Can someone help me in regards to my sons eyes?

[Heaven_love1224]

I had noticed my son had, had an eye issue when he was almost 6 years of age. His eye left eye would turn in at times if he looked at or towards something quickly. I had brought him to the eye doctor and he had issued him to wear glasses. Well he is now 8 still wearing glasses when I can get him to keep them on. I had got him 3 pairs of glasses and he now has not a pair left it is that bad with him not wanting to wear them I think in part to do with they other way kids treat him because of it. Well now I have noticed it getting worse. I have spoke to his new I doctor about this he has given him a new prescription and said that he can't do surgery to help him because he is to old. Yet his other eye doctor had said that was going to be an alternative if he didn't keep wearing his glasses. I need to know what I should do. Is there something they can do to help my son. I don't want it to get any worse. My little boy has been through enough through his life and don't need this issue on top of it. Should I have him see someone else? Please help me I am lost and worried. Thank you for your help. ~An Online Friend~

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

If you live in the USA optometrists do not authorize medical referrals to MDs.  An optom is not an MD. Referrals in insurance plans are made by the family doctor.  I have never heard of a pediatrician that would not refer a child with an eye problem to an Eye MD opthalmologist.

A pediatric ophthalmologist  has 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, 3 years residency and 1 or 2 years in special pediatric care  =  12 or 13 years of training.

Acommodative esotrophia is treated usually with glasses, often bifocals. Amblyopia is often treated with a contact in the amblyopic eye, patching of the "good" eye or "penalization" by using atropine to keep the pupil of the good eye dilated.

JCH MD

[Heaven_love1224]

Well another dead end. I was on the phone and computer again trying to find out what I can do and what my sons eye doctor will do. They have now told me yesterday that the only thing they will do now is give him contacts. I will be putting them in at morning time and taking them out at night. IS THIS TRULY going to help him. He is only 8 years old. The Optometrist he sees now said that he has Accommodative Esotropia/Amblyopia. Yet at a dead end because in order for my son to go and see the Pediatric Ophthalmologist like recomended and my insurance to cover it I have to get a referral from his Optometrist, and that does not look likely.

[Heaven_love1224]

Sorry to be such a pain, but this is driving me to know end. I have spoke to A. His new eye doctor and B. his old eye doctor. His old eyes doctors office was great with me and told me that his true diagnosis through there office was Esotropia / Amblyopia. They also said that there old eye doctor would recommend him to see this Ophthalmologist that is gratefully here closer to me. But upon speaking with his new eye care place I was told that there is nothing that the Pediatric Ophthalmologist could do for my son that he couldn't due except for surgery. And he is only a Optometrist. Is this true is there or isn't there a difference. I have called his pediatrician to get a referral from them for insurance due to me not believing I will get one from his current eye doctor. Was this right of me? Am I going about this the right way. I just want to help my son before it is to late. Thank you again for everything. ~Your Online Friend~

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

1. Yes insurance comvers medical eye exams by real physicians like an ophthalmologist.
2. If you see a pediatric ophthalmoloigist they can examine a child of any age.
3. It is critical that the three year old have an exam in the very near future. You can have amblyopia and have eyes that are perfectly straight.
4. The 10 year old also needs checked
5. No strabismus effects eyes of all colors.

JCH MD

[Heaven_love1224]

I thank you very much for your help and referral. I will get right on that.  I should see if my insurance will cover this. Do you know if insurances generally do. When you say 20%, I have 2 other boys at home oldest 10 youngest 3, none that have had any issues. I tried to bring my 3 year old into the eye doctor and he was scared and threw the biggest fits there for no test have ever been done on him. My 10 year old has had eye exams and they said his vision was fine.  Their eye doctor said that this is something that happens more in light colored eyed kids. Is this true? Thank you again. ~Your online Friend~

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

You should see a Eye MD that specializes in eye muscle (strabismus) treatment and surgery. Your child is at high risk of poor vision in one eye, permanently crossed eyes and STILL needing glasses.

Find a Eye MD strabismus specialist near you at www.aao.org

The chance of your other children having this problem is 20% same for nieces and nephews so all children in your blood line need to be checked by OPHTHALMOLOGIST  about age 2.5 to 3 years old.

JCH MD