Friday, May 4, 2012

Congenital Ptosis: The Infant Eye Patch

congenital ptosis, infant eye patch, drooping eyelid
Evan has been diagnosed with an eye condition called congenital ptosis. (droopy eye). When he was first born, we noticed that he was not raising his right eyelid that well. We asked his pediatrician who said she thought it was due to swelling from birth trauma and to give it a week or so. After a week (and several doctor visits due to jaundice) we found that he was still not raising his eyelid. The pediatrician recommended that we see a pediatric ophtamalogist. So. We did.
According to the internet (which one should never ever go to as a source of any sort of information because people are crazy and the next thing you know, you will have diagnosed a sore throat as being irritable bowel syndrome) Evan would need surgery. Although, we did many many searches online about this condition and really didn't find very much. Especially not anything that was useful. So I guess it's a good thing we went to an opthamalogist... His eye doctor said that he is so young, it's too early to do surgery. His eye condition is moderate, not severe (if it were severe, he would be unable to open his eye at all, and without immediate help, would go blind in that eye). Soo at this point in the game we are to:
Have him wear an infant eye patch.
We have to patch his good eye for one (alert) hour, 6 days per week for 8-10 weeks.
This will ensure that his vision does not decline by forcing him to focus with the eye that is slightly covered. At his next appointment, she will determine how he is doing and then we will most likely only need to patch his eye 3 days a week for an hour each day.
At around 10 months to one year, he may need a minor surgery where they will do a suture which is temporary to make his eyelid go up all way. Then when he is older he will most likely have permanent surgery to correct the muscle that is weak in his eyelid.
So that is the story of
Our poor little pirate...

5 comments:

ashley said...

poor guy! i hope his eye gets better!

Grammy G said...

I realize this must be very hard, but we are trusting God to bring healing to his eye. Either thru the patch or just a miracle!

Anonymous said...

Well, it sure doesn't diminish the cuteness quotient whatsoever!! I'd say its even a chick magnet, but he's slightly too young for that, yet. Aunt B sees a job making designer style patches on her horizon.... He will want to wear them even after he's well!!

Kevin Flick said...

how is the little "patchy" doing? is it helping? have you any news? we are all wondering! it's been 6 weeks and 6 days since you've blogged, just so you know. we need to hear from you!
-mindy

Anonymous said...

I just read your story .. I have a two month old and he was born with a lazy eye ... his dr says to just wait that before a yr it will get better but i have concerns ... so i been looking on the web .. i just dont want to sit and wait and his eye doesnt get better . can i know what has happen with your lil one