[blindkid] Conformer question?

[Richard Holloway]

Vickie,

Not a dumb question at all. As far as I am aware, the conformers-- as  
in the clear items are generally used mainly for children because they  
are so quickly outgrown in many cases. As kids get older the shells  
are preferred because they are more cosmetically pleasing-- that is  
when made properly, they look like typical eyes. (The down side is  
that they are also a lot more expensive.)

Either should help minimize problems due to the open space where full- 
sized eyes would typically be and they should both offer the same  
benefits as far as cranial development, etc. I'd certainly go to the  
Eye Doctor first and discuss your wish to see an Ocularist to get  
conformers or painted shells. Ideally, the two professionals should  
work together to provide a solution for you.

As to the rubbing and pressing, try your best to get her to minimize  
that. Often certain visual sensations are brought about by the rubbing  
and pressing (or so I have been told) and this causes people to want  
to keep pressing. Once formed, it is a hard habit to break! When done  
to excess this can cause long term or even permanent damage to  
remaining eye tissue that in some cases has to ultimately be removed.

Richard

On May 14, 2009, at 3:37 PM, vickie.pellicciotti at aglife.com wrote:

> This is probably a dumb question...My daughter is also totally  
> blind.  She
> rubs her eyes a lot and is getting shadows under her eyes, but I was  
> never
> aware that the development of the bone structure would be an issue.   
> She is
> now 13.   Her eyes are there...she has Leber's congenital amarousis  
> (re;
> the retina)....would you still use these conformers?
> Should children be evaluated by an ocularist or a medical eye doctor?
>
> Vickie