Two Sunshine Coast mums have combined their talents to help children with vision conditions feel more confident when wearing medical eye patches.
Sunshine Coast artist Elise Gow and founder of local business Kids Eye Gear, Nicola Rivett, have created Patch Your Way – an original concept that includes an exclusive range of decorations that can be applied to eye patches.
Knowing the struggling of “patching” a child first hand, Ms Rivett said the collaboration was developed to help make the process fun for kids and to support local Sunshine Coast artists.
“Patching is typically not fun for children – something I can attest to after having patched my son for five years due to a rare eye condition,” Ms Rivett said.
“Having to play and learn with one of their eyes covered can be a very unpleasant experience for a child, so I wanted to create something that would engage them in the process.
“It’s a really simple idea that can have a big impact.”
The stickers can be used on patches used for occlusion therapy for children with amblyopia, strabismus, congenital cataracts and other eye conditions.
Occlusion therapy, or patching, is a treatment that involves using an adhesive or fabric eye patch to cover the stronger eye to strengthen the weaker eye.
Without treatment, many children with these conditions can lose sight in the affected eye.
Having never heard of occlusion therapy before the project, Ms Gow said she was excited to be involved in such an innovative and interesting project.
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“I didn’t know anything about patching so this collaboration has opened my eyes, so to speak, about kids’ vision issues and the battles that parents can be faced with in trying to improve their kids’ eyesight,” Ms Gow said.
Her artwork will feature in a range of transfers, similar to temporary tattoos, including Australian Animals, Under the Sea and Unicorns and Rainbows, that can easily be applied to an adhesive eye patch.
“It’s exciting to think that kids in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and other countries around the world could be using my designs to create their own eye patches.
“Imagine a little patcher in Canada wearing an eye patch covered in kangaroos, koalas and bilbies.”
Kids Eye Gear began in 2013 and provides medically registered optical products to families across Australia and New Zealand as well as distributing products to hospitals and ophthalmology practices in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Malaysia.
Ms Rivett plans to continue collaborating with local artists to fulfil her own vision of improving children’s vision and promoting local creatives.
“I hope that creating something fun and colourful that kids can really engage with will encourage them to complete their therapy and improve their vision for life.”
The limited-edition Elise Gow Patch Your Way transfers are available at kidseyegear.com.au.
