360 trabeculotomy - 14 months later

Posting this two weeks late but Aaron had his follow up visit at Moorfields Eye Hospital, Thursday, 7 December and spoiler alert but I am happy to say that 14 months on, his intraocular pressures are still very well controlled!

It was a bit of a production getting up to London as the appointment was in the middle of lunchtime/nap time, plus I was dragging a dress for a black-tie gala later that evening (which ended up hanging rather neatly off of the back of the buggy)! I should also mention that we had 20-mph winds and rain that was coming down in sheets. We were very lucky that our train ran as scheduled (the three prior had been cancelled).

Once we were at the hospital, we went through our usual visit to the orthoptist. I secretly hate this part. Aaron gets shown a bunch of beige cards with very faint drawings of animals on them, which he never seems interested in and I am never sure how he is supposed to react. I basically sit there trying to contain my impatience (I hate not knowing what's going on) until the orthoptist says everything's fine. This latest visit was no exception, except the usual 'Aaron's eyes are developing fine' was then followed by 'Has Aaron ever had a glasses test? No? Hmm, ok.' Gah.

Next we went in to see Mr. Brookes, who was delighted at the clarity of Aaron's corneas and confirmed that the intraocular pressures are stable at 13 and 14. Great news! The 360 trabeculotomy continues to deliver successful results!

Mr. Brookes then mentioned he would like to dilate Aaron's eyes so that he could get a better look at the nerves...and so that we could go see the optician for a glasses test. Aaron sat remarkably still during the eye drops (good thing too, because I was not looking forward to pinning down a kicking, squawking toddler) and we had about an hour wait to see the optician. And guess what, kiddo needs glasses.

It wasn't a surprise (I knew we'd be leaving with specs when the orthoptist said 'Hmm'), I have always known Aaron would need glasses at some point and I KNOW we are lucky he can see at all. (I have to force myself to remember it sometimes, because Aaron seems so normal and you'd never know he has congenital glaucoma unless you hold him on his back under a bright light, but I do know how truly, incredibly lucky we are.)

However, because the congenital glaucoma is now so well managed, I am back to lamenting day-to-day about 'normal' mom problems: balancing family/career, trying to survive teething, tantrums, etc. Some mornings we barely get out the door, so adding glasses into the routine just sounds like a bloody nightmare. I feel lame-o admitting that, but it's the truth.

Moving forward and trying to be optimistic about things, we at least have a lengthy Christmas break now, where all three of us are home and Adam and I can try to introduce Aaron's new accessory slowly! I am reading up on the best ways to go about this, am guessing there will be tears and a struggle for Alpha dog. But if we can survive a 360 trabeculotomy with a 5-month old, we will survive glasses, surely. Watch this space ;-)