Pattern for the "Fish Eye Patch" (Fabric Eye Patch) Revised March 2024
If you just want to see the pattern, please use the table of contents.
Instructions are explained in detail in another article.
(The March 2024 pattern has been revised. Click here for the detailed background.)
A brief re-introduction
Hello. My name is Roi Kondo.
I am raising a 4-year-old and a 1-year-old in the Kansai region.
My 4-year-old daughter was diagnosed with an abnormality during a refraction test at her 3-year-8-month checkup, so we visited an ophthalmologist.
Because she has severe hyperopia in her left eye, she only sees a blurry world, and we learned that if left untreated, it would lead to "hyperopic anisometropic amblyopia", where she would stop using her left eye more and more.
Usually, she wears corrective glasses for both her right and left eyes, and at home, she spends her time wearing a "fabric eye patch."
I am releasing the pattern for the fabric eye patch
For one reason or another, I wanted a pattern for a "fabric eye patch that can be made in a jiffy", but the patterns you can find on the internet are... well-made... and difficult...
For me, sleep-deprived from dealing with my younger child at night every day, that's impossible, just impossible.
Even if I wanted to buy one, it takes days to arrive.
The person herself, encouraged by the doctor, is motivated even though she dislikes it.
I don't want to miss the timing!
I want it on hand right now!
Driven by that wish, I came up with the easy-to-make "Fish Eye Patch" (the more detailed backstory is here).
The finished product looks like this.
I released a revised version in March 2024
The first edition was released in November 2023. I released a version that pursues better light-blocking properties in March 2024 (click here for the detailed background).
The good points of the Fish Eye Patch
The structure is simpler than conventional products
It is light. One piece weighs 2.8g
Glasses holder: If you make it out of felt, you don't need to finish the edges.
The process is simple: you can finish it by sewing just 3 types of stitches
The part where the temple goes through: you can manage even without it. You can hook it onto the top of the irregular cone shape.
You can make it even without a printer.
If you have a piece of fabric about the size of a handkerchief, a scrap of felt, and the skill to use a needle, thread, and sew on a button, you can finish it in about an hour.
Even if it doesn't look quite right when matched with the person's face and glasses, the damage of having to remake it is small.
How to use it is just to firmly insert the glasses! So...
Even the child themselves can put it on intuitively.
It frees them from the fear that buttons or Velcro might scratch their face.
The part near the nose is curved! So...
Even if they sneeze, it barely avoids getting snot on it (important).
The part that holds onto the glasses is felt! So...
You can skip finishing the edges.
Since it is easy to make by hand, you can create it in the child's favorite colors, patterns, and decorations.
Of course, there seem to be some disadvantages as well.
Since the glasses holder is made of felt, if you sew the edges too much, it will start to fray.
This is not a product that has undergone rigorous testing, so use it at your own risk.
(For what it's worth, our doctor said it was okay for our child, but that doesn't mean it applies to everyone.)
It is not designed to pursue light-blocking and shielding properties that work for everyone. There is a gap of about 5mm at the top (in our doctor's case, they said it was fine because it's not enough to see through. In fact, in our child's case, their vision improved from 0.4 to 0.8 in 3 months of wearing it).
Due to the weight of the cloth eye patch itself or the weight from decorations, the glasses may slide down, causing the child not to look through the center, so please consult with your doctor while wearing it (one way to prevent this is to fold back the part that touches the nose).
I am also publishing the results of continuing to make them.
Decorative Fish Eye Patch Catalog
Catalog of Minor Mistakes in Creation
Illustrated Guide to Creative Tips
Tips for Improving Occlusion
https://note.com/megane_nannkome/n/nfdb9a84b1924
Tips for Improving Appearance and Construction
https://note.com/megane_nannkome/n/nef8c086bbd72
Requests & Precautions for Use
By "sewing beginner," I meannone other than myself—someone with just enough skill and knowledge to struggle with sewing on a button. Please understand that this pattern was created by such a person.
I am sharing this for fellow parents who think, "I want to try making one and adjusting the fit, but I need a simple base pattern for an eye patch."
The base is for "Tomato Glasses Kids A 43." Please adjust it according to the glasses you use, as well as your child's face size, shape, and the placement of their eyes and nose.
One more request: to ensure the best treatment results, please take the time to ask your doctor if this level of occlusion is appropriate when you use it.
With that said...
This is a pattern for the easy-to-make cloth "Fish Eye Patch" (Revised March 2024).
I named it the"Fish Eye Patch"because the pattern looks like a fish.
If you are printing, the PDF will show the text more clearly. Please select "Print at actual size."
Specific instructions on how to make it arehere.
I also introduce how to make the pattern without a printerhere.
I have stated various precautions, but I hope this pattern serves as a help to fellow parents undergoing eye patch treatment.
Roi Kondo
The following is an advertisement.
I have created apicture bookdepicting the process from discovery at the 3-year-old health checkup to receiving treatment (it is available for purchase).
See you later!