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We had our first eye test since the angiogram.

I actually had to call and chase this up, I’m not sure what happened there but I think we got lost in the system.

When I rung in to chase our follow up it was very quickly booked in.

So as usual I have to mentally prepare for eye tests. They are seriously unpleasant for Kayden and everyone else involved, albeit a necessary evil. I often finish eye exam days with burger king to feed my sad soul.

I had my little cry the night before, worried about how we are going to hold him still now that he is much bigger. Lee suggests I leave the room for this one but its hard either way. I want to be there to comfort him but its so hard to watch and worse to participate in.

Did I mention the time the nurse felt so bad after an eye exam she asked if she could give him a cuddle too.

Anyways, I get there and check in, its all very routine we have been there so many times before.

We get called into the first room, its a long precess, takes 2-3 hours for eye test days. First, we start the drops (2 rounds) but not this time; no drops.

She says he has moved up in testing because he now has behavioral cues and we don’t have to do the same eye test. We don’t have to do the evil metal eye clamp!

The testing was dreamy, basically like playing with him and watching his movements and reactions.

She held up this large grey board with a image just slightly visible and tracked if his eyes would shift to it. Even I was playing along.

What a massive relief! I’m so happy those eye tests are behind us, honestly they were torture. Kayden hit a record tachycardic 238 in one of his eye tests.

We did have a odd moment trying to get the photos with another technician, but overall was more humorous than anything else. I was holding Kayden up to the imagery machine , trying to keep his arms down and eye right up to the machine and the tech was trying to open his eye lids. It was a silly tangled mess but beats that metal clamp anyday.

We manage to get a few photos deemed good enough.

Or more than good enough I should say, into the next room and we get the doctors assessment.

Kayden has been cleared for risk of retinal detachment aka permanent blindness.

You gotta love a good news day.

Now I couldnt find any NZ stats but heres some info from the US.

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is an eye disease that can happen in babies who are premature (born early) — or who weigh less than 3 pounds at birth. ROP happens when abnormal blood vessels grow in the retin.

About 14,000 to 16,000 babies born in the United States each year have ROP. Most babies with ROP have a mild case and don't need treatment. But babies with severe ROP can have vision problems or blindness. About 400 to 600 babies each year become legally blind from ROP.

Laser eye surgery or injections for ROP are very common amongst the microprem community.

The master of self healing strikes again.