My 6 month old was diagnosed with a lazy eye. We are going to a pediatric specialist in May. I wanted to gather all the information on treatments that anyone has had since I don't know anyone that has been through this. Also doctor recommendations please!! Thanks for your help.
Dr Helen Hittner in Houston is great! She is a pediatrc opthamologist. Her bedside manner is a bit stiff, but she knows what she is talking about. My daughter was a patient of hers from age 4 to 15. Even after moving away from Houston we continued to see her.
Usually, the baby wears an eye patch for a few hours a day.I
guess it depends on the severity also. Then of course as the child grows, vision need to be checked and corrected with prescription glasses.
Your specialist is the best person to recommend the best treatment. Good luck ......
We take our son to Dr. Stager Jr. in Plano - ###-###-####. My son is 3 1/2 and has some eye issues as well, he is very well known in the community and has performed surgeries on a lot of my friends children. I believe he is the best pediatric opthamologist in the area. Good Luck!!
I had a lazy eye when I was 3 (16 years ago). They told my mother that she had two options: put an eye patch over the strong eye to build up the muscles in the weak eye or have a surgery to correct the problem. My mom opted for the eye patch method. For the most part, my eye has GREATLY improved. However, when I am VERY tired my eye muscle will get tired too and sometimes make my lazy eye wonder slightly... but if I blink a couple of times the problem is fixed again.
My daughter was diagnosed with Strabismus when she was a baby and went thru 2 surgeries. Her doctor is Allan Davis at Plano Presby, and I highly recommend him. I can't say enough good things about him. He gives books to the kids at every visit. The surgeries were very short, and she didn't remember a thing. Much harder on mom and dad. He said 20% of the kids require a second surgery, which she did. He also said about 20% of those kids require a third. Fortunately, the 2 surgeries worked and the only lingering problem is sensitivity to sunlight, which he said is common. Personally, I recommend the surgery over the eye patch, if given a choice. Good luck! J.
My dd was diagnosed with strabismus(crossing her eye) because she is farsighted she crosses when trying to see clearly. She was 15 months old when she was diagnosed. We see Dr. Davis who is one of the best pediatric opthamologist around. Dr. Stager is also wonderful too he is well known. Check out their website: http://www.popacas.com/phy5.htm
I hope this helps.
My 8 year old son has had to wear glasses since he was 2 b/c of a lazy eye. Also we have done "patching" and used atropine to try to strengthen the weak eye. No fun! I am not sure where you live, I live in Plano TX and he has a great specialist in Frisco, his name is Dr. David Weakly. I see infants going into see him when I take my son. Best wishes. Avoid surgery at all costs. Untill baby is 7 years old there is a lot they can do to remedy the condition, surgery should always be a last resort. Remember to get 2nd opinions if you need them.
My daughter (now 6) was diagnosed with Strabismus when she was 6 months old. We began with patching, and she had her 1st surgery at 10 months old. The results were amazing! She did great through the short surgery. As the other poster said, the surgery is much harder for mom and dad. My understanding with Strabismus (not sure if your child falls into this category) is that if it begins when your child is an infant, it is a muscular issue and surgery is the only way to really correct. My doctor tried patching just to make sure, but my daughter needed surgery (unfortunately - 3 of them over time). If the crossing begins when the child is older, my understanding is it is usually related to the child being farshighted and glasses and exercises can help.
As far as doctors, we see Dr. Eric Packwood (he has offices in Ft. Worth and Hurst), and I can't say enough good about him! He always takes time with us to explain things and answer any questions, and I completely trust his knowledge and skills. We began going to him when we lived on the other side of the metroplex. After moving to Sachse, we found a new pediatric specialist here on the Dallas side, but I ultimately wasn't happy with him and decided to make the long drive to Dr. Packwood. (Feel free to email me if you would like more information.) Best wishes with your decision and treatment.
my nephew had a lazy eye as well
the best doctors in the state are at childrens hospital here in dallas.
good luck!!
Both of my nephews had a lazy eye when they were little. The doctor treated it with eye drops and an eye patch placed over the strong eye to help strengthen the weak one so that it would straighten out. They're now six and eight with no problems.
My daughter had Strabismus in both eyes. She had surgery last month with Dr. Staeger in Plano and we are very pleased. We used the surgery center in Plano on Plano Parkway and they were excellent!
Hi L.,
Well I have a lazy eye and my mom did not find out about the option to have surgery at that time until I was six, and they said it was too late. I wish she had known and done it. I am 30 now and my eye does not cross anymore--unless REALLY tired, but my vision in that eye is not good, even with contacts. My 'strong' eye is worse now, but I see better out of it with contacts. The two are very different in the prescriptions needed; not sure if the patch I wore made the 'strong' eye weaker (mom is worried it did) but it makes it difficult to fit me for glasses due to the two images coming to my brain being vastly different. I don't know, we have had our children checked (Dr. Stager Jr) and are due to check again, just to make sure we catch it. If they had it, I would opt for surgery just knowing my experience. I am not a surgery girl, really avoid the doctor if can, but it is not something you can go back and correct later. I would research all options available, she is young so you would have time to try them before surgery, but I would consider doing the surgery if progress was not made fully. We are not at that bridge yet, but like I said, I still only really use one eye...I can not see 3D (even with the glasses on, etc.) so there are some deficits if not treated. Basically the brain is determining the eye that is lazy to not work and it shuts down that part of the brain that utilizes that eye. SO essentially, the brain is working only depending on the strong eye. Even though I look like I am using both eyes when I look at you, I am only really using one eye due to the brain only receiving input from my 'strong' eye. My eye doctor is leary to do lasik due to IF something happened with my strong eye, my lazy eye would be my best vision and may improve slightly with lasik but not near what my vision is in my strong eye with contacts. Hope that makes sense. Email if you have questions...or need me to clarify.
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L.,
I have taken both of my children to see Dr. Stager Jr in Plano and he is WONDERFUL!!!! I would highly reccomend him to you. His number is ###-###-#### an dis located at 15th Street and Coit.
H.
