Pre-op Appointment

Yesterday we went to a pre-op appointment for Barrett's eye surgery.  Barrett was old enough this time to read the chart (they use a picture chart) for the doctor.  I could tell that is right eye is seeing much better than the left eye, however, he is still seeing out of his left eye (praise the Lord!)  His eyes haven't gotten worse and the patching we've been doing has helped a tiny bit.  At the last appointment when his right eye was covered and his left eye was focusing, his left eye would immediately lose focus when his right eye was uncovered.  At this appointment his left eye held focus...until he blinked.  So it wasn't a drastic improvement...but improvement is improvement!  We have been trying to do everything possible to keep his left eye strong so that his brain doesn't stop using it all together.

Surgery is still scheduled for next Tuesday (January 25th).  We'll find out the day before the surgery time.  The surgery sounds like it won't be too bad.  They will cut the inside muscle on both eyes, reposition the eyes, and reattach the muscles.  We'll put drops in his eyes for 7-10 days afterwards, but we won't have to patch (at least until the post-op appointment where we might get different instructions).  They said every child recovers differently.  He could be up and ready to play a few hours after surgery or he might feel like laying around for a day or two.  His eyes will be bloody red for about a week after the surgery and they said that for the first day or so his eyes might be all around the place (like focusing in, out, and even up or down!  CRAZY!!!)

At this point the doctor thinks that Barrett will still be in glasses after surgery (for his vision).  Our prayers at this time are that they will be able to straighten Barrett's eyes with one surgery and that once his eyes have healed his brain will use both eyes together (rather than only focusing one eye at a time).  Thanks for your prayers and we'll let you know the surgery time next week.