Emma Goes to the Eye Doctor (Why You Should Get Your Toddler’s Eyes Checked Now!)

My little girl is wearing glasses!

I mentioned awhile ago that Emmas left eye crosses inward off and on. Its something that I noticed when she was 2 and it steadily grew worse, though there would be entire days that I didnt notice it turning inward at all. It seemed to happen more when she was tired. So we went to the eye doctor a few weeks ago and found that shes far-sighted in both eyes, much worse in her left eye.

I really was surprised that she needed glasses because she doesnt hold stuff close to her face to see. But yes, the doctor said she would need glasses, and she has a much stronger prescription in the left eye than the right. Its amazing that they can tell that just from dilating your eyes and looking at them! And you have no idea how thankful I am that Emma worked with them. There was only one time that she panicked, when they wanted to patch one eye to check her eyesight in each eye separately. When the assistant asked Emma said politely, No thank you. Ha! The 3-year-old after us was screaming bloody murder through the whole exam so I was happy with the way our appointment went. That poor mom!

I had built up the appointment for weeks in advance, and Emma was actually excited to go see the eye doctor. She even told me she needed pink glasses although I told her I didnt think shed need them. She insisted she would. Then when she saw the different pairs she had to choose from she chose a blue pair with purple flowers decorating it. They have such cute glasses for little girls!

I was amazed at how Emmas behavior changed immediately after putting those glasses on. She started noticing things she hadnt in the past people far away, details of things close by. We went outside in the rain and she just stood and looked at the ground and the trees and everything for awhile. She didnt say much but I could tell from her expression that it was a whole new world for her. And since then, she has had a longer attention span for everything! I just thought she was impatient and too young to focus for long on anything, but now she sits at the table and flips through magazines, enjoys her books more, and even looks people in the eye longer.

I was initially worried that I would have to force her to wear her glasses, but she cant wait to put them on every day! Seriously, this has been such a smooth transition from no glasses to glasses all the time. Im relieved. 🙂 Yesterday we forgot her glasses in the morning and she was pretty grumpy. I finally remembered and when she put them on and went about her morning routine the grumpiness went away. Its amazing how much being able to see (or not) can affect your day. 😉 Normally she doesnt forget, though.

While wearing the glasses, Emmas eye doesnt cross at all its perfectly straight! I have noticed that after a few weeks wearing glasses her eye crosses immediately after taking them off, though. Were supposed to try the glasses for six months and then go back and talk with the doctor about other things we can do for the eye. He said there are many things to try before surgery. Im not sure I want to do surgery, but right now I dont have to think about it anyway. Its kind of a waiting game. Since her eye is straight while wearing the glasses well, Id say thats a good thing. 🙂

If youre worried about any of your toddlers behaviors maybe excessive frustration or inability to focus I would definitely recommend getting your toddlers eyes checked. Their symptoms arent the same as an adults, and they cant communicate that they cant see because they dont realize that they should be able to see better! And especially if any kind of strabismus (lazy eye) runs in your family. Its better to be safe than miserable. 🙂

Have you had any similar experiences?