It's all in the eyes
Jul. 12th, 2006 10:24 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
percivalWe fly to Germany regularly to have our daughter checked by a paediatrician. This is equivalent to American well-baby visits. In Scotland, these regular checks have been abolished; the last is at six weeks of age. German checks are very comprehensive. They look at language, social skills, motor development, posture, etc. Part of those checks is an eye test. In Britain, there's only one routine eye test, but that takes place at around school age. German opthalmologists argue that most of the vision areas of the brain are shaped and trained during the first 24 months of life. This is why the tests are done so early.
Well, you probably know where this is leading. We'll need to visit the opthalmologist because our paediatrician's screening device detected a potential eye problem. I don't know what it might be - the screening was done by a practice aide (there are nearly no practice nurses in Germany), who came back with the doctor's verdict. Our baby is sensitive to sunlight and tends to rub her eyes or just one eye (not just when she is tired, but from time to time even when she is taking a short time out from playing). If whatever it is is detected early, I have high hopes that it can be corrected for good. I have problems with depth perception myself and used to have to wear glasses because I had a shortsighted eye.
I was hoping that I could get somebody in Britain to look at our girl, but based on the research I've done so far, I'm not very hopeful. There is next to no culture of examining babies, and I'm afraid of being stuck on a long, long NHS waiting list when all I want is a quick check and some glasses, if necessary. Moreover, it takes skill and specialised instrumentation to assess babies' vision, and I'm positive that the German ophthalmologist we're going to consult has both. Now we need to source an optician who can deliver the glasses we need as quickly as possible.
One more trip to Germany ...
Well, you probably know where this is leading. We'll need to visit the opthalmologist because our paediatrician's screening device detected a potential eye problem. I don't know what it might be - the screening was done by a practice aide (there are nearly no practice nurses in Germany), who came back with the doctor's verdict. Our baby is sensitive to sunlight and tends to rub her eyes or just one eye (not just when she is tired, but from time to time even when she is taking a short time out from playing). If whatever it is is detected early, I have high hopes that it can be corrected for good. I have problems with depth perception myself and used to have to wear glasses because I had a shortsighted eye.
I was hoping that I could get somebody in Britain to look at our girl, but based on the research I've done so far, I'm not very hopeful. There is next to no culture of examining babies, and I'm afraid of being stuck on a long, long NHS waiting list when all I want is a quick check and some glasses, if necessary. Moreover, it takes skill and specialised instrumentation to assess babies' vision, and I'm positive that the German ophthalmologist we're going to consult has both. Now we need to source an optician who can deliver the glasses we need as quickly as possible.
One more trip to Germany ...
