while i debated for a long time to post this picture because i feel like it's saying, look there's something wrong with my child and no one wants to admit or be told something is wrong with their child or for focus to be put on those flaws and have people stare. but i feel that in order for everyone to understand better exactly what his problem is this picture will help with that.
this is something we started noticing in the last 2-3 months that his eye was doing. it's actually caused by several different problems. but it's not something he does constantly and his eye stays that way. it's only when he's trying to focus on objects.
strabismus is a condition where each eye points at different objects (the eyes are misaligned) there are many different types & named by the direction in which they point.
- esotropia "cross eyed"
- exotropia "wandering eye"
- hypertropia "vertical misalignment"
jaxon has exotropia where one eye wanders to the outside. the cause with the eye or eye muscles. 90% of children with strabismus it is a problem caused by the brain. there is no cure to correct the brain problem to "cure" strabismus. but it can be treated by glasses, eye drops or surgery.
amblyopia is poor vision due to not using a particular eye. the brain shuts off the picture from that eye and only uses information from the "good" eye. it's like having a 10 mega pixel camera and a 1 mega pixel camera, which would you rather use. the brain choses to use the "10 mega pixel". the brain shuts off the picture from one eye to avoid double vision.
these 2 problems are in direct relation to Jaxon's lack of fine motor skills and ability to sit up, pull up and all the other things he should be doing at this stage. he can't see well enough to concentrate on the objects. so this answers several questions. in his previous appointment with Dr Pruitt he said if he wasn't progressing as well as he wanted him to with the OT then he would have an EEG or MRI done. with this problem affecting the brain there may be a need for an MRI sooner. the treatment they are starting for his eye now is a patch. we are to cover his good eye for 2 hours a day to force him to use his other eye. the first hour the brain is fighting with it's self to focus on objects. the second hour the brain is forcing the eye to focus. it doesn't seem to bother him. he's been laughing and playing like normal. they did dilate his eyes and that was hilarious. he couldn't see when i was putting him in his carseat and he was flopping like a fish all over the place and laughing like crazy. he thought it was funny. so for the next 6 weeks Jaxon will be a pirate. matt has been making jokes all afternoon since he started wearing it. i just hope this works and it doesn't come to glasses or worse, surgery.
but thank you all for the prayers, thoughts and concerns. i just hope since we've figured out one problem and all it's effectors we can figure out WHY this happens to only my children!!
My diddy had and my brother Gary has the same thing 'wandering eye' neither ever had glasses or surgeries it's just a part of them. My cousin also had it and she had a couple of surgeries and hers corrected completely. I hope the patch helps Jaxon and y'all will be in my thoughts and prayers, I know it's hard to see your child go through something like this =\
ReplyDeleteI wore a patch for years when I was a little kid. I had the same exact problems. I had surgery for the strabismus in my 20's. The Dr who performed the surgery is a top eye surgeon in Charlotte. His name is Dr. Christenbury. Jaxon will be fine. Do what you feel is best. You are a great Mommy.
ReplyDelete:) he is the cutest little pirate I have ever seen! It looks worse in pictures than it does in person. I am sure that this patch will help a lot but if not glasses arent so bad! Look at me, they make me who I am. Remember that little girl I told you about that wore glasses from ages 2 until 10 because her eyes did this? She is now GORGEOUS and you cant even tell!
ReplyDeleteJaxon is a smart, strong little fella and his eyes will be a-ok, I can feel it!
Love yall!
Hey Krystle. It's been a while since we last spoke but I wanted to tell you that Jaxon is adorable. Nothing is "wrong" with him and nothing takes away from his cuteness. My brother, Robbie, has what we call a "lazy" eye. He wore a patch for many years over his good eye to strengthen the lazy eye and has had surgery twice. Everything works out in the end. It doesn't take away from his looks or personality and doesn't hinder anything. He is even now considered legally blind in that eye yet he is still able to do everything and you can't even tell. I hope you guys are doing well otherwise! Take Care!
ReplyDeleteOh, I was reading your post below this one and noticed that Jaxon is 17 pounds ... Piper Rae is 14 weeks old and already 16 pounds (as of last Monday)!! I wish she were smaller :-D
thanks everybody. it seems it's more common than what i thought. this is nothing (so far) compared to what we went through with branson. at least this is just a sticker pretty much that we put over his eye, not needles and procedures. he doesn't seem to mind it at all. he's the happiest baby no matter what!! i hope this works and if he has to get glasses then ol well. i agree abby i think he'll be a cutie with them just like you :)
ReplyDeletethanks Ashlee. doing great just dealing with these types of things and soon to be more when he starts occupational therapy. my gosh!! yea he's a little thing. smaller than branson was at 9 months old. i like my small babies :) hope you all are well.