WHH patch party spreads joy to young patients with sight condition

A patch party hosted by the Orthoptic Department at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals has helped to spread joy to young patients with the sight condition amblyopia.

Amblyopia is one of the most common conditions in children and is where the vision in one eye is weaker than the other. It can be caused by a number of factors that affect visual development in early childhood. 

Treatment involves wearing glasses and a patch over the non-affected eye to encourage the weaker eye to work harder and improve vision. 

The patch party was hosted for children who wear a patch as part of their treatment to help them understand they are not alone and proudly wear their patch together. As part of the party, children were invited to take part in fun activities which included designing their own patch to take home and wear, arts and crafts, and sensory room games. 

Emily Crawford, orthoptist at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals, said: “Patching treatment can be a challenging journey for both children and their families. By creating a positive and supportive environment where children can take part in fun activities while proudly wearing their patches, we can help to make this journey a little easier.”

Treatment can often have a huge impact on the day-to-day lives of both children and their families, and the event also offered the chance for parents and guardians to connect and share experiences, ideas to improve adherence to patch-wearing, and words of encouragement. 

When asked about the party, one parent of a child receiving treatment for amblyopia said they would highly recommend the next party to others as a ‘good opportunity to meet other families undergoing patching’. 

Patch parties help to strengthen the connection between families and the orthoptic team, encouraging acceptance and confidence for children with the condition. 

Around one in 25 children will develop some degree of amblyopia as their vision develops and orthoptists are specially trained to assess and manage children with the condition.