A couple of weeks ago, Chassa, my younger girl, came home from school and told me that a nurse checked her eyes. She said she put on glasses and everything looked blur. I thought that was a good sign, assuming that without glasses things were clear, meaning she had perfect eye-sight. I didn't give it much thought after that.
Just a few days ago on Monday, I checked her school communication book and found a letter inside. It was an appointment letter to visit the Student Health Center next Tuesday for an eye check-up. Attached to it was a health assessment form indicating that her right eye was 6/19 and left eye was 6/7.5. We had no idea what these numbers meant. We assumed she's short-sighted. We tested her right eye and found that she couldn't read the letters.
It was very upsetting. I thought back to all those times I allowed her to play computer games and watch TV so that I could have some free time to do my own things. I felt guilty. I shouldn't have taken the easy way out and in doing so ruin her eye-sight.
Then a more frightening thought came. What if it's not her eyes but her brain? Could this be related to her staring blankly onboard the plane to New Zealand? Maybe there's a tumor or blood clot in her brain that's affecting her vision. That night, Daren and I couldn't sleep. We cried out to God and prayed. I was reminded of how helpless we felt 8 years ago when Charis had very high jaundice level and almost needed a blood transfusion. Daren reminded me to trust in God and commit Chassa into His hands.
The next morning, I quickly called up the Refraction Center to get an earlier appointment. They had a morning slot on Wednesday and I took it. The check-up was fast. We didn't wait long for our turn and it was done in a jiffy. We weren't allowed into the room so that Chassa won't be distracted by our presence. The optician explained to us that Chassa wasn't short-sighted but has high astig in her right eye. This is due to her irregular cornea, which is oval instead of round, and most likely present since birth. She would have to wear glasses at all times.
It was a relief to hear all that although it's still sad that she would have to wear glasses at such a young age. Back home, we tried to google for good optical shops. There were barely any talk about this issue on online forums. I would think that with such high myopia rates in Singapore, this topic would be popular but apparently not. In the end, we sought out friends and relatives advice. One common name that popped out was Pearl's Optical at People's Park Center.
We went to the shop today. We did the usual eye health tests and then proceeded to choose the frames. Finally settled for one. A pink, rectangular frame by Swissflex. We thought that was it when the ophthalmologist, Dr Koh, approached us and asked more about the eye check-up we did at the Refraction Center. On hearing our account, he decided to do a thorough check on Chassa. He went through several tests with her, alphabets, pictures etc. He confirmed it's astig and also a slight lazy eye. He recommended that she put on an eye patch 2-3 hrs a day and while the patch is on, allow her to play computer games or watch TV to stimulate her right eye and strengthen it. This will reduce her reliance on her left eye and also help her right brain to develop also. The total cost came up to $260 (with discount as we were recommended by Kah Can) which we felt was reasonable. The frame alone already cost $200. We'll have to return in 3 months time to assess her eye condition.
As I penned all these down, I want to acknowledge that God is good. Chassa's condition was detected early. The eye screening was done on the day she was in school. We got an earlier appointment. We had friends who recommended us a good ophthalmologist. It turned out that his daughter is also Primary 2 and studying in MGS, although different class from Charis. And he knows another of our friend.
Another amazing thing is that one of the library books we have now entitled,"My Traveling Eye", talks about a girl with lazy eye and having to wear glasses and an eye patch. Chassa liked the book before all these happened and now, she likes it even more as she can relate to it. I would like to believe that God knows what's going to happen and through this book, helps prepare Chassa for it. She's apprehensive about wearing glasses, especially to school as her friends may laugh at her. I'll have to speak to her teacher and perhaps address her classmates myself so that they can understand her situation.
I also want to thank God that it's astig and not myopia or something to do with her brain. In a sense, He has freed me from my guilt. I now have another chance to take good care of my daughter's eyes.
P.S. Chassa was elated when Dr Koh said she can play computer and watch TV for 2-3 hrs a day. At first, when we thought it's myopia, we explained to her that she would have to cut down her screen time and she was very sad.
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