A Parent Shares Her Family's Experiences with Amblyopia on Prevent Blindness America's Children and Eye Problems Web Forum
Joshua Harmsen and Family
Kelly Harmsen has been an active member of Prevent Blindness America's Children and Eye Problems Forum since July, 2005. Since that time, she has logged countless hours responding online to dozens of concerned parents of children with lazy eye (amblyopia), sharing what she has learned from her personal experience.
Her own son, Joshua was diagnosed with amblyopia at the age of two, so Kelly understands what parents go through during their child’s treatment. "It can be very scary when your child is first diagnosed with a potentially blinding eye condition," says Kelly about her online discussions with other parents.
“I think it is great how parents from all over the world come to the forum to help each other out. We get to learn what other doctors are telling the parents to do for their children, such as when and how long they wear an eye patch, activities to do while patching, etc. It makes us feel like we’re more in control of their recovery.”
Kelly understands the importance of finding support for the sometimes long and difficult process of amblyopia treatment. Soon after Joshua was diagnosed, Kelly was inspired to create a video that would help encourage her son to wear his eye patch. Enlisting the help of her husband, family members and friends, Kelly created "The Eye Patch Kids." Prevent Blindness America lists the video as a patching resource. Click here to find out more.
Kelly continues to visit the Prevent Blindness America web forum regularly and respond to questions and concerns about amblyopia and notes that she feels "very fortunate to be able to help parents out who are in the same situation I was three years ago when my son was first diagnosed."
About Prevent Blindness America
Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness America is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness America touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, divisions and chapters, Prevent Blindness America is committed to eliminating preventable blindness in the United States. For more information, or to make a contribution to the sight-saving fund, call 1-800-331-2020.
