As I have mentioned in a previous blog, Jonathan was five years old when he was diagnosed with a lazy eye and eye patch therapy would no longer be beneficial after he turned eight. Every time Jonathan has to renew his driver’s license, he has to take the written test, a driving test, and must turn in a DMV 62, Report of Vision Examination, completed by the examining doctor. One of the doctors at an eye center in the local Wal-Mart had a different perspective of the eye patch therapy and said it would only be beneficial at an early age—as an infant. Although being told that nothing could possibly be done, I always believed that diagnosis would change because of the advancement in modern technology.
Also had wondered whether or not Jonathan’s vision disorder had developed because of the many head-banging incidents over the years--rolled out of my arms as an infant, rolled off the bed in a cabin in Pagosa Springs, hit his head on the corner of the organ, tripped and cracked his head open on the cement stairway of an outdoor mall. However, during another visit to the eye doctor last weekend, Jonathan’s diagnosis was finally understood.
Jonathan has amblyopia in his right eye that cannot be corrected by glasses or contact lenses and is not caused by an eye disease. Also called lazy eye, the vision is limited because the eye and the brain are not working together properly and the brain is favoring the good eye. His right eye is 20/100 and also has hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism. Jonathan is part of the 3% population who has this neurological eye disorder. It will not get worse. It will not get better. It was a very heartbreaking disappointment.
Jonathan took the form to the local DMV and afterwards called me with great news. His name was removed from the temporary list and was given a regular driver’s license. It must have been the notation the doctor wrote on the form that Jonathan’s vision has not changed since 1995. When it’s time for renewal in five years, there should be no more hassles with red tape bureaucracy.
2 comments:
When it comes to our children, that shattered hope seems even more difficult to bear. I'm glad he got the good news with DMV ... seldom does anything good come from DMV!
I'm glad to hear that his conditon at least won't get any worse. But it is disheartening for him to know that there really isn't anything to do for his condition. We'll keep him and you in our prayers.
Steve
Post a Comment