“When Donnelly’s daycare announced the program was coming, I was not expecting for the vision screening to show anything out of the norm. THANK YOU for this program!!!!! Because this blindness prevention screening was done, a life changing disability was prevented.
When Donnelly’s screening was done and the daycare director reported that his eyes were flagged as needing care, I was shocked. The eye doctor appointment occurred, and he was diagnosed with anisometropia, hyperopia, astigmatism and amblyopia. I could see Donnelly struggling when he covered his left eye. The eye doctor explained that the nerve connecting his brain and his right eye had not started connecting/developing, if this was not treated by the ages of 8-10, it would be permanent. I was sitting in his office stunned and he explained that the left eye had been working hard enough to cover up for the right eye, which is why it was previously missed. He reassured me that if Donnelly wore his glasses, it would improve over time and if needed chemical patching could be used. We picked out some glasses for Donnelly and he was excited the first time trying them on. He said he could see me better and told me I was pretty. (I definitely cried in the glasses store). He said he looks cool in them and likes to be able to see better without his head hurting.
From April through his follow up in July, he wore them all the time. At the follow up appointment the doctor stated that his vision in the right eye had greatly improved and he stated that the nerve connection had started developing and looked great. The eye exam showed that his vision was three times better in the right eye! Donnelly’s head does not hurt as often, his anger has lessened and he doesn’t bump into things as often.
My younger brother/his uncle did not get his eyes checked until after he was 8 years old and he is permanently blind in his right eye. My mother never knew why this happened and it caused a lot of grief over time. If your program had not identified Donnelly’s eyes as needing further treatment, the same condition that has caused blindness in my brother’s right eye would have done the same in my son’s right eye. I will be forever grateful for this program and its part in saving my son’s eyesight. I cannot say thank you enough!”
– Donnelly’s mom, Ashley, Cumberland County
