Doctor's Visit

I can’t believe it but Ryker is now 9 months old.  He is crawling and pulling up.  He learns something new and changes DAILY.  He is into EVERYTHING but I wouldn’t change a thing.  Every day is a new adventure but it is so much fun…and tiring!  

I have been waiting for this past Tuesday to come for the last 6 months.  It was our appointment with Ryker’s Ophthalmologist.  I guess you could say it was our first REAL appointment.  We had been to the Ophthalmologist before when Ryker was 7 weeks old for the diagnosis and again at 3 months to confirm the diagnosis but he was so young the doctors couldn’t tell us much.

So Tuesday was FINALLY here.  I was nervous and excited all at the same time.  I was excited to tell Dr. Packwood the improvement we have noticed in Ryker’s vision.  I am amazed sometimes at what he can see.  I also had so many questions that I wanted answers to but most importantly how much vision would Ryker have?  I guess I was cautiously optimistic that the doctor would be able to answer our questions.  I already knew that TIME is the only way we can get any definite answers.   After Dr. Packwood met with us and examined Ryker he told us that he estimated his vision will be anywhere from 20/100 to 20/150 as a child and 20/80 to 20/100 as an adult.  Of course this is just an approximation but it was fabulous news!  I was thrilled!  Slade and I have also noticed that Ryker’s left eye turns in sometimes.  Dr. Packwood agreed that it does cross in but he thinks he may be settling into a null point.  A null point is basically how Ryker positions his head to get his best line of sight.  It is different with every person that has a nystagmus.  For example, Ryker may tilt his head down and slightly to the left or he may just tilt his head to the right.  In a few years Ryker can have surgery to straighten out his null point.  The doctor will measure his null point and then they will go in and adjust the eye muscles so his best line of sight will be when he looks straight ahead.  Surgery is optional and will be several years down the road.  We will reevaluate his left eye when we go back to the doctor in December.  If his left eye is definitely turning in and doesn’t have anything to do with his null point then he will have to wear an eye patch.  We will go to the Ophthalmologist every 6 months. 

Dr. Packwood referred us to The Retina Foundation of the Southwest to do Teller Acuity tests.  These tests can help us find out what Ryker’s vision is currently and better predict what it will be in the future.  The Foundation is located in Dallas.  I’m so thankful that such an amazing center with some of the leading researchers and specialists is located so close to us.  We were able to schedule our appointment with The Retina Foundation for June 24.  I’m extremely excited about this appointment.  Slade and I are praying that Ryker’s vision continues to develop and improve.  So at the moment we still don’t know much about Ryker’s vision but I do know that his vision is NOT slowing him down at all.  He is an amazing little boy!  I’m so proud to be Ryker’s mommy!