Guest guest Posted December 15, 2008 Report Share Posted December 15, 2008 Hello everyone, My daughter Zakiyah is now 18 months, and we now live in Hawaii. We just had her visit with the Ped Optho, and it was the first time surgery has been brought up. (As her other doctor told us that surgeries were very unsuccesful and that he didnt recommend them) Zakiyah has had a problem with her tear duct ever sice she was born, and she still does not make tears. I was wondering if anyone else has this problem? Another question about surgery is, her doctor recommended doing the surgery in about 3-4 years, around the time of kindergarden. I was thinking that alot of the children here have it way sooner and why wait that long? Is there a particular reason, If we decide to get surgery for her, I was hoping it was younger so that she wouldnt remember it so much! If anyone can give me some answers that would be great!! Thanks so much... Nancie (USA, HAWAII) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2008 Report Share Posted December 15, 2008 Every doctor has different reasons for doing surgeries later/earlier... it all depends on how severe the "droop" is and if it affects vision at all.. my son had surgery for the first time at 5 weeks old and has had 6 more surgeries since then (he is done now) however Lynden's vision was 75% obstructed.. so maybe they don't think Zakiyah's vision is a problem.. also some doctors use tendons or ligaments for some of the surgeries from the leg and they usually like the child to develop a bit..maybe go back to your doctor, ask what types of surgeries they do? what do they use ... fascia lata (from the leg) or silicone (slings or rods) etc... this can maybe tell you why they want to delay surgery, also find out if her vision is affected by the upper lid droop..hope some of this helps Tonikka & (lynden)tmareephotography.blogspot.comtmareephotography.comupdotoyou.com On 14-Dec-08, at 8:48 PM, n_cottrill wrote:Hello everyone,My daughter Zakiyah is now 18 months, and we now live in Hawaii. We just had her visit with the Ped Optho, and it was the first time surgery has been brought up. (As her other doctor told us that surgeries were very unsuccesful and that he didnt recommend them) Zakiyah has had a problem with her tear duct ever sice she was born, and she still does not make tears. I was wondering if anyone else has this problem? Another question about surgery is, her doctor recommended doing the surgery in about 3-4 years, around the time of kindergarden. I was thinking that alot of the children here have it way sooner and why wait that long? Is there a particular reason, If we decide to get surgery for her, I was hoping it was younger so that she wouldnt remember it so much! If anyone can give me some answers that would be great!! Thanks so much...Nancie (USA, HAWAII) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2008 Report Share Posted December 15, 2008 Nancie, hello. My surgeons told me that any kind of reconstructive, plastic surgery should be held off until child's face has a chance to grow, enough tissue to work with. I believe many children have this type of surgery before the start of school for the social/emotional factor. In a message dated 12/14/2008 10:48:55 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, n_cottrill@... writes: Hello everyone,My daughter Zakiyah is now 18 months, and we now live in Hawaii. We just had her visit with the Ped Optho, and it was the first time surgery has been brought up. (As her other doctor told us that surgeries were very unsuccesful and that he didnt recommend them) Zakiyah has had a problem with her tear duct ever sice she was born, and she still does not make tears. I was wondering if anyone else has this problem? Another question about surgery is, her doctor recommended doing the surgery in about 3-4 years, around the time of kindergarden. I was thinking that alot of the children here have it way sooner and why wait that long? Is there a particular reason, If we decide to get surgery for her, I was hoping it was younger so that she wouldnt remember it so much! If anyone can give me some answers that would be great!! Thanks so much...Nancie (USA, HAWAII) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 15, 2008 Report Share Posted December 15, 2008 Nancie, In general, most surgeons will try to leave operations until just before starting school, if vision is not being adversely affected. That way, they (a) maximise the amount of skin to work with for the canthal extensions ( avoid a lot of the facial growth that occurs up till then, © may be able to use the patient's own fascia lata for the slings, (d) lessen social issues at school (the patient's, not the surgeon's). If vision is being adversely affected by ptosis, they'll often fix that straight away; they nearly always leave the canthal work until just before school in any case. An early ptosis surgery may have to be re-done later anyway, to adjust for facial growth (hence not usually done early unless vision is affected). Tear problems are common in BPES - both watery and dry eyes. The canthus is displaced, so the tear ducts can also be displaced relative to where they'd be most effective. I had one of my tear ducts moved twice (for a watery eye) - then the surgeon gave up and moved the canthus back a bit instead! D'oh! I get the impression, though, that dry-eye is more common with BPES-enhanced folks. My son did not cry tears (much) when he was little, just like your little'n; an occasional lubricant in hot/dry or windy weather and he's fine. Rob W Oz n_cottrill wrote: > Hello everyone, > > My daughter Zakiyah is now 18 months, and we now live in Hawaii. We > just had her visit with the Ped Optho, and it was the first time > surgery has been brought up. (As her other doctor told us that > surgeries were very unsuccesful and that he didnt recommend them) > > Zakiyah has had a problem with her tear duct ever sice she was born, > and she still does not make tears. I was wondering if anyone else has > this problem? Another question about surgery is, her doctor recommended > doing the surgery in about 3-4 years, around the time of kindergarden. > I was thinking that alot of the children here have it way sooner and > why wait that long? Is there a particular reason, If we decide to get > surgery for her, I was hoping it was younger so that she wouldnt > remember it so much! If anyone can give me some answers that would be > great!! Thanks so much... > > Nancie (USA, HAWAII) > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 Thanks so much to everyone that responded about the questions that I faced. Now I understand the importance of waiting, since Kiyah's eye sight is normal, she just has to tilt her head back pretty bad! Unfortuniatly, the reason why I didnt really ask questions with her doctor, is because we will probably not be here by the time the surgery is needed. My husband is in the military, so it makes it even that much more difficult, she has already had several doctors, since we have to move often. And the doctors she has been to have not ever seen her condition, so I figure, why ask, until we find the doctor that will acually perform the surgery! Thats why this support group is a great resourse for my family and I!! Thanks to everyone that helped! Nancie (USA, HAWAII) > > Nancie, hello. My surgeons told me that any kind of reconstructive, plastic > surgery should be held off until child's face has a chance to grow, enough > tissue to work with. I believe many children have this type of surgery before > the start of school for the social/emotional factor. > > > In a message dated 12/14/2008 10:48:55 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, > n_cottrill@... writes: > > > > > Hello everyone, > > My daughter Zakiyah is now 18 months, and we now live in Hawaii. We > just had her visit with the Ped Optho, and it was the first time > surgery has been brought up. (As her other doctor told us that > surgeries were very unsuccesful and that he didnt recommend them) > > Zakiyah has had a problem with her tear duct ever sice she was born, > and she still does not make tears. I was wondering if anyone else has > this problem? Another question about surgery is, her doctor recommended > doing the surgery in about 3-4 years, around the time of kindergarden. > I was thinking that alot of the children here have it way sooner and > why wait that long? Is there a particular reason, If we decide to get > surgery for her, I was hoping it was younger so that she wouldnt > remember it so much! If anyone can give me some answers that would be > great!! Thanks so much... > > Nancie (USA, HAWAII) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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