Eye Procedure

Hello Alison. My son who is going to be 2 in July had the eye procedure done twice! He had the block tear ducts since birth & we did the eyes drops plus the massage of the ducts. It never help so finally he had the 1st procedure done continued w/the drops. But a week after we stop the drops his eyes were blocks again so they decided to try the procedure again & after about 2 weeks his eyes clear right up. Cause if they didnt they wanted to put tubes in his eyes. But we didnt have any problems w/him being put out. He woke up scard not knowing & they would call me in the room. Then they gave him some crackers & then he was really fine. (My boy likes to eat). They did give him a deposit of mortin also while he was sleeping. So if anything check to see if they do that & if not you might want to bring some just for the discomfort. Good luck & everything will be fine!!!

My advice-DONT GET IT DONE YET!!
My son's eye was sealed shut the entire first year of his life! While I was told a clogged tear duct is very common, I was still concerned. Between the 3 pediatric eye doctors we consulted they all said wait until he is a year b/c sometimes they heal themselves.

Fast forward to his one year birthday...he woke up with his eye sealed, as usual and we cleaned it with the warm cotton ball, as usual. The next day (he was 1yr, 1day old) he woke up with his eye clean and WIDE OPEN!! It opened on it's own!!I did not have to put my son thru the "minor surgery" and myself through the trauma!!
Wait and see what happens in the next 4 months...

Hello-

I agree with Denise. AS long ast it does not harm her to wait a few months, then what's the harm in waiting. However, should it not resolve itself, I certainly would not suggest allowing the surgery to be done without any sort of anesthesia. First of all, the doctors would not be able to perform the anesthesia without it ! Could you imagine allowing a child to be awake for something like that??? She would fight them tooth and nail. Perhaps you should also get a second opinion.

I have a little boy who had to have eye muscle alignment surgery. He was out for a little under an hour. His eyes were all blood shot when he woke. Of course this is a different surgery and I say all of that to say this: Kids are VERY resilient. They don't even remember surgeries when they are so young like that. Don't worry. You will hurt (emotionally) more than she does.

A little about me:

I love to shop and read as well as help others. I own my own business and I am a business coach providing free mentoring to individuals with stay at home businesses, teaching the skills needed for success.

I am newly married (Sept. '07) but we've been together for 5 years. I have 3 children, 1 is special needs. He's the best little boy! Christopher is 7. My other 2 are 13 (girl) and 20 (boy)

Hi Alison,
I work at an outpatient surgical center and see this procedure done all the time...the procedure is very quick, about 15 minutes or less...only suggestion I have is if they offer for you or your hubby to go into the OR with her until she falls asleep dont....biggest mistake I ever made....other than that the recovery is very quick and before you know it you will be taking yor little girl home...Try not to worry (yeah right!!) and just know that before you know it it will all be behind you!! Feel free to email me if you need any more info!!
Meg :)

Alison,

Although I don't have any experience with this, I have had two children have a total of 3 surgeries. I know what it feels like to be nervous even though the procedure is minimal. Having your child put to sleep is never a minor thing (I don't mean clinically, but emotionally).

The only thing I can say is that if they try to give your baby a sedative prior to taking her in to be put out...don't let them. I have never let them give my child something to "make them drowsy" prior to surgery because it is in my experience a narcotic. Having worked in halfway homes with the drug addicted, I have learned that being exposed to narcotics early in life can lead to an addictive personality later in life. I'm sure some will disagree with this, but our bodies develop a memory for narcotics and then if exposed to them again, it starts a craving, which leads to addiction. At 8 months there would be no reason to give your baby drugs like that. Even if she is scared, it is only for a few minutes.

But if you don't believe that...I suppose it does kind of sound like a radical viewpoint...know that your baby will be in the recovery room much longer if you allow her to have a sedative.

D.