A "spec"ial post

As I'd mentioned in a prior post.  We'd been noticing (for awhile now - like 9 months) that Ira wouldn't/couldn't look at us when we were taking pictures.  At first we thought it was just a phase - a "wouldn't" thing - that he would outgrow/we could talk him out of.  After awhile though, it became clear that it was a "couldn't" type of thing.

It was especially obvious when we were up in KC for that wedding.  We were out to eat with Andy's parents and were trying to get Ira to focus on us while were saying something and he absolutely COULD not.  His eyes darted this way and that, but absolutely could not stay focused on us.  At that point, I was really concerned about what was going on, so I called to set up a routine vision exam with our eye doctor.  He is an awesome doctor who specializes in children's vision/vision therapy.

It didn't take long at the appointment for the doctor to see what I was talking about (thank heavens - because his sight tested just fine.)  He tried to get Ira to focus on a popsicle stick as he moved it closer and closer to his face and although he could at first, his eyes started darting soon after.

He explained to me that Ira's muscle that focuses his eye is immature.  When it gets tired (after a lot of reading/towards the end of the day/or especially when we have him try to focus on something - like a camera - for an extended time) it involuntarily clinches and his eyes dart.  He said that Ira is so smart that when (after his eyes clinch) we say "look at me" and he says "I am" even though his eyes aren't looking at us, it's because he's seeing us with his peripheral vision and so technically he is "looking at us" - sort of...

So he wanted to put Ira in bifocals.  The top part would be nothing and the bottom part would magnify things up close to help that focusing muscle not have to work so hard - therefore it wouldn't tire out - therefore he would be able to focus!  He said that it is something that Ira will hopefully outgrow as that muscle matures more, so he might not always have to wear glasses.  Only time will tell!

For now, it is just so nice to already be seeing a difference in his ability to focus!  And I'm glad we discovered this problem and took care of it when we did.  Doc said if we hadn't, school might have become a drudgery as the print got smaller and it was harder and harder to focus. 

I think he looks pretty doggone handsome and smart in his new specs!

Same silly Ira!