I took Rowan to the eye doctor on Monday for a check-up to see how he is doing with his contacts, as well as how the patching is going. We got to go just the two of us, which was nice. We got there in good time and only waited a few minutes before we got to head back for the initial tests.
Rowan knows the ropes pretty well already. He cooperated really well with the tests, and sat still while his eyes were scanned. Then we waited in a second waiting room for a little while, and practiced reading new words on the tv that promotes glasses brands. Riveting entertainment, lol! At one point, someone came to retrieve some other patients, and it happened to be the doctor we had seen the day we got Rowan’s contact fitted. Our usual eye doctor had to call in sick that day, so we were paired off with someone else that time, and he immediately recognized us and asked how Rowan was doing with his contact. I appreciated that he cared enough to even inquire. Shortly after he left with his patient, our eye doctor showed up and brought us back with her.
Vision lesson alert! 🚨
You know how people say vision should be 20/20? Do you know what that means? I didn’t, but I do now, so now you can know, too!
The concept of 20/20 means that your eye can see something 20 feet away, healthily, the way that other people with strong vision can from the same distance. That feels a little jumbled, I know, so I’ll make it more personal.
At Rowan’s initial eye appointment, his left eye was at 20/200. 200!!! So that means that things people should be able to see from 200ft away, Rowan can only see at 20ft away. Does that make sense?
Also, for information’s sake, if your vision can not be corrected to better than 20/200, you would be considered legally blind! Ack!
With glasses, the best our eye doctor could get Rowan seeing was 20/70, which is a HUGE improvement over 20/200 but not as close as we’d all like to 20/20. Hence the patching and regular checkups.
Does that all make sense? Whew!
Ok, back to Monday!
I hadn’t been in Rowan’s initial eye appointment, but Brady had. Our doctor showed me the sizes of letters that Rowan could read the first time around, and then she began testing him to see how he was doing since everything began. And I do mean everything. Multiple appointments. Glasses. Two different types of patches. Contacts. Drops. And all the fuss that came with it. Dizziness. Headaches. Irritation. Disorientation. The list really goes on. He has handled these adjustments like a ROCKSTAR.
Finally our eye doctor turned to me with literal tears in her eyes, and she told me, while wearing a contact, his left eye could see 20/40!! 40!!!! Not 200, and not 70, but 40!!! That is SO much better!!! To refresh you, what healthy vision can see in 20ft, he can see in 40ft. And we started at 200!!
And would you believe me if I told you that wasn’t even the best news??
The first little test where they scanned Rowans eyes showed that he is using them EQUALLY!!! This is YUGE!!!! 🙌 It was one month ago that his brain did not ask his left eye to work. He never ever ever used it. And because of Rowan’s hard work, our determination, and the power of God, he is using BOTH of us eyes the SAME!!! It was a teary exam room 💜
What a victory. Praise the Lord!
We’ll be back in a month to keep watching his progress, but back before then to pick up six months worth of contacts. And back next week for Laela and Solly. Whew!! Lots of catching up to do around here!