It's all in the eyes

[percival]

We 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 ...

Comments

[angelofthenorth.livejournal.com]

For babies in NE England, they're incredibly good, so I don't know if it's a scottish problem.

My cousin's children have had glasses since around 12 months, and were seen very quickly. (She's in Hartlepool) Both of them have a squint and something else. They've had regular eye appointments since very early on when something was spotted.

[katiedarling.livejournal.com]

wait.... They don't routinely check babies' VISION and correct it?! That's insane.

Of course, I may just be saying that because, seriously, the only reason I can see today is that my vision therapy was started when I was three months old, and it saved my eyes enough to make surgery semi-effective. (but mine was an exceedingly RARE case, so don't worry at all that your family might have a similar experience. I do worry for MY child though, since it may be genetic.)

[perceval.livejournal.com]

Makes me wonder whether I should try the GP just in case. But it'll be a three-week wait just to get a FRIGGING NON-URGENT APPOINTMENT WITH THE GP (excuse the upper case). And I will need to make sure that they run a full range of tests, not do the same photo screening we already had done in Germany and then ask me to come back a couple of months later.

Our baby doesn't have a squint, but 70% of kids with eye problems only show behavioural signs during the first two years of life.

[perceval.livejournal.com]

They don't have well-baby visits after six weeks FULL STOP. You can go see specially trained nurses any time, but there are no regular checks.

[angelofthenorth.livejournal.com]

Well, you can always do both - plan on going to Germany, and if you get seen faster in the UK, then it happens ;)

[katiedarling.livejournal.com]

That's also insane. Of course, what I find truly insane HERE is that while well-baby visits are required, we have to pay a ridiculous amount of money for them.

[hilarityallen.livejournal.com]

That is incredibly frustrating. I wish you luck with getting the best for your daughter.

[annearchy.livejournal.com]

Good luck :) We're lucky in the states that well-child checks are routine through age 5; in fact I think we took M. to the doctor at ages 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 4, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months. After 2 years the checkups were annual. At least one thing works well in our health care system-- IF you have good health insurance (like I do) or can otherwise afford it. If not, you're left to your own devices.

[piperx.livejournal.com]

I hope it's nothing too serious.

[awelkin.livejournal.com]

It's probably a good idea to have your German doctor continue to look at these things.

Catherine

[chrysantza.livejournal.com]

I hope it's nothing serious! And whatever it is, it's a very GOOD thing you have caught it when your baby is young. Usually eye problems are highly correctable when caught right away.

[katinka31.livejournal.com]

I hope all is well with the little one.

In Scotland, these regular checks have been abolished; the last is at six weeks of age.

YIKES. That frightens me.

[sidheag.livejournal.com]

Um. Don't confuse what's available with what's organised for you. I'm in Edinburgh. There may be no automatically scheduled check-ups (now: Colin, now 2y8m old, got several, but I had heard there'd been a shake-up) but that doesn't mean you can't get one (my GP practice at least is very good about not needing to think there's a problem to take the child in). And my own optician has said that she's happy to see Colin any time, though I haven't taken him in yet since I'm pretty confident his vision is just fine (better than mine, corrected, in every aspect I've thought about, anyway). Can't answer for the equipment, but she certainly thought she could cope with examining an 18 month old. I don't remember how old your daughter is; they wouldn't have been happy to do much with a baby under a year, I think. This was at Cameron optometry on St Vincent St, in case Edinburgh is where you are and in case that helps.

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, thank you so much for the pointer to an optician! FWIW, I asked at VisionExpress, and they won't see babies or toddlers at all, even though they mention regular check-ups on their web site. I'm still not sure what would be the best way for my daughter to be seen for follow up ...

My own GP practice is ok, too, and I'm glad that there are regular drop-in HV clinics. (Even though you need to wait three weeks for an appointment if it's not urgent.) The reason I'm so anal about checkups is that when I was a kid, I didn't get checked properly by our doctor, a developmental motor delay wasn't diagnosed in time, which in turn made my life at school a bit of a misery.

[(Anonymous)]

Well, you can get your child checked if you ask your General Practitioner or Health Visitor to do it. But there's no real regular schedule anymore.

[actionreplay.livejournal.com]

well, I got glasses at age 8, and I probably needed them 2 years before then. It's not that unusual for a kid to need them - and as a lifetime glasses wearer, it's not that bad....