peregrinerose 0 #26 February 22, 2005 I'm an optometrist... Vision is a learned sense. Infants are born seeing 20/5000ish, and over the first two years, their brain needs to learn how to see. There is no surgery for 'lazy eye'. Lazy eye is the lay term for 'amblyopia'. Amblyopia means that there is a perfectly healthy eye that for whatever reason the brain has not learned how to see with. This can be because of a very high prescrption, so the brain never got a clear image to start with so never learned what vision was. Or it can be due to an eye turn. When an eye turns, the brain has two choices... see double, or ignore the eye that is turning. Seeing double is disconcerting, so the brain usually ignores the eye. When this occurs from birth, the brain never learns how to see with the turned eye. This causes amblyopia. The surgery that you are describing is not for 'lazy eye', it is for strabismus. Strabismus means that the brain has no idea how to make the eyes line up together, so they don't really work together. Strabismus is one possible cause of lazy eye, so it is easy to get them confused. With the surgery, the eye muscles are adjusted slightly to cosmetically align the eyes. There is nothing wrong with the eye muscles or eye health. The problem is that the brain doesn't know how to keep the eyes lined up and working as a team. Surgery affects only the symptom (eyes not cosmetically lined up), not the problem (brain not knowing how to keep them lined up). This is why the effects of surgery may not be permanent, and over the course of the lifetime may be repeated. Lining the eyes up will not affect the vision in the eye, only give a cosmetic effect. Strabismus surgery does not change eyeglass prescriptions, only eye alignment. Even with one eye turned, there is no reason not to skydive. One of my instructors is basically blind in one eye, and it's just incredible watching his landings. He's an outstanding jumper. And he's one of my patients now too I know that I threw a lot out there in this email, trying to pack tons of information into a few paragraphs, so if you have questions, let me know. Chances are I missed something Jen Galbraith, OD, MS Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowwhite 0 #27 February 22, 2005 I am a big baby. I was told for several years that I needed eye surgery, and I kept putting it off. Just the sound of it being described to me was more than I could bear. I was finally told I could put it off no longer. The day of the surgery arrived and my surgeon had an extra person on hand, just to hold my head still, she knew it was gonna be tough. Surgery took MAYBE ten minutes, and within the first half hour I was wondering WHAT THE HECK WAS I AFRAID of? Let your youngun know, I not only lived thru it, I see and FEEL so MUCH better now. I wake up everyday, open my eyes and am grateful that I had the opportunity to get my eye fixed. I'm sending good thoughts his way.skydiveTaylorville.org freefallbeth@yahoo.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dumpster 0 #28 February 23, 2005 Thanks for info - one of things I have a question about is his depth perception and flying as a commercial pilot - It's one of his ambitions, (but then again he's only 13-) He'll be coming out to live with us full-time this summer, and of course he'll be spending plenty of time ath the DZ hanging out with us jumpers and pilots- So ya never know! I'm just looking forwards to being a full-time Dad for him again!! Easy Does It Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peregrinerose 0 #29 February 23, 2005 He will never have 'true' depth perception, as in seeing those magic picture things and 3 D movies. If depth perception is not learned in the first 6 months of life, it isn't learned at all. Another reason why infant eye exams are so important. But there are other cues to depth besides having two eyes. Try it yourself. Close one eye. You can tell that one thing is farther than an other based on the close object covering part of the farther one. You can tell based on shadows, based on relative size (things being smaller if they are farther away), by parallax (move your head from side to side... things that are closer will appear to move more than those farther away. There are many ways to perceive depth other than true stereopsis. Your son knows no other way of seeing, he can't fathom seeing 3D, so he has a million ways of perceiving depth/distance that those of us with normal depth perception don't understand. He probably won't make it as a fighter pilot, and I don't believe he'll pass the vision screening as a commercial pilot, but I belive that it is possible to have a private pilot's license with this. It is definitely something to look into. Given the number of one eyed skydivers I know (and who are infinitely more talented that I will ever be), jumping is definitely not an issue. Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dumpster 0 #30 March 7, 2005 Hi everyone! Promised to keep everyone updated, here goes!! My son Esau is TOUGH! If he was nervous before the operation, he sure handles it well for a 13 year old. He didn't freak out at all! I went out to Buffalo Wednesday to be with Esau for is operation - The operation took place Thursday evening. He was given a general and the major part of the surgery was done then. The next morning, the doctor did the final adjustment to the sutures in the muscles, to get the eyes lines up right. This was done while he was awake, with just some drops to numb things up. (Which don't work very well, according to Esau-). When he did start to feel some pain, he statement to the doc was "Uh, Doc, I'm really stating to freak out here - It hurts!" His Mom and I held his hand, and he squeezed, but he kept very cool. The young man is one tough cookie!! He slept most all day Friday while the last of the anesthesia wore off, and Saturday he and went and got haircuts, ate some lunch at Applebees and chilled out at the hotel I was staying at. Sunday morning we siad our good-byes and I headed back to Illinois, and was pretty drained by then. I also got to spend some time with my oldest daughter, Liz, and my grandsons. The boys are growing like little weeds - We got some smiles and pictures. Liz is sharing a cool little apartment with her boyfriend, and is doing good. Love her and miss her so much! Esau and his Mom Yvonne would like to extend thier thanks to everyone for all the good vibes and wishes, and I thank you all, too. This is a wonderful family to belong to!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peregrinerose 0 #31 March 7, 2005 Sounds like things went well and your son is one tough kid. Guys tend to be total wimps from an eye standpoint, sounds like he did better than most adult men. No offense of course Jen Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ladyskydiver 0 #32 March 7, 2005 Glad to hear that things went well. Life is short! Break the rules! Forgive quickly! Kiss slowly! Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that made you smile. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #33 March 7, 2005 Awright, glad to hear it turned out ok! ~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dumpster 0 #34 March 7, 2005 No offense taken at all! When he was a little tyke (like 6 yrs old-) he got whacked over one eye at daycare - Six stitches to close it up, and he didn't shed a tear as the doc injected the Novocaine and sewed it up. I have tendancy to get a bit light-headed around needles myself. Tough kid!! I be calling him tonight to see how school went today. I guess he's still seeing double a little bit. (Probably needs a new eyeglass presrcription.) His check-up is on Friday. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peregrinerose 0 #35 March 7, 2005 He's supposed to see double for a little while. His brain was used to his eyes working one way together, and the surgery totally altered that. His brain'll catch up in a few days. Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dumpster 0 #36 March 7, 2005 That makes sense! - He would tilt his head all the time before the surgery - One of the first things he noticed himself was he was holing his head straight for a change. He's really going to enjoy this, I think! Easy Does It Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dumpster 0 #37 March 12, 2005 More good news! Esau had his follow-up exam with the doc today - Everthing has gone very well! The doctor is very pleased with the results, and says the liklihood of any more surgery is very slim. Esau himself is very happy. It's done alot to improve his self esteem already. (His Mom noticed that-) I am so glad! Thanks again to everyone for all the love and good vibes! You'll be seeing alot of us at Sky Knights this summer! WooHoo! Easy Does It Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peregrinerose 0 #38 March 14, 2005 I'm glad things went well!! Do or do not, there is no try -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Conundrum 1 #39 March 14, 2005 Very glad to hear things went well! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 Next Page 2 of 2 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0