Optometric Vision Therapy for Adam

We are working to raise funds for Adam to receive Optometric Vision Therapy.

Back at the end of February Adam was complaining of having headaches and stomach aches. I noticed he had been having more frequent headaches before this but it was the end of February when one Saturday morning he woke up vomiting and had reported to me twice that he saw still objects moving. After a visit to urgent care, then to children's hospital in Buffalo to the ER, he was diagnosed with an acute migraine. During that visit they had done a CT Scan, and gave him medicine. Nothing was on the scan (thank goodness!) but after being given medicine, Adam still complained of having a headache and stomach pain.

That Monday, we went to get his vision tested, they said he was fine. Went to primary and he had x-rays done on his tummy (nothing major there) but followed up with the GI doctor. He was constipated but still having headaches and tummy aches. We followed up with Neurology twice. They didn’t believe anything was wrong.

As you can see this has already been an exhausting process. It was at our home school co-op when I was lamenting this mystery ailment that I connected with a mom who informed me if I had his functional vision tested. I had never heard of it but she shared her experience with me with her daughter and recommended Vision Development of Western New York.

After battling with insurance (and still battling) a family member provided the funds for us to get his initial Exam. So on Friday, June 16th he was able to take the exam and we finally got the answer to his mysterious headaches and tummy aches!

Adam was diagnosed with the following conditions:

• Left Eye Esotropia, which is an inward turn of an eye. This condition may cause Adam to experience eyestrain, headaches, blurred vision, double vision, and an inability to concentrate.

• Severe Generalized contraction of visual field, bilateral (Functional visual field constriction relates to an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system. In layman’s terms he has something like tunnel vision, he can't see in his periphery vision. It affects attention, the amount of effort required to perform academically, eye hand/body coordination, and the visual skills necessary for effective performance.)

• Other irregular eye movements (this affects his ability to read as he often skips over words)

With all that being said, this is not something that will be covered by insurance. The total cost for treatment is $7900. We are raising funds for $8000 to also assist with transportation costs.

There is a grant available, but it takes 2-3 months and is up to $3000 or less. This still leaves quite a bit to be raised for treatment. (UPDATE: We have received a grant in the amount of $2400!)

The treatment plan is for 6 months, meeting once a week at the facility. Treatment could be extended beyond that but that is to be determined after the 6 months of initial treatment.

It’s been a long road so far and a blessing to have answers and a way for a cure. Yet we need a little help to get Adam the treatment he needs. Thank you for taking the time to read our story. Your donation will be used towards helping Adam get the treatment he needs to correct these various issues.