Just turned 2 and glasses

[neeneesmom]

My child was born with his eye issue which we have heard several names for.  Strabismus is the latest.  Anyways, we have been to many specialists.  between birth and 6 months old we did patching for the one eye that turned in (occasionally).  That doctor wanted to do surgery so we looked for a second opinion.  Next doctor checked several times and because he switched between eyes (crossing), it was tough for her to really say surgery was needed.  She wanted to do glasses even though she told us in the past he didnt have the type that glasses would fix.  We found a 3rd doctor and hes been great.  He has done measurements every few months.  He has had the same issue deciding if surgery is really what he needs.  He prescribed glasses telling us that if the glasses work, he will wear them until 12, if they dont work, surgery is the only option.  
So here is my main question, how do I get a 2 year old to wear these glasses? He was happy about them at first but now he wont let us near him with them.  Tantrums and fits of crying, etc.  
Also, after 2 years, noone can just tell me if this is a surgery needed issue or not.  Is that normal because hes young and wont sit perfectly still for exams?
Thank you so much.  I just want to make sure im doing the right thing for him.  I just hate that he has to go through all this.

[Sandra M Brown, MD]

Eye crossing IN towards the nose is called esotropia.  Most children whose eyes cross before 6 months of age have large obvious eye crossing that needs treatment with surgery (and sometimes also glasses and patching).  Whether or not he switches between eyes when crossing is not relevant to needing surgery.  The question with surgery is whether or not he keeps his eyes straight more than 75% of the time.  If yes, then surgery is not urgently needed.  If no, and glasses are predicted not to be helpful, then surgery is needed.

It sounds as though your son's actual glasses prescription might be fairly mild which is why there is some doubt about the usefulness of glasses as part of his total treatment.

You should visit the Parent Question forum at www.aapos.org and research Esotropia, Congenital Esotropia, and Accommodative Esotropia.

[neeneesmom]

Thank you so much, this was very helpful.  Im headed to that website!!