The apple of my eye...

So, I've been slacking, I'll admit it. I think part of it is I've been gearing up to share about The Big Pediatric Ophthalmologist Appointment and I just haven't quite wanted to relive that day again just yet. Not that it went badly, in fact it actually went pretty well, all things considered, but it was a LONG day and I got so worked up in preparation for it... it's like I haven't quite released all of the tension.

But hey, life goes on.

Penny did really well, despite being poked, prodded, and having various instruments put IN her eye (yeah, I know) and her eyes held open and whatnot. I LOVED the people there. The doctor was obviously very experienced and knowledgeable, and his assistant was super sweet. Although we drove through a snow storm to get there, it actually worked out pretty well for us because a lot of people had cancelled their appointments, so we had very little wait time and got in and out very quickly for how extensive the exam was. I was so fortunate to have Tom and Lu Ann there not only for their Ford Explorer to get us through the snow - but it made everything so less stressful for me and I can't imagine having to do that by myself.

The doctor is quite certain about what type of cataract she has, and this means that it is very unlikely that the cataract will multiply or grow (which would require surgery) or that it is a symptom of a hereditary disorder (which would require many more tests of the MRI/blood drawing variety).

This is the type she has: Congenital Polar Cataract with Persistant Pupillary Membrane

The cataract IS, however, somewhat in her field of vision, so it is important that we "exercise" that eye to make sure the brain doesn't turn it off since it doesn't see as well. To do this, she will have to wear a patch on her "good" eye for an hour a day, every day, and have her vision tested every 3 months.

The good news is, the patches are actually pretty cute, and she's young enough that she hasn't quite figured out that we stuck something on her face. You can tell that she KNOWS something's off - she'll rub her eyes and act a little differently when it's on - but she tolerates it pretty well.

And can I get an "Amen" for good health insurance???