glasses "necessary"?

[hanbanan]

I took my five year old to the eye-doc today for the first time. At his last pedi check up they noticed his eyesight wasn't up to par for distance in the left eye (hadn't caused any obvious problems that i had noticed before--in fact I'd never noticed his vision wasn't as good in one eye at all--he functions absolutly fine in the world). They reffered us to this doctor. I went expecting a prescription that DS could wear optionally.
The experience wans't fun, the doctor not nice. He treated DS like a machine. Didn't eevn acknowledge me. Until the end, when he turned to me and said " here is the prescription. It's tricky because his it's different for both eyes. He needs to wear them full time. His brain needs to develop vision with the glasses..." somthing like that. I said, suprised, "could yo please repeat that?" and he said basicall the same thing again, but not in a friendly way...I asked if after a while this wearing the glasses full time would help improve his vision. He answered that it may, but his vision could getworse, too. He didn't know.I flet I couldn't ask him anything else, like he wouldn't be willing to say anything else. It was yucky.

But I don't get it. Why would I make a five year old---VERy active 5 yr old--- wear glasses when his vision is decent in both and and good in one, especially if wearing the glasses doesn't help improve his vision in the long run? What is this brain development thing? Both my husband and I have great vision, so we are not versed in this at all.

I plan to try to get a second opinion, as I am just not convinced at all, and see wearing glasses as tricky for such an active boy. I also know that eyesight can change and get better, but with exercise, not wearing glasses..

Any ideas or knowledge to pass on ?

Thanks!

[ameliabedelia]

I first started wearing glasses at the age of 31. I probably needed them for quite some time before that (at least 5 years), but I hadn't gotten around to having an exam or getting glasses. I also have vision which is quite different between two eyes. In my left eye, I have very poor vision. My right eye is almost normal. Prior to getting glasses, I was seeing almost exclusively out of my right eye. It did affect my depth perception and I used to be pretty bad at that. (for example, at the playground I would freak out that my child would be hit by another child swinging, when upon getting closer or changing position...I was able to see that my child was in no danger whatsoever)

I do wear glasses full-time now and the dr. did say that wearing them could improve my eyesight and I do think it has.

Anyway, I just wanted to point out, that before I got glasses, I thought my vision was "good" enough. I mean I functioned just fine, drove, etc. without glasses for probably many years. However, once I got glasses I was able to see how much I was "missing" before and how poor my eyesight was. I was able to see an improvement in my depth perception, being able to read street signs earlier, etc. Prior to that I had no idea how bad my vision was...what i thought was normal, was not "normal".

Anyway, as your son gets older, and he starts reading and maybe goes to school (if you aren't homeschooling), he might need the glasses more. It is something to keep in mind, anyway.

[limette]

Originally Posted by ameliabedelia

I first started wearing glasses at the age of 31. I probably needed them for quite some time before that (at least 5 years), but I hadn't gotten around to having an exam or getting glasses. I also have vision which is quite different between two eyes. In my left eye, I have very poor vision. My right eye is almost normal. Prior to getting glasses, I was seeing almost exclusively out of my right eye. It did affect my depth perception and I used to be pretty bad at that. (for example, at the playground I would freak out that my child would be hit by another child swinging, when upon getting closer or changing position...I was able to see that my child was in no danger whatsoever)

I do wear glasses full-time now and the dr. did say that wearing them could improve my eyesight and I do think it has.

Anyway, I just wanted to point out, that before I got glasses, I thought my vision was "good" enough. I mean I functioned just fine, drove, etc. without glasses for probably many years. However, once I got glasses I was able to see how much I was "missing" before and how poor my eyesight was. I was able to see an improvement in my depth perception, being able to read street signs earlier, etc. Prior to that I had no idea how bad my vision was...what i thought was normal, was not "normal".

Anyway, as your son gets older, and he starts reading and maybe goes to school (if you aren't homeschooling), he might need the glasses more. It is something to keep in mind, anyway.

I finally gave in after years of refusing to glasses when I was 17. I was stunned at how different the world looked, everything was so sharp! It was amazing. I definitely should have agreed to the glasses when I was in school, I could never read what was on the blackboard even when I sat fairly close to it.

My eyes have gotten worse to the point that nothing is recognizable without my glasses. I'm about 7 years behind on my prescription as well, if only they were covered by OHIP.

[Dmitrizmom]

at this point, his brain is still making neural connections and learning to integrate visual input from both eyes to form a full picture. Failure to get the signal from his eyes to his brain with decent resolution from both eyes can lead to further vision problems in adulthood (ask me how I know )

I've "had" glasses since 1st grade, but didn't consistently wear them until I was 16 and had to so I could see to drive. Ds has glasses and has since he was 2 (he's 9 now). I've made sure that he wears his almost all the time and his vision is slowly shifting toward normal.

[balancedmama]

I can't help you much about you question regarding their necessity. I would be curious to see if you get the glasses for your son, what he thinks after wearing them for a bit. Like the PPs, I had no idea *how bad* my vision was until getting glasses (at 6yo). I remember distinctly riding home from the eye doctor, and seeing leaves on the trees for the first time. I had no idea that you should be able to see them from 10 feet away.

I would also add that while I was a very bright child, I was also a visual learner, and really struggled with the beginning of 1st grade because I couldn't see the blackboard.

[mommy2maya]

Why should you make your child wear the glasses? Because you want to HELP your child, and help him be able to achieve all he can, which involves SEEING clearly, out of both eyes. I don't think it's a matter of exercise. It is a matter of correcting the vision, with the prescribed glasses. And really, if you child only knows poor sight, it's not like he KNOWS that everything should be sharp, and not all fuzzy around the edges. As far as I know, exercises really only work on getting the eyes to work in unison better, not to correct the misshapen eye, which is what causes poor eyesight.

[prothyraia]

Originally Posted by balancedmama

I remember distinctly riding home from the eye doctor, and seeing leaves on the trees for the first time. I had no idea that you should be able to see them from 10 feet away.

That was my exact experience, at age 8 or so.

[choli]

Originally Posted by hanbanan

But I don't get it. Why would I make a five year old---VERy active 5 yr old--- wear glasses when his vision is decent in both and and good in one, especially if wearing the glasses doesn't help improve his vision in the long run? What is this brain development thing? Both my husband and I have great vision, so we are not versed in this at all.

I plan to try to get a second opinion, as I am just not convinced at all, and see wearing glasses as tricky for such an active boy. I also know that eyesight can change and get better, but with exercise, not wearing glasses..

Any ideas or knowledge to pass on ?

Thanks!

It has nothing to do with being an active little boy, it has to do with needing to be able to see. Get him the glasses and let him wear them. I'm pretty certain from my own experience as a child that he will be very happy about the difference they will make in his life.

[limette]

Originally Posted by prothyraia

That was my exact experience, at age 8 or so.

Mine too!

[dannic]

There are some who rec not getting glasses for children, FWIW. I have headaches from reading as a 6 yr old, got glasses, wore them for 6 mos (perfect vision the whole time) and never had to wear glasses again til my second pregnancy. (Hormonal fluctuations causing vision issues).
My DH wears glasses and his eyes have gotten repeatedly worse every year.
I think the OP is wondering if there is an alternative, or therapy to strengthen the eyes. I don't know. I know DH wishes he'd never started wearing them, but clearly, others have had different experiences. My lil sis had crossed eyes and was in hard contacts at age 3.

I'd for sure get a second opinion, for peace of mind, at least.

[Mom2M]

Maybe there are some type of vision exercises but I can tell you my DH's experience with the discrepancy between his eyes.
He was supposed to get glasses and never bothered to wear them consistently until he was in high school. By that time, he had learned to "shut off" his weaker eye and only use the good one. He never realized how bad his depth perception was until he finally wore glasses because he had adjusted to it.
It was hard for him to wear the glasses that corrected the vision in his worse eye because it was so different than what he had gotten used to growing up and he didn't want to wear them so he stopped because he could see "well enough" without them by using his good eye.

So anyway, he has missed out on having good vision in both and depth perception for a long time.

Recently he had to get glasses again with bifocals because his eyes started to need them and they also included an Rx for nearsightedness.
He was forced to wear them and can't get over the difference in his vision now that his bad eye has started working again. He can catch a ball, see better while driving, etc...

If I were you and there is a chance that his neural pathways can adjust his vision with the correction, I would get the glasses. He may not have difficulty playing, catching balls or anything right now but it could progress over time to where he has the same problem my DH did.

There are many types of glasses for active kids, even goggle type ones he can use for sports or ones with nearly unbreakable lenses.

Oh yeah...regarding the poor bedside manner, it probably has more to do with the dr being a jerk than the need for glasses. Maybe you could get a 2nd opinion?

[dyehappy]

I have terrible vision, but didn't start wearing my glasses exclusively until I started driving as a teenager. I had them, but didn't want to wear them for vanity reasons.

I was on the website for a local Montessori school yesterday; they had a doctor come to the school to discuss vision and how it may contribute to a child's learning abilities. They posted a link to her powerpoint presentation - I thought you might find it interesting. CLICK HERE for a link to the school. The information about the doctor and link to the presentation materials are under P.E.P. Meeting on the home page. The information is not in depth, but it may give you a starting point to do more research or to take with you to ask questions if you decide to go for a 2nd opinion.

[prothyraia]

I thought I'd add that there was a two year old with glasses in my son's gymnastics glass, and he didn't seem to have any problem being active and participating in all the jumping, flipping, rolling, etc. So they may not be a problem in that respect.

[Tellera]

My experience

They held off on giving me glasses until I was in 3rd grade. I had no idea that you should actually be able to see the stuff written on the chalkboard. Or any details in the distance, really. I could certainly get around fine and function normally, but after the glasses it was a different world. Wish I'd had them earlier.

[Pepper44]

I don't think glasses are designed to improve your vision in the long run, that's why people get that lasik surgery. (My DH got it and now has perfect vision, his eyes required coke bottle glasses before!)

I guess I don't understand why you *wouldn't* want him to wear his glasses. It can only do good things for him! Anyone who has ever had glasses will tell you how wonderful it is to suddenly realize what you've been missing. Also if he sees differently out of each eye that could cause headaches, messed up depth perception, changes in his eye muscles (like lazy eye), etc.

I got glasses in 5th grade and I was amazed to be able to see the leaves on the trees and the blackboard so clearly. I was also much better in gym class!

[Lollybrat]

It sounds like your child may have amblyopia or he is at risk of developing amblyopia (commonly called "lazy eye"). Amblyopia often happens when the vision between the two eyes is vey different. To avoid confusion, the brain will simply shut off the signal from the weaker eye. If left untreated, the brain wil not re-make the connecting with that eye and will lose functional vision from that eye. Very often, there is no outward sign of amblyopia and parents are shocked to learn their child has this. Frequently it is not found until the kindergarten screening. If caught early, amblyopia can be avioded by wearing the prescribed glasses faithfully. At later stages patching may be needed and in some cases surgury is required.

My husband has amblyopia that was untreated as a child (his resulted from an eye injury at birth) and he has almost no functional vision in his left eye.

Here are a couple of good websites with information about amblyopia:
http://www.strabismus.org/amblyopia_lazy_eye.html
http://www.preventblindness.org/chil...lyopiaFAQ.html

I'm sorry your eye doctor did not take the time to properly explain everything to you.

ETA: I wanted to add that my son is 5 and has been wearing glasses since he was 2 for strong fairsightedness, extreme astigmatism, and other vision issues (he has albinism). He is a very active little boy and wearing glasses does not change that at all. He loves his glasses!

[griffin2004]

Originally Posted by balancedmama

I remember distinctly riding home from the eye doctor, and seeing leaves on the trees for the first time. I had no idea that you should be able to see them from 10 feet away.

My DD had a similar experience. She got glasses a few months ago. The first couple of days she wore them she kept saying "Wow!" at all the new things she could see. The difference without glasses is so marked that the transition to wearing them has been easy.

[Hey Mama!]

The vision centers in the brain do not fully develop til around age 8. So, yes, your ds wearing glasses now may help prevent further damage to them and can help reverse some of problems he is experiencing. If he has one eye that continuously sends poor signals to the brain, the brain will "shut off" the bad eye in favor of the clear signals from the good. My middle dd recently got glasses. She was deemed farsighted in June but the doctor did not want to put her in glasses. Well, it was causing her problems at school, she couldn't see the board and had a headache almost every single day. So, I took her back, and her eyesight had gotten worse. Her prescription is pretty weak, and one eye is slightly stronger than the other. I see nothing but positive things coming from kids getting glasses as soon as possible if they need them.

[KatWrangler]

So what was his vision score?

We just found out my son, who will be 6 on the 27th needed glasses. He is farsighted. So he only needs to wear them for school, reading, computer, tv.

I was about 6 when I got my first pair of glasses. My husband was pretty young too. So it's not surprising my child needs them.

[kjbrown92]

The daughter of a friend of mine had glasses for two years (about 3rd and 4th grade, I think) and then didn't need them anymore. My SIL had glasses for about a year at the same age, and hasn't needed them since. So sometimes it does work that it makes your eyes stronger and prevents further problems.

My DS didn't say anything to me about bad vision. Last year (he was 8yo)they tested him at school and said I should take him to the eye doctor. I took him and his vision was 20/200 (that means what other people could see at 200 feet, he had to get up to 20 feet to see clearly). He didn't know that other people saw things differently than he did. He's active. Plays basketball. Swims all summer long, waterskis, etc. The glasses don't hold him back from any of that.