the best time to use this method since there is so much brain developement during this stage and the brain should be able to heal and correct itself much easier now rather than even in a couple of years.
The eye patch that my son picked out has a socker ball and net on it. I had the option of the bandaide like patch, but that was used during his exam and THAT really seemed to bother him. He has to wear both the patch and the glasses all the time.
He is just being stubborn now. He doesn't want to be a pirate, he wants two eyes, there are fingerprints on his glasses, he can't eat with them on, ect. ect. ect.
I am just going to keep reminding him to put them on when he takes them off, reward him when I "catch" him with them on, give him stickers at the end of the day, and think of a smaller prize for the end of the week, and keep dangling the "Larrymobile" for the long run. I really don't think punishment and threats are going to work in this situation.
If anyone can think of anything else, please post your ideas. Thanks again.

Jeepers is right on.

Kids are smarter than we think they are.

Me, I'd show him pics of the human brain and eyeball on the web and in books, let him ask questions and actually see what's going on inside his own skull and why the glasses and the eyepatch are more than important. I'd turn the experience into a learning opportunity for both of you, a chance to explore something most people know little about.

Get him some paper and pencils to draw a brain with, especially the optic nerve, and turn it into a game as much as I could.

Get the others eye patches to play pirates with him. Get the whole family and every kid you know playing pirates and playing ophthalmologists and brain surgeons, etc. YOU wear a patch, too.

If nothing else, he'll love the attention so the patch and the glasses become associated with fun, not aggravation.

And, when you make him put them back on, ask him if he knows why he has to wear them -- let him tell you in his own words -- and give him lots and lots of hugs.

No yelling, no threatening, no scowling -- just firm unyielding "it's gotta be" determination from you and everyone around him -- and help him develop that same quiet determination by imitating your own response.

And ask his doctor for advice.

I'm praying for you and your son.

[PeterGriffin]

play pirates with him, get him a sword and a hat and one of those parrots that repeat everything you say. make a month long game out of it.

Thats all i can think of.

Arrr, 'tis a capital notion from a mangy sea dog! Arrrrr.

[mysticbeauty_nbeast]

My four year old son has been diagnosed with a lazy eye. That same eye has an astigmatism and he is far-sighted. The pedi .opt. has prescribed eye glasses (+400 strength) and an eye patch. My son has to wear the eye patch (which is really an eye sock that fits directly on his glasses) over his good eye all day, every day until the end of the month, when he goes back to the doctor. Well we picked the glasses up Thursday. Thursday wasn't too bad. Friday he kept telling me in a sad little voice that he wanted two eyes. He has also said that he wanted two windows. It is not the glasses that are bothering him, thank goodness, because he will be wearing them for now on. It is the eye patch. Yesterday he kept coming up with excuses to take off the glasses. For instance, he kept sticking his fingers on the lenses so he could take them off for me to clean. He knows that he doesn't have to wear the glasses (patch) when he sleeps, so he tried to con his way out of the glasses because he was taking a nap on the couch (was really watching TV). Today he has just been taking them off and setting them down and claiming that he lost them.
Just to let you know, I let him pick out the frames and the eye patch that he wanted. I have also made a countdown/sticker chart to cross off the days until he goes back to the doctor and he gets to cover the number on the chart with a sticker if he has done well with the glasses that day. He has also been told that he will get a toy (a Larrymobile that he has really been wanting) at the end of the month if he does as the doctor has told him. I have put a sport strap on the glasses to make it harder to get them off. I have a constant eye on him to make sure he keeps these glasses on. If he does not do what the doctor tells him, he will have to have surgery on his eye. I do not want this.
I am looking for some tips from other parents who have delt with this. How do you get them to WANT to wear the glasses so it is not a constant fight for the next month (at least)? I do not want this to be a negative thing for him, but it is necessary, so I will ride him and make him do this because it is best for him. Any advice?

Buy a pair of clear lenses glasses....and wear them when your with him. "See...Mommy has to wear hers too" you can tell him. It may help if he feels he is not alone in having to wear glasses. The clear lenses glasses are fairly cheap...and are usually found in fashion accessory departments in stores. Being four, and not understanding fully why his glasses are so important...it may help him feel a bit more normal if you have a pair too. Also tell him that the glasses are like superhero's...they are gonna help his one eye become very very strong...like Superman. It may help him to understand that he is healing....but will be stronger for it when he gets older like Mommy and Daddy. I bet he will not tug an be as antsy with his glasses and patch then. Heck...anything is worth a try at this point right?

Good luck...

~Mysty

[countmein]

I think that you've gotten a lot of great ideas, and can't add anything to the reward/distraction part of things. I definitely would use any and all of those things. Being distracted is much better than dwelling on what you hate (and that applies to grown ups, too).

What I can say is that although I'm sure that some parents might disagree with me, I would tell him in non-emotional, straightforward language that we're trying to avoid surgery on his eye.

NOT in a scary or threatening/punishing way, but in a calm, matter of fact, way.

When I deal with medical things with my kids, from the very beginning, I've been straight with them. It's engendered a great feeling of trust between us. Like if a kid needs a vaccination shot, and they ask "Mom, is it going to hurt?" I will answer, "Yes, but it's not that bad, and it will be over quickly"...."I will be there with you and it will be fine."

I choose my words VERY carefully so that I'm saying exactly what I mean, exactly what I want to convey. I want to convey a calm demeanour, lack of worry, trust in the situation, and belief in the child that they can handle it. It works in the doctor's office. It works with the dentist. I've never seen it not work.

If this were my son, I would sit with him and lovingly and gently let him know that I KNOW that what he's dealing with is annoying and a drag. That it would 'feel' better to not have the patch and glasses on. That I understand that it's hard to have patience when you're four. Matter of fact, sometimes it's hard to have patience when you're an adult.

But I would also say that this is the easier way of dealing with this. That we want to try to 'fix' his eye so that it really does act normally, and to try to do it right now in the present while he's little and still growing, so that hopefully we won't have to go through any more of it in the future.

Kids might not be able to understand the finer points of things, but they certainly can understand more than we sometimes give them credit for. This is not to say that he still doesn't need rewards and distraction, he most definitely does. But understanding of what the ultimate goal is, can get the kid motivated to be on their own side.

And a LOT of support and praise when they're cooperating.

Thanks Jeepers. I have explained to him that this should only be for a short while. I have told him that we are doing this so he doesn't have to have surgery on the weak eye, that he needs to wear the patch so he doesn't have to have a big booboo on the eye and maybe have to wear the patch even longer after that. He is doing okay today. Still not happy and still trying to con his way out of the wearing the patch, but doing okay.

[waynevan]

How 'bout telling him he ain't gonna HAVE two good eyes if he doesn't do what the doctor says. Scare the crap out of him, this is serious business.

[countmein]

Buy a pair of clear lenses glasses....and wear them when your with him. "See...Mommy has to wear hers too" you can tell him. It may help if he feels he is not alone in having to wear glasses. The clear lenses glasses are fairly cheap...and are usually found in fashion accessory departments in stores. Being four, and not understanding fully why his glasses are so important...it may help him feel a bit more normal if you have a pair too. Also tell him that the glasses are like superhero's...they are gonna help his one eye become very very strong...like Superman. It may help him to understand that he is healing....but will be stronger for it when he gets older like Mommy and Daddy. I bet he will not tug an be as antsy with his glasses and patch then. Heck...anything is worth a try at this point right?

Good luck...

~Mysty

I wear glasses, just got them about a month ago. My 13 year old got reading glasses about the same time. That may be what is confussing him. She only has to wear hers when she is reading. She has been wearing them all the time the past couple of days, the eye doctor said that it wouldn't hurt her. Dad wears glasses, grandma wears glasses, aunts and uncles wear glasses, cousins wear glasses. Only one or two people in our family doesn't, besides my 1 and 2 year old. The glasses aren't the problem, he wants to wear TWO windows on his eyes. It is the patch that he doesn't like. I think I am going to call the eye specialist and see if they can send a couple different patches besides the one that he has with the soccer ball so he can have some variety. Maybe that will help a bit too. Thanks again everyone.

[DONTTREADONME]

I had the same issue when I was young. The operation is still strong in my memory even though it took place when I was 4. Wearing the patch is going to be just like any other visable disability, he will get teased by his peers relentlessly. My only advice is to allow him to lead a normal childhood as possible when he is wearing the patch. It never slowed me down a bit. I did all the same things as all the other children. The unfortunate part for me was the surgery and patching never worked. It has stopped me from getting a couple of jobs, but those are the breaks in life.

[Rotaredom]

making a game out of it will help, as will some kind of count down system. maybe get a large poster calendar and cover each day with a card (a high interest card like Pokemon) and each day he gets a card to add to his collection. or he can collect say 5 cards to get some special treat (ice cream, pizza, mc donalds) just something he can comprehend and look forward to each day.

also if there is a way to decorate the patch with things boys like, bugs, worms, etc,

[bsleplatt]

I think that you've gotten a lot of great ideas, and can't add anything to the reward/distraction part of things. I definitely would use any and all of those things. Being distracted is much better than dwelling on what you hate (and that applies to grown ups, too).

What I can say is that although I'm sure that some parents might disagree with me, I would tell him in non-emotional, straightforward language that we're trying to avoid surgery on his eye.

NOT in a scary or threatening/punishing way, but in a calm, matter of fact, way.

When I deal with medical things with my kids, from the very beginning, I've been straight with them. It's engendered a great feeling of trust between us. Like if a kid needs a vaccination shot, and they ask "Mom, is it going to hurt?" I will answer, "Yes, but it's not that bad, and it will be over quickly"...."I will be there with you and it will be fine."

I choose my words VERY carefully so that I'm saying exactly what I mean, exactly what I want to convey. I want to convey a calm demeanour, lack of worry, trust in the situation, and belief in the child that they can handle it. It works in the doctor's office. It works with the dentist. I've never seen it not work.

If this were my son, I would sit with him and lovingly and gently let him know that I KNOW that what he's dealing with is annoying and a drag. That it would 'feel' better to not have the patch and glasses on. That I understand that it's hard to have patience when you're four. Matter of fact, sometimes it's hard to have patience when you're an adult.

But I would also say that this is the easier way of dealing with this. That we want to try to 'fix' his eye so that it really does act normally, and to try to do it right now in the present while he's little and still growing, so that hopefully we won't have to go through any more of it in the future.

Kids might not be able to understand the finer points of things, but they certainly can understand more than we sometimes give them credit for. This is not to say that he still doesn't need rewards and distraction, he most definitely does. But understanding of what the ultimate goal is, can get the kid motivated to be on their own side.

And a LOT of support and praise when they're cooperating.

I am that way too. If it is going to hurt, I tell them it will. Not in a worried, crying, or scared voice.

When they get a shot...I tell them yes...it will..for just a minute. But that it is important....and why they need it. Kids "get" more then we give them credit for if we put in terms they can understand. Sometimes, I think the unknown is scarier then just telling them what they need to know.

[countmein]

I had the same issue when I was young. The operation is still strong in my memory even though it took place when I was 4. Wearing the patch is going to be just like any other visable disability, he will get teased by his peers relentlessly. My only advice is to allow him to lead a normal childhood as possible when he is wearing the patch. It never slowed me down a bit. I did all the same things as all the other children. The unfortunate part for me was the surgery and patching never worked. It has stopped me from getting a couple of jobs, but those are the breaks in life.

He doesn't go to preschool or daycare. I homeschool my children and the little ones haven't been taught how to tease or taunt. The only activity he is involved in right now is karate. I feel for the child that even thinks of teasing him in class. The instructor would be all over them. My oldest is like a mother hen. She has been "reminding" him to put the glasses back on when he takes them off. Like I said, she has been wearing her reading glasses all the time, so not to confuse him.

[DONTTREADONME]

He doesn't go to preschool or daycare. I homeschool my children and the little ones haven't been taught how to tease or taunt. The only activity he is involved in right now is karate. I feel for the child that even thinks of teasing him in class. The instructor would be all over them. My oldest is like a mother hen. She has been "reminding" him to put the glasses back on when he takes them off. Like I said, she has been wearing her reading glasses all the time, so not to confuse him.I wore the patch for a couple of years so I had plenty of time to be teased. Mostly I just ignored it, but not once did I have a teacher come to my defense.

I hope everything works out for the best.

[FidelisAdMortem]

play pirates with him, get him a sword and a hat and one of those parrots that repeat everything you say. make a month long game out of it.

Thats all i can think of.

Give the kid a complex young in life. Haha.

[peter45]

Get another opinion.

My son wore glasses 30 years ago for some reason that my wife never could explain to me.

He hasn’t worn them since.

[countmein]

Peter, 2 Pediatric Optimologist have given the same diagnosis with a third (who works at Cardinal Glennon) giving an off the record opinion. The diagnosis was given and treatment decided on after several tests. The problem was originally noticed by his pediatrician.

[peter45]

Peter, 2 Pediatric Optimologist have given the same diagnosis with a third (who works at Cardinal Glennon) giving an off the record opinion. The diagnosis was given and treatment decided on after several tests. The problem was originally noticed by his pediatrician.



My son always was a quiet, stoic giant.

He never liked the glasses, but he did what he was told, obediently.

A little complaining initially, but he trusted that his parents were doing what was best for him.
Unfortunately, I still don’t know why he had them.
After 30 years, it probably doesn’t matter.

[countmein]

Just thought I would give an update....
First of all, my son has both Amblypia (lazy eye) and Strabismus (crosseye) in his left eye. He has been wearing the glasses and the patch all the time. It just took some time to wear him down, now he doesn't fight it any more. The good news is that his eyes are improving. His vision in the weak eye was 20/20 today at his eye doctor's appointment. The doctor also said that the eye position was staying normal with the glasses on. If this progress continues, he will not need surgery. YEAH!!!! He has to continue to wear the patch with his glasses for the next 6 weeks. IF he shows 20/20 again at that visit then he won't have to wear the patch all the time. This really was great news for us today.

[waynevan]

Did you scare the crap out of him with the truth?

[Dual867PowerMac]

I did the patch thing for my left eye for a few months. It gave me monster headaches and I hated the attention. So I quit wearing it.

[countmein]

Dual, how old were you when you wore the patch?
waynevan, no I didn't have to scare the crap out of him. I just told him unless he wanted to wear that patch FOREVER he needed to wear it until the doctor told us that he didn't have to. It really was a matter of being consistent and wearing him down without letting it wear me down.

[Dual867PowerMac]

Dual, how old were you when you wore the patch?
8 or 9. Back in the early 70's.

[waynevan]

Dual, how old were you when you wore the patch?
waynevan, no I didn't have to scare the crap out of him. I just told him unless he wanted to wear that patch for EVER he needed to wear it until the doctor told us that he didn't have to. It really was a matter of being consistent and wearing him down without letting it wear me down.

I suspect the thought of wearing it forever scared the crap out of him. Sometimes that is necessary, if you are totally truthfull with it.

[bodacious changed]

Just thought I would give an update....
First of all, my son has both Amblypia (lazy eye) and Strabismus (crosseye) in his left eye. He has been wearing the glasses and the patch all the time. It just took some time to wear him down, now he doesn't fight it any more. The good news is that his eyes are improving. His vision in the weak eye was 20/20 today at his eye doctor's appointment. The doctor also said that the eye position was staying normal with the glasses on. If this progress continues, he will not need surgery. YEAH!!!! He has to continue to wear the patch with his glasses for the next 6 weeks. IF he shows 20/20 again at that visit then he won't have to wear the patch all the time. This really was great news for us today.

I agree with ex spy guy. Make it fun. Make every day a pirate day. AAAAAAAAAARRRRRGH MATEY. Family event.

I'd get hold of Johnny Depp's agent ( he has no official fan website) and I'd put dollars to donuts she would send your son an autographed picture of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow (with patch on).

Get hold of Disney too. I was looking this up for you, and its awesome, they have a whole
Pirates of the Caribbean website AND an online Pirates game.

I think keeping it in a "fun space and time" is crucial and hey, you can make it educational as well. Pirates were fabulous mariners and you can involve geography in this time period.
Math by "one hundred cans of coke on the wall, one hundred cans of coke, if one of those cans should happen to fall".

I found Depp's agent for you.

c/o Tracey Jacobs
United Talent Agency
9560 Wilshire Blvd. #516
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
USA

www.unitedtalent.com

And here's what I found at Disney.

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/pirates/

It's an awesome website.

[countmein]

I know this is a very old thread, but I thought I would give everyone who is interested an update. It has been almost a year now and finally, after my son's last visit to the eye doc last Friday, he is patch free. We had a little bit of a setback this past summer during the remodel. He would find all kinds of places to hide his patches (we had four), so he was not wearing it all the time. Things settled down and he started to wear the patch like he was supposed to. The doc is trying to let him go patch free for the next 6 weeks and has lowered the script on his eye glasses. Great news for us, it seems that eye surgery is off the table for now.

[waynevan]

I know this is a very old thread, but I thought I would give everyone who is interested an update. It has been almost a year now and finally, after my son's last visit to the eye doc last Friday, he is patch free. We had a little bit of a setback this past summer during the remodel. He would find all kinds of places to hide his patches (we had four), so he was not wearing it all the time. Things settled down and he started to wear the patch like he was supposed to. The doc is trying to let him go patch free for the next 6 weeks and has lowered the script on his eye glasses. Great news for us, it seems that eye surgery is off the table for now.

Glad to hear it. What was it that finally made him turn the corner and start wearing it?

[countmein]

He really got to like his eye doctor and all I usually had to say to him, when I caught him without the patch on, was the the doctor was going to be very disappointed in him the next time he saw him.

[LoneStarHero]

He's lucky you caught it. Stay a huge pain in the ass.

His age is the only time it can really be corrected. I have the same thing with my right eye. While not really debilitating, I would very much love to have binocular vision.

[waynevan]

He really got to like his eye doctor and all I usually had to say to him, when I caught him without the patch on, was the the doctor was going to be very disappointed in him the next time he saw him.

Did the doctor tell him he could go blind in that eye if he didn't wear the patch? I remember suggesting that you needed to scare him with the truth, because the truth is genuinely scary in this scenario, and I was kind of wondering if that was ultimately the determiner.

[conservative_frk]

The pirate thing will probably work the best. I went through the EXACT same thing with my daughter when she was 2. We went through 12 pairs of glasses the first year and I bought a box of 100 pairs of the nose pads. She would chew those off several times a day. She would hide her glasses from me every day. Then one day she reall just figured out that she could see better with them. The patch was just a month from hell. I am sorry to say. I tried to match her outfits, but to no avail. I just had to put it back on when she took it off. We just did the best we could.
Good Luck.
ALso baby girl is 14 and now +2.75 and +2.25. Was +5.25 and +5.00 when we started.The eye DR told us that if it can be corrected with glasses they don't want to do SX .

[countmein]

America's Best Eyeglasses is my best friend. We were able to get him 4 pair of glasses for only $300. His little sister broke one pair, which they replace and I just took two of the other pair back to exchange since they were scratched up, so really we got 7 pairs of glasses for $300. That doesn't include the nose pads and ear pieces that have been replaced the past year. The ear pieces is what he tends to chew on. They have lowered his RX from +400 to +350 to see if that will help his eyes relax enough to help with his farsightedness.

[countmein]

Well, it's been 9 months since I lasted posted on this. I guess it might be time for a little update. We went to the eye specialist yesterday. The new RX did a great job. No more patch. No surgery. He is seeing 20/20 with the glasses, with no eye wandering with the glasses on. His eye still wanders a bit when he isn't wearing his glasses, but that is to be expected. With his farsightedness and astigmatism, he will need glasses for here on out anyway.

[sgtmac_46]

Well, it's been 9 months since I lasted posted on this. I guess it might be time for a little update. We went to the eye specialist yesterday. The new RX did a great job. No more patch. No surgery. He is seeing 20/20 with the glasses, with no eye wandering with the glasses on. His eye still wanders a bit when he isn't wearing his glasses, but that is to be expected. With his farsightedness and astigmatism, he will need glasses for here on out anyway.

:clap: Glad to hear it!

[jeepers]

Yay! :hug:

What great news! :)

[LouC]

Well, it's been 9 months since I lasted posted on this. I guess it might be time for a little update. We went to the eye specialist yesterday. The new RX did a great job. No more patch. No surgery. He is seeing 20/20 with the glasses, with no eye wandering with the glasses on. His eye still wanders a bit when he isn't wearing his glasses, but that is to be expected. With his farsightedness and astigmatism, he will need glasses for here on out anyway.

Good news indeed. :clap: