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A Day with Tom at the Eye Hospital
New Booklet for Parents and Children visiting an Eye Hospital
Children don’t like hospitals. They smell funny and strange things happen there. When a young child is told their eyes will be looked at in one of these frightening places the prospect can be daunting. But with a little help and information the whole experience can be much more positive one.
That’s why the National Blind Children’s Society has got together with The International Glaucoma Association to create a story for parents and children which de-mystifies the hospital visit. Using her extensive experience of working with children with a visual impairment the author Irene Hodgetts has created an illustrated booklet which, written as children’s story, communicates far more effectively then any information pack could.
A Day with Tom at the Eye Hospital is the story of how one young boy, together with his parents and pet monkey Mickey, has his first experience of a visit to the Eye Hospital. We join Tom the night before the visit when he expresses his anxieties to his mum:
‘Why do I have to go to a hospital? What’s wrong with me?’ Tom asked.
‘We need to have your eyes checked Tom. Lots of children go and you may make new friends.’
Tom liked to make new friends, he thought he might let them play with his fire engine .
The Eye Hospital doesn’t have to be a Frightening Place
We follow Tom throughout the following day as he visits first the Orthoptist with her funny pen with the smiley face, the Optometrist, where Tom has to try on special glasses ‘a bit like goggles’ and finally the Opthalmologist who looks in to Tom’s eyes with a special light.
Tom asks the sorts of questions that every child might ask and when he expresses his worries is given reassuring answers by professionals. At one point Tom’s vision goes blurred which upsets both him and his mum until they ask what is going on.
The nurse smiled and said this was nothing to worry aboutÂ…its the effect of the eye drops .They will wear off, but it will take a few hoursÂ…..this made them all feel better..’
Taking your child for an eye examination can be a tense experience for both parents and children. A Day with Tom at the eye hospital will smooth the process and make everyone’s life easier. With a relaxed child the professionals can do their job more easily and parents can concentrate on getting the information they need. There’s even a section at the back of the booklet suggesting the kind of questions they might like to ask.
For your copy please contact enquiries@nbcs.org.uk
