Eye update

Natalie saw her glaucoma specialist today as a follow-up to the pressure check he did on her under anesthesia in March. We've been giving her drops in her eyes twice a day (not fun!) and he wanted to see how we were doing, try to get a pressure reading in the office (not successful) and discuss the next anesthesia pressure check (because Natalie doesn't tolerate pressure readings in the office). It was a quick visit because he didn't dilate her eyes (whoo hoo!)

I asked a few more questions and learned that he suspects that the cupping on the optic nerves that Natalie has is just "the way she is", not related to glaucoma. However, because she has continuously progressive myopia and because her pressures were a little higher the last time than he would like to see, he decided to prescribe the eye drops. He said that if Natalie has glaucoma, the eye drops would reverse the cupping on the optic nerves; if she doesn't have glaucoma, the eye drops would have no effect. This gives me great comfort that we may have a definitive answer on the question of a glaucoma diagnosis at the next pressure check: he will check the pressures and also examine her optic nerves to see if there has been any change.

I asked if her myopia would be reversed with the drops, and he said no. I also asked if there was any benefit to using the drops if she doesn't have glaucoma, and he said no.

So now the ophthalmologist is coordinating with the ENT to come up with a date for both of them to do their work under the same anesthesia. I have been wondering if Natalie isn't hearing as well since at least one of her ear tubes is out...or does she just have the selecting hearing common with kids? :)