Don't Call Her Four-Eyes

Today was the ophthalmology appointment that we've been waiting months for. We became concerned three months ago when we noticed that Sydney's left eye was crossing. Could have been any number of things, but today we finally got a diagnosis: Sydney is extremely farsighted.

*sigh*

The good news is it can be corrected with the glasses she'll be getting (do I need to tell you what color they'll be? pink, of course). With a +6.00 in one eye and +6.50 in the other, I think she should be able to see a speck of dust a mile off. The bad news is that she'll have to wear glasses until either her sight corrects itself (in her teens) or we give her laser surgery as a present for her 18th birthday.

Every school picture, every team photo, every family picture, there will be Sydney with her glasses. It's such a minor thing, I know. Lots of kids wear glasses, just like lots of kids have braces. And there's a certain adorableness about kids wearing glasses, like Jonathan Lipnicki from Stuart Little. It's just always kind of sad when something goes wrong with your kids. There wasn't a thing we could have done to prevent it -- Jason and I even have perfect vision. But still...

But still.

She's such a little girl. Wearing glasses.

It'll be okay. I'm happy we are getting her treatment. There are lots of other things, worse things, it could have been. It'll be okay.

Comments

[Bethany]

I know you're kind of bummed about the glasses thing...I'm sorry for that! I'm sure anytime anything is wrong when it comes to your girl, you as the mama want to fix it all up for her! At least she's getting them while she's so young...she won't really know the difference! And she'll still be such a precious little thing! You must post a picture when she gets her cool pink frames!

[violetismycolor]

You know how I felt when I found out my boys had Tourette's. It's heartbreaking to think that your kids will be 'different'. You do get used to it, but you still mourn for them and for you. But nothing is to be done, so you just live with it.

Adam is feeling incredibly bummed about his forever not being able to bite with his front teeth. 21 and looking forward to that limitation for his whole life. But he'll have to learn to deal, I guess, and I keep thinking...it could have been so much worse. But I feel his pain. I'm his mom. I want his life to be perfect. But none of their lives will be. Ever. The pain of being a mom is realizing that and having to help them accept it.

Keep repeating: What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger!

[Thumper]

Junior high: contacts. We let the Boy get them in 6th grade; what a difference it made for him.

He had genetic working against him. It was never IF he'd need vision correction, but WHEN. I think When was 3rd grade...he didn't seem to mind. No one made fun of him, probably because half the kids in school were also in glasses.

[melanie]

I think I might have felt much the same way when I found out my daughter is allergic to milk, cheese and eggs. A fact of our life that is completely out of my control and nothing I could have prevented, yet I cannot help feel guilty when she can't have some of the snacks the kids at school are having or when I have to filter through her Halloween candy.

But life goes on and you realize how strong and resilient these little ones are. Your daughter will look adorable in her glasses. She is young; her glasses will become second nature to her, a part of her. And perhaps the future will allow her the opportunity to wear contacts or correct her vision through surgery.

And you're right, it could be worse. It could always be worse. So keep focusing on that and as hard as it may be at times, keep telling yourself that this is just a little hiccup in this crazy journey of life.

[andrea]

Glasses can be totally cool! I'm thinking of getting a pair of those black square ones, myself (with no lenses...like the night nurse on "Scubs"). ...Ok, I'm not really, but that's just because I'm not that hip - I really do think they look good.

For reals, though, it's probably a mixed blessing because now she'll look cute AND smart. Can't beat that.

[Angie]

My family always talked about me getting lasik surgery when I turned 18, but when it came down to it, I've become so paranoid about something going wrong and blinding me that I prefer to deal with glasses. :)

Just don't buy frames with lenses half the size of her face. >:p

[Island Girl]

I adore children in glasses! Especially after seeing that cute little boy in that movie Jerry McGuire!

I know she will look absolutely adorable. Good that you are taking care of this early before it became too serious!

Can't wait to see pictures of her. :)

[Jen]

This exact same thing, with the left eye turning in, happened to me as a child and it has never been a big deal. I was 2 when I got my first pair of glasses. I don't remember a time when I didn't have them, and at night, I would go to sleep with them on unless Mom reminded me to take them off. They were just like a part of my face. When people see my baby pictures, they always say how cute I looked with my little pink glasses.

By the time I was in third grade, my farsightedness had corrected itself. However, by the time I was 12 it had moved too far the other way and I have been near-sighted ever since. I got contacts at that age and will probably keep wearing them the rest of my life. They are no inconvenience and I, too, am paranoid that Lasik surgery might somehow go wrong and blind me.

Maybe as someone with perfect vision it seems like more of a big deal to you than it ever will be to her. Like you said, there are far worse things that could happen in life, and I am sure Sydney won't mind a bit. I was never teased or called four-eyes as a kid, and glasses are so common I doubt it will be an issue for her either.

[Laura]

She's so beautiful, the glasses will not detract from it one bit; they will just give her character and make her unforgettable. I'm very glad it's nothing worse.

[Marilyn]

She couldn't possibly be any cuter or more adorable than she already is...but pink glasses just might do the trick. ;) I know it's upsetting to you, but she's such a beautiful and lucky girl in every other way...and how blessed you are that she is.

[ccap]

Oh man. I completely understand your varying emotions to this. I think kids in glasses are adorable. That being said, I'd still be sad if my little one needed them too early. Sad truth is, with both her parents in glasses she probably will.

[mopsy]

I know you are disappointed and concerned about this surprising development in Sydney's life. It's new territory and probably something that never occured to you that she'd need as such a small child. Yeah, there are much worse things and I echo the "but still..."

I understand---my oldest son is six and has worn glasses for years. We had no idea how bad his vision was (he didn't know clocks had numbers on them. Yeah.)Neither hubby nor I wear glasses or contacts.

I will be honest with you. I hated his glasses *at first*. I hated he had to wear them. I worried it would make him a target of bullies as he grew. I thought they took away from his cuteness and the first few days he had them were very hard for him. I felt guilty that he had been walking around seeing the world askew for who knows how long.

But now they are a part of him and he looks strange without his glasses. He knows he needs them and doesn't complain about them. Our biggest issue is trying to keep them clean. I swear, 90% of the time they look like he just dunked them in a glass of milk and sprinkled dirt on them.

[Stout]

glad you got that doctor's appointment so fast and hurrah for it just being glasses. i cannot wait to see these glasses, definately pink, any tinted glass? although the big thick black frames are sure in retro style these days, maybe some slanted 60's ones, or those really big round ones that all the actresses were wearing? maybe those are out of style now, but for kids...you might just be breaking news.

[Angie]

Oh, if it's any consolation, I went through my entire life without being called "four-eyes", and that was in public school too. :)

[Rebekah]

Yes, it will be okay. It does take your breath away when ANYTHING happens with your kids. You can help her be so cool with a whole wardrobe of glasses as she grows up. I'd just like to give you a big hug!

[jes]

Both my sister and I went through this...my little sis was about three....she had to wear these big glasses with a band around her head to keep them on....too cute.

Glasses are SO IN...and especially the PINK!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! xoxox

[Bethany]

Children in glasses are very cute. :P But I'll be praying for you guys anyway!

[Randi]

Two of my kiddos wear glasses and at first I was concerned about it--but now, no big deal. And like you said, there is definitely a certain cuteness about it! My teenage daughter uses hers as a kind of fashion accessory--gotta be cool!

[Raehan]

You'll all get through it and be better for it in the end.

And she will remain beautiful.

And it will make her strong.

Think beautiful and strong.