Eye patches

United States
January 15, 2010 8:08pm CST
I have a 4 year old son who was diagnosed with amblyopia 2 years ago at which time we began seeing specialists and began treatment by patching his good eye. We have only seen very little improvement as we cannot keep the eye patch on him without standing right beside him and preventing him from pulling the patch back to peek. It is impossible to do this for more than a 30 minute span of time as I have four other kids, a dog, a house, a job, etc. Just yesterday, I found arm restraints that would prevent him from reaching his face, but would still allow him the use of his hands and free movement of his arms. If you have a child or other family that required eye patches, what methods did you use to get them to keep it on?
1 response
menolly22
@menolly22 (217)
• United States
16 Jan 10
I don't have a child that has ever required an eye patch. But one of my boys has had to be in the hospital several times and had to have an IV in every single time. He liked to play with it or even pull it out(gasp). I used alot of things to distract him from that IV. Have you tried telling him he looks like a pirate? My oldest is 4 and likes to play make-believe alot. He's a superhero one day, a kung fu master the next. Maybe your boy can be a superhero and his eye patch has his superpowers and in order for them to work he has to wear it! Get really creative and get really excited about it. I'm sorry I don't have any other suggestions for you. I'm just going with what works for us. I understand having to take care of numerous other children, a home, a dog, etc. I have a childcare in my home that is 24 hours, plus my own 2 boys and have to take care of our home and 2 dogs as well. It's exhausting. But hey, our children are totally worth it! I hope that things go better and you get him to wear his patch better than he is wearing it now.
ramos7881
@ramos7881 (344)
• United States
16 Jan 10
I have tried EVERYTHING. I am at my wit's end, I finally just yelled at him the other day - I felt horrible. He kept it on though, and I just think that there has to be an easier way. After all of my research, I have decided that I have one more option before I go with arm restraints, and I am going to try it today after I run errands. I went to a local pharmacy and bought some CoBan (sp?) wrap and some liquid bandage. I am going to apply the liquid bandage to the area where his skin is irritated from the patches, apply the eye patch and then use the CoBan to secure it. I have used CoBan before at work and really like it because it won't irritate the skin or pull hair out, I just think that I might go broke buying the stuff because he will keep pulling it off. The idea though is that it will take him so long to get it off that his eye patch will still be in place and I will be able to replace the CoBan before he has a chance to actually peek. He is really a good kid and plays well. I am also going to order some special reusable cloth patches today because I am already going broke buying the large bandaid type eye patches. I kind of feel like a complainer - my son has to wear an eye patch, but your son has to have IVs! That is so invasive without even considering the emotional aspects that come with it! I wish you the best with your family.