Wandering Eye-vision therapy vs surgery

Hey guys, my nephew has a wandering eye on the right side. It isnt very bad but the specialist that my sister has been taking him too has recommended surgery in Feb to correct the problem, saying that it is from a lenghtened muscle. I have done some research online and most of it has said that the correction should be done when the child is young...but what concerns me is that he didn't even try vision therapy first, or a patch.
So, I was wondering if any of you moms have had experience with this and what you would recommend. I just want the best for him and to make sure he is getting the best care, but I have no experience with this. Thanks in advance for all your help!

Re: Wandering Eye-vision therapy vs surgery

I don't have any experience with this - but has she spoken to any other dr's maybe she wants to get a second or third opinion.

Re: Wandering Eye-vision therapy vs surgery

My dd was born with esotropia basically both eyes turned in to her nose. She had two surgeries when she was a baby, patched for many years and I even had a vision therapy eval when we were looking into the third surgery. Surprisingly the vision therapist did not recommend therapy, but it gave us a good idea of what her eyes where doing. She wasn't using her eyes together she was using each one independantly. We just had her last surgery with a great Dr in the city (wish i had gone to him first). Her eyes are straight now but she still doesn't use them together. I think that it is important to get all the info first. The vision therapy office in westbury was very through when evaluating how she used her eyes. and the new surgoen was amazing.

after the last surgery I took her to a different place for to see if vision therapy would help but that guy was an idiot. My insurance didn't cover the Westbury place or I would have gone back there intially but then when I went for a follow-up to the surgery the Dr said vision therapy wouldn't do anything for her.

Re: Wandering Eye-vision therapy vs surgery

My DH had the surgery done when he was 27. He wore a patch as a young child. Not sure he ever got proper therapy but the patch thing didn't work. He went through his life being self consious. Now you can't even tell. His eye is perfect.

I would start with the therapy as it is less invasive and go from there.

Re: Wandering Eye-vision therapy vs surgery

I don't know if this is the same problem, but I had "lazy eye" as a little child (my eye turned inward toward my nose).

I wore bifocal glasses for a few years, which totally corrected the problem. This was 20-something years ago... I'm sure they have even more advanced techniques now. I remember my mom told me that the dr. said surgery was a last-resort option.

Re: Wandering Eye-vision therapy vs surgery

Hi

My son is now five, he had the surgery at two. They like to do the surgery before age two. His eyes were perfect after the surgery but then about 9 months later, it started to turn again. (not as bad as it was) He wears glasses and gets patched daily. They say he'll need another surgery maybe next year. His surgery was done at St. Francis hospital in Great Neck. He was patched before surgery also for about six to eight months. They say the surgery alot of times is not permanant. You still need the exercises

Hope this helps

Re: Wandering Eye-vision therapy vs surgery

My cousin had it with her left eye. They did the patch for alomost a year to see if it would correct itself. It did not. She enend up have the surgery about a year ago and now must where glasses (for the time being). She has not had an issue since the surgery. She was about 5 when she had it done.

Re: Wandering Eye-vision therapy vs surgery

I replied in much more detail on the Health board. PLEASE get a second opinion before surgery and please look into the doctor i recommended. He is a God send!

Message edited 10/28/2008 9:17:17 PM.

Re: Wandering Eye-vision therapy vs surgery

DS had the surgery at 3 on both eyes. Therapy was not recommended nor was patching. He is now 5 and his eyes are straight but he does were glasses to help keep them that way. His Dr. said he may not the glasses for much longer.

As with any non emergency surgery I would definitely get a 2nd opinion. We used Dr.Kodsi at Snyders and she is wonderful.

Re: Wandering Eye-vision therapy vs surgery

Thank you ladies for all of your experiences and recommendations...we will definitely take him for a second opinion. Your words and advice mean a lot! Thanks again!