Child eye exam-dilating bpi kid-am I paranoid?

Forum for parents of injured who are seeking information from other parents or people living with the injury. All welcome
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k1999
Posts: 17
Joined: Mon May 23, 2005 10:49 pm

Child eye exam-dilating bpi kid-am I paranoid?

Post by k1999 »

My child will be starting kindergarten this year and will need a vision screening. I am a bit concerned about having her eyes dilated. She may phrenic nerve injury which is affecting her diaphragm and because
of the brachial plexus nerve injury, I keep thinking that what if we dilate her pupils and they don't go back to normal because of bpi???

I am going to refuse the dilation portion anyway and will probably end up getting into it with the school nurse.

Am I being paranoid?
Shannon03
Posts: 161
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2003 12:03 am

Re: Child eye exam-dilating bpi kid-am I paranoid?

Post by Shannon03 »

Our daughter's eye were dialated due to Horner's Syndrome (her opthalmologist wanted to check for damage). The eyes did not return to normal for somewhere between 5-7 days. The eye doctor said this was normal for her given her injury and expected it to take around a week to return to normal. By the end of the week her pupils were back to what they were before the test. Good luck.
admin
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Re: Child eye exam-dilating bpi kid-am I paranoid?

Post by admin »

My son has been dilated and his went back to normal in a regular amount of time. He hated every second of it though...!
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Tanya in NY
Posts: 935
Joined: Mon May 03, 2004 10:51 am
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: I am Mom to Amber, injured at birth. I serve on the Board of Directors for UBPN, and am a labor/delivery nurse, too.
Location: NY State
Contact:

Re: Child eye exam-dilating bpi kid-am I paranoid?

Post by Tanya in NY »

I may be missing something, but when did dilating the pupils of a child became the "norm" for a school vision screening? My son (he's 10) never had this done. Heck, I was just offerred it for the first time at the eye doctor this year and I have been wearing glasses/contacts with a yearly exam since I was in 6th grade (so basically forever)!

Just curious as to why your school district is requesting or requiring this to be done as mine never has except to do the usual read the letters with each eye and both eyes.

Tanya in NY
Tanya in NY
Amber's Mom, ROBPI, 13 years old
k1999
Posts: 17
Joined: Mon May 23, 2005 10:49 pm

Re: Child eye exam-dilating bpi kid-am I paranoid?

Post by k1999 »

My town in Indiana has internal eye exam on the form which I am assuming is going to be with dilation.
admin
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Re: Child eye exam-dilating bpi kid-am I paranoid?

Post by admin »

Wow, I am so surprised that they request this. My kids are only required to have a regular vision test. I think it (test with dilation) should be done on teenagers and adults and thats about it unless there is a problem or family history of something. Or maybe I am wrong!

~Krista~
TNT1999
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Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2001 5:54 pm

Re: Child eye exam-dilating bpi kid-am I paranoid?

Post by TNT1999 »

I never thought about the pupils not going back to normal after dilating them b/c of the BPI. Is this just a thought you had or is there a real reason for the concern? I'm not saying that sarcastically so I hope it didn't come out that way. I'm really wondering though b/c I know that my daughter had her pupils dilated during an exam with an Opthalmologist. She hated the experience. I don't think the drops would've bothered her so much though had the dr. (who was not a Pediatric specialist) communicated better with us about what he was going to do and when he was going to do it. Some drs. think that if you just do it quick w/o any "warning" (aka communication b/c dr and patient!!) then it's better than explaining first what they're going to do. AARRGHH! So, to answer your question, I don't know if you're being paranoid or if I was not careful enough to consider a risk of this. I'd love more info. if you have any regarding possible risks. Thanks.

~Tina, bpmom@comcast.net, Mom to Nicole (6 y.o. w/LOPBI) & Joshua (16 mos. w/NOBPI)
Kath
Posts: 3242
Joined: Mon Nov 18, 2002 4:11 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: I am ROBPI, global injury, Horner's Syndrome. No surgery but PT started at 2 weeks old under the direction of New York Hospital. I wore a brace 24/7 for the first 11 months of my life. I've never let my injury be used as an excuse not to do something. I've approach all things, in life, as a challenge. I approach anything new wondering if I can do it. I tried so many things I might never have tried, if I were not obpi. Being OBPI has made me strong, creative, more determined and persistent. I believe that being obpi has given me a very strong sense of humor and compassion for others.
Location: New York

Re: Child eye exam-dilating bpi kid-am I paranoid?

Post by Kath »

I actually had my eyes dilated by mistake several years ago... It was the first time and I did not realize it was not supposed to last as long as it did. I also did not realize how much I hated all that light...

I had them dilated several months ago and now I know more about Horner's and this doctor said it was no big deal.. and this time is was not...

The first time is was an accident and the doctor had not washed his hands between patients and handled my new contact lenses.... I was not prepared for it.

Kath
Kath robpi/adult

Kathleen Mallozzi
k1999
Posts: 17
Joined: Mon May 23, 2005 10:49 pm

Re: Child eye exam-dilating bpi kid-am I paranoid?

Post by k1999 »

Actually it is just a thought I had.

Also, as I was reading about phrenic nerve injury as it pertains to the diaphragm the pupil thing came up.

So if the pupil is affected during a phrenic nerve injury, my line of reasoning was, well if the phrenic nerve is part of pupil contraction (not entirely sure if this is correct), then what happens if you artificially change the pupil size of someone who may have a phrenic nerve injury?

Again, these are just thoughts I was considering.

Also, because of my daughter's injury, I do believe I suffer from a sort of post traumatic condition in which I question everything.

Kath
Posts: 3242
Joined: Mon Nov 18, 2002 4:11 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: I am ROBPI, global injury, Horner's Syndrome. No surgery but PT started at 2 weeks old under the direction of New York Hospital. I wore a brace 24/7 for the first 11 months of my life. I've never let my injury be used as an excuse not to do something. I've approach all things, in life, as a challenge. I approach anything new wondering if I can do it. I tried so many things I might never have tried, if I were not obpi. Being OBPI has made me strong, creative, more determined and persistent. I believe that being obpi has given me a very strong sense of humor and compassion for others.
Location: New York

Re: Child eye exam-dilating bpi kid-am I paranoid?

Post by Kath »

k1999

It is better to ask these questions now because then maybe you can feel more comfortable when things come up. It is so hard to know what is connected with this injury. I am 65 and in the last few years finally realized how many of my health issues were related to my OBPI.

There is no such thing as a silly question here. We are all here to support and help each other.

You may very well be suffering from post traumatic stress ... check with a professional about it to help you.

Kath ( adult/obpi)
Kath robpi/adult

Kathleen Mallozzi
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