Dannielynn Has To Wear An Eye Patch

Jan 14, 2008 AT 08:39 am

One-year-old Dannielynn Birkhead is being treated for strabismus, and is wearing an eye patch in an effort to correct the problem. Naturally, Larry Birkhead spoke exclusively to Entertainment Tonight about the situation. That interview probably paid for the doctor visits.

"I've been taking her to the doctors and... Anna had taken Dannielynn to the doctor to see about it when she was just a few months old."

Birkhead admits his daughter was initially pleased with her new look thanks in part to her love for pirates.

"I got her a little pirate doll to show her that people wear patches, and it's OK, and daddy wears a patch if he has to to show her it's OK. I've been really aggressive with the patch as much as I can be. At first she was really open to it and it didn't really bother her. Now, she's gotten a little smart because she can pull it off, so it's a little bit harder for me to patch her."

If the eye patch and medication don't correct the problem, little Dannielynn might face surgery.

- Click here to read more about:

Bookmark/Search this post with:

Click here to return to the home page.

divider

11 Comments

tanisha (not verified) said:

who cares ... there are so many kids that are crossed and **** eyed. its a part of life

Kelly H (not verified) said:

My son started wearing an eye patch when he was 2 years old and we had a really hard time patching him. I made him a DVD called "The Eye Patch Kids" and it helped him tremendously. If you want anymore information on it just go to my website. Good luck Dannielyn!!

Kelly H.
http://www.bjortandcompany.com

Sarah (not verified) said:

I did the patching and 4 surgeries for the same problem. its so good that they are getting things taken care of early, or she could lose sight in one of the eyes (amblyopia) and its not that weird that he is announcing it especially when people keep saying **** about the baby being cross eyed anyways.

Morgan (not verified) said:

I had that in one eye when I was a kid. I also did the patches and surgery. I think the earlier the better for her.

cathy (not verified) said:

I didnt even look at the title of the pic and i said her eye looks like my sons did.
then i read it. It is like my sons.
my son had to wear a patch when he was 4 and 5. They knew he had stabismus when he was little but never did anything til just before his 3rd bday.
he has had his glasses ever since then

i think the shirt is funny

vallivero (not verified) said:

that t shirt is hilarious!!!

Marie (not verified) said:

I HAD SURGERY TO CORRECT THAT EXACT PROBLEM BACK IN 1994. ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS SOMEONE NEEDS TO REFER HIM TO DR LAMBERT AT EMORY EYE CLINIC IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. HE DID AN AMAZING JOB ON ME AND I WOULD RECOMMEND HIM TO ANYONE. AT THE TIME HE DID MINE HE SAID HE HAS PERFORMED THAT SURGERY ON AS YOUNG AS 6 MONTHS OLD!!

Laura W (not verified) said:

That t-shirt is amazingly appropriate.

anonymous said: (not verified) said:

My daughter had the same problem at the age of 5 in both eyes. The only option offered was surgery. During the recovery is when the eye patches were used, switching from eye to eye on a daily basis for a few weeks.

I agree, this is not caused by drugs taken while pregnant nor do I think it is genetic as my daughter is the only one in the family who has had this problem then and since. Her eyes are perfect now (she is now 30), and has never had to wear glasses.

Larry, many children have this and my heart goes out to you and dannilynn for all that you have endured w/the public and what you will be going through the rest of your life. Hang in there your doing great w/dannilynn and she is adorable and precious. Protect her as much as possible. She deserves it.

Robin (not verified) said:

My daugther was diagnoised with Esotropia and Ambyopia at 15 month old. She had sugery when she was 2 1/2. During the time before and after surgery she wore bifocal glasses and went through theraputic patching to help strengthen her bad eye. She is now 16 and her eye is pretty straight. When she is sick, stressed or tired her eye begins to drift. She still wears her glasses and or contacts. I will agree with others who have had children with this condition....the earlier the treatment the better.

Mark (not verified) said:

Our child has amblyobia and strabismus caused by that. He was exposed to drugs in utero. I keep waiting for a medical researcher to do research on drug exposure in utero and development of strabismus and amblyopia. I know a lot of kids who were drug exposed in utero (I know a lot of foster families....) and MANY have this problem. There is something there.

I give her dad MAJOR points for talking about this openly. More parents need to learn about strabismus and early treatment.