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Stella Louise was born last June – she was our sweet baby that was due on July, but decided to come on Flag Day instead.  She was 6 lbs 5 oz of pure sweet perfection!  At about 4-5 months old, I started noticing that her left eye was crossing a bit in photographs.  I seriously don’t think that I would have noticed it if I wasn’t a photographer, but since I study catchlights (reflections of the light) in eyes all the time, I noticed it pretty easily.  When I would show people photos of her and ask them what they thought, they said I was crazy and didn’t really notice the cross.  But it drove me crazy!  🙂
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At 6 months old, I took her to a client of mine who is an optometrist.  He tested her, and immediately said that she needed glasses.  I was shocked to hear that her prescription in her glasses was going to be +6.50.  And totally caught off guard!  I DID NOT want my baby to have to wear glasses!  I vaguely remember leaving the doctor’s office in total shock (and denial).  At the time, I knew it was silly to be worried about something as inconsequential as glasses, when there are kids out there that are dealing with much more serious problems, like cancer.  But still…  this was MY baby and I was so sad that she couldn’t see.
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After spending the entire night researching the internet about having a baby in glasses – and finding a great online group for moms with babies in glasses – I could wrap my head around all of it and feel at peace.  By the time we ordered her glasses and were able to pick them up – I was just excited for my baby to be able to see her world!  Stella was 7 months old when she started wearing her glasses.  And within just a week – I thought she looked “funny” without them!
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It’s amazing how we all adjusted so well to them – both her and us.  Anytime we go anywhere in public, Stella is like a little “famous person.”  Most people aren’t used to seeing a baby in glasses, and they always have questions for me.  Most are pretty annoying and downright stupid questions, but I’m getting used to it now!  🙂
 At 10 months old, we took her to a pediatric opthamologist at Children’s Hospital in Denver.  Her diagnosis and prescription has changed already quite a bit in just 3 months.  Esotropia, strabismus, amblyopia.  Lots of big words, and I feel like I’m learning way more about eyes than I ever wanted to!  We are now patching for 1 hour per day, which is going great.  In just 8 weeks of patching, Stella went from “definitely needing eye muscle surgery this summer” to “not even being a candidate for surgery now”.  Yay for patching!  It works!
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Stella just turned one this month, and is doing GREAT with her glasses and patching.  When she’s bored or tired, the glasses are the first thing she reaches for and throws, though.  Thank goodness for Miraflex glasses – they have proven to be indestructible time and time again.
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I am so thankful that we live in a day and age where our babies can get the eye care that they need, if they need it!  And so super thankful for the power of the internet – bringing together all the moms like me out there who are dealing with glasses and patching on a daily basis as well.  🙂
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6 thoughts on “Stella – Esotropia, Strabismus and Amblyopia”

  1. Lynne Sudduth

    Love little Stella she is so beautiful and I love her more than she will ever know! She is the best niece an aunt could ask for!

  2. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I didn’t realize there were resources out there for children wearing glasses, until now. My son also wears glasses for the same reason, and we have been patching for the last 3 months. At first, I DID NOT want my baby to wear glasses. It was very hard for me to accept my baby wasn’t “perfect”. But now, all is going very well and like you said, I sometimes think he looks “funny” without his glasses.

  3. Thank you so much for sharing your story. After returning from the eye doctor with both if my children, 2 1/2 yrs and 2 1/2 months, I literally just sat on the internet researching “Miraflex” and browsing images of toddlers and babies with glasses in denial, just like you were, that both of my babies need glasses. I felt myself chuckeling as I read, feeling and thinking the same things you once had tonight. Eye drops and patches have also been mentioned as the “next step” if the glasses don’t work, so I am so very excited to hear success! Thank you again for allowing the world to share in your story and allowing me comfort knowing that my feelings are justified. Stella is a beautiful name, to match a beautiful little girl.

  4. Hi, I am so glad that you wrote the above post. My daughter needs glasses and tomorrow we are going to collect her first pair of miraflex glasses. Reading this post has made me feel alot better and i know that she will be ok 🙂

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