Poppy First Pair of Glasses

Last week we went to the opticians and picked up Poppy's very first pair of glasses.  She is just 4 months old and even the smallest ones they had are a little too big at the moment.  So she is now wearing her glasses all waking hours and we are patching for a few hours each day.  I am pleased with the glasses as it seems her vision is a bit better in them (that is when they are not slipping off and she ends up chewing them!).  However, the patching is not getting any easier.  We have been patching since before Christmas although I was not very strict about it to begin with and we had days where we didn't do it.  Since our last visit to the opthalmologist though we have been doing it every day for a good few hours.  The optometrist and opthalmologist both highlighted the importance of patching and since joining a facebook group I have learnt from other parents just how much difference to vision patching can make in the long-term.  It is very difficult though and within half an hour of applying the patch Poppy is not happy and will start crying.  I have tried to eliminate all other reasons as to why she could be crying - feed her, let her sleep if she is tired etc. but it is very obvious that it is done to the patch: as soon as it is taken off she stops crying.  I know we just have to persevere though.  I am concerned that the scar tissue that grows on the back of the eye commonly after a cataract operation is the reason why she is tolerating the patch less and less.  I think it is getting worse and I know that she will have to have surgery to remove this soon.  I am dreading having to go to hospital with her again and going through the whole nil-by-mouth and general anaesthetic scenario again, but really we need to do it sooner rather than later for the sake of her sight.  Anyway, one positive at the moment is finding two really great Facebook groups: one for parents of children that wear glasses and one for congenital cataracts.  It has already proved to be a great support network for us.  There are parents from all over the world on there going through the same thing and it is great to be able to share experiences and advice. 

I will leave you with some pictures of Poppy over the last two weeks with her new glasses, patch and siblings: