How long is to long to dialate a toddler's eyes

My 2 year old little girl was born at 24 weeks gestation 1 pound 9.2 oz. She developed stage 3+ R.O.P. (both eyes)due to being on a ventilated for 6 weeks. She had surgery to correct this at 1 month old and we were told she may have lost her side vision (lasered 1800 spots on each eye)  I am now told she is farsighted and now has Ambyopia in her left eye. It droops also. Both seem to happen in late afternoon. We tried patching for 6 weeks but she would not keep it on. We have since been dialteing daily for 12-18 weeks. I am worried it may be cuasing damage. She use to react to sunlight and beg us for her sunglasses. Now she doesn't seem to care glasses or not. Her left eye is also crossing in no too. How long is to long to dialate a toddler's eyes?

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

So called "Drop Occlusion"  that is using atropine to prevent the good eye from focus at near to help strengthen the other amblyopic eye is very effective when patching doesn't work. You daughter is not going to get the hours on end, outside summer sunlight that might make it a concern.

JCH MD