The Eye Care Advocate

Book Review: Matilda’s Eye Patch

Starting treatment for amblyopia can be a daunting time for children and parents alike. Finding the right resources to make the journey feel positive and normal is key. Matilda’s Eye Patch, written by a mother (Aimie Strachen) based on her own daughter’s experience, is a gentle and powerful kids book about amblyopia patching that provides reassurance, encouragement, and a huge dose of empowerment.

The image is of the front cover of the Matilda's Eye Patch book, which is a pale purple cover overall with a white box, where there is a cartoon drawing of a girl, Matilda, with bright blonde curly hair. She is wearing a pair of pink round spectacles and an eyepatch over her right eye.
The front cover of Matilda’s Eye Patch, written by Aimie Strachen and illutsrated by Daisy Winters

What is “Matilda’s Eye Patch” About?

The story is told from the simple, honest perspective of Matilda, a young toddler. She introduces us to the things she loves to do before mentioning that she wears glasses and is about to start wearing an eye patch.

The book takes us through her visit to the Orthoptist, explaining what a patch is for and showing that she can choose her own fun, patterned designs. It gently touches on how the patch affects her vision at first but focuses on the positive comments she receives and the success of her reward chart.

The story culminates in the powerful and affirming message that even with her glasses and patch, she can still do everything she loves because she “is still me.”

Eye Care Themes in This Book

This book is focused on the patching experience, covering several key themes:

Amblyopia Treatment: It provides a clear, child-friendly explanation of why eye patching is necessary.

The Role of an Orthoptist: It specifically and correctly introduces the role of an Orthoptist, the specialist who typically manages patching therapy.

Empowerment Through Choice: It highlights the importance of the child having a choice in their treatment, from their glasses style to their patch design.

Positive Reinforcement: The book effectively models the use of praise and reward charts to encourage compliance.

Maintaining Self-Identity: The core message is that treatment doesn’t change who you are or what you can do.

Jason’s View on “Matilda’s Eye Patch”

A an optometrist, I feel this book is a fantastic resource. Its approach aligns perfectly with the strategies we use to help families succeed with amblyopia treatment. The emphasis on giving the child a choice in the style of their glasses and the pattern of their patch is crucial; this sense of control is often the key to encouraging acceptance and compliance. It is also excellent to see the specific role of the orthoptist highlighted, as they are central to this type of therapy.

My only minor critique is that the journey can often begins with an optometrist identifying the issue and prescribing glasses, a step that isn’t mentioned here. However, given that many other books focus on eye tests, the sharp focus on the patching process itself is a welcome and much-needed addition to the field.

As a parent, I find the message of this book to be its superpower. The final declaration, “I am still me,” is an incredibly powerful and important concept for any child undergoing treatment that makes them look or feel different. The author, a teacher and mother who has been through this journey, should be commended for creating such an asset. The story is the perfect length to hold a young child’s attention while covering multiple important themes.

My only criticism from a parental viewpoint is a superficial one: the cover of Matilda’s Eye Patch is a little plain and may not immediately stand out on a crowded bookshelf. However, this is a tiny observation when weighed against the immense value of the content within.

The inside pages on the book "Matilda's Eye Patch" showing an example of the text and design of the book. On the left, Matilda is looking at a blue book, close to the eyes,. She is wearing pink top and purple bottoms and has curly blonde hair. On the right, you see Matilda from the waist down as she balances her left leg on a football.
An example of the text and illustrations from the book. It is simple language for the intended audience.

Final Verdict

Matilda’s Eye Patch is an essential resource for any family about to begin an amblyopia patching journey. It is perhaps the best book available for tackling the specific emotional and practical challenges of patching for pre-schoolers. Its focus on empowerment, choice, and maintaining a strong sense of self is exactly what a child needs to hear. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Ready to read it yourself? You can purchase “Matilda’s Eye Patch” on Amazon by clicking the link below.

Buy Matilda’s Eye Patch on Amazon

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