[Billie]

I am so frustrated right now and have no idea what to do...

My 3yo was put in glasses in January. Since then, I have had to learn how to master the repair of those glasses - doing so close to every day. They get bent out of shape, screws break, lenses pop out. He is on his 3rd pair of glasses (basically a new pair every month) due to them being broke beyond repair or lost. We got this new pair last Friday - $200. Yesterday, I pulled out the vacuum and asked him to start cleaning his room - that I would help as soon as I was done vacuuming. It's a small house - didn't take me long. Somewhere during that time, the lense went missing. I pulled everything out of the room, put it all back again - I can't find it.

I've sat down (multiple times) and explained the need to take care of his glasses. I've tried a reward system. I've tried taking away privileges... I just don't know what to do. He needs the glasses, but I can't afford to keep replacing them (insurance only pays for 1 pair a yr).

Any advice?

 

[alexsam]

What kind of policy do they have at your optomotrist? It would be worthwhile to consider a pair with a warranty (fom the manufacturer or from the store). Also, it would be worthwhile to explore some "indestructable" frames (flexon, titanium, etc.). They are a bit more, but not much more (esp. if you are buying multiple pairs because of damage). Many optomotrist offices will do the minor repairs and adjustments for free (so you don't have to and it reduces damage/stress YOU do from fixing them... glasses tweaking is an art that takes a lot of skill

. Its really best if they do it).

It also sounds like he is taking them off (if the glasses are worn all the time, they don't get a whole lot of damage, as they are sitting on the face!). Could it be the perscription isn't right?

My ds has worn glasses since 3 yrs old. He never really takes them off and we've always taken them in for tweaking (which needs to happen about every 2 weeks just from wear and being a kid) but we've never had any serious damage and ds is naturally careful with them because he needs them to see...

 

[Billie]

I've always refered to this one as my "wild child". Everyone jokes that he should be a football player - he is not careful with anything, especially his own body. He is constantly covered in scratches and bruises - from wrestling with the dog, jumping off the top bunk, rolling in the dirt, etc. My oldest son is much more careful, but this one is determined to do things "his way". He's extremely rough and clumsy... not a good combination.

The optomotrist gives a 20% discount for any additional frames bought within a year (still cost us $200). The glasses come with a warranty - for one exchange. The repairs that I have been doing on my own is to 'extend' the life of the glasses, due to the optomotrist telling me they can't fix them and that I will need to get a new pair - I've gotten pretty creative... using some of Hubby's tools. It always looks good and when I'm done I take them in to get 'tweeked' to fit him correctly. Usually it's doing things such as replacing broken clasps with bolt and screw sets, etc. If it wasn't for that... we would have been through a whole lot more than 3 pairs by now because the optomotrist wouldn't/couldn't fix them.

We've talked to them about purchasing the "indestructable" frames and have tried on multiple pairs, but haven't been able to find any that fit him... they've all been too big.

The optomotrist put him through 2 exams on seperate days, to be sure he got the prescription right. I don't know... maybe we should take him somewhere else? I've thought about that (wrong prescription). But, even on his face they get broke. The bandaid on the face is an ever-present site with him.

 

[zeldamomma]

We buy our family's glasses online-- zennioptical.com has complete frames (prescription lenses and all) starting at $8 + @$5 shipping.

We've purchased 3 pairs so far, and have been happy with all of them. FTR, I'm not affiliated with the website in anyway.

 

[eepster]

What are his glasses supposed to be correcting?

When I was little I had glasses to correct a lazy eye. Adults constatly told me to wear my glass b/c they would make me see better. What the optometrist does not explain to adults is that these glasses do not make it easier or clearer to see, they make it harder to see by blurring the vision in the strong eye in hopes it will cause the child to use and excercise the weak eye.

It is possible that even though the px is "correct" that it does not actually make it easier to see, and your DS has no motivation to keep his glasses in good shape.

 

[snoopy5386]

I would try somewhere else, call around and see what different places offer as far as replacement insurance. And keep looking for the flexible frames that fit him. An hour or two on the phone might be really worth it for you.

 

[Billie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eepster What are his glasses supposed to be correcting? When I was little I had glasses to correct a lazy eye.

That is exactly what it is....

 

[snoopy5386]

If it is lazy eye, can he use a patch instead?

 

[eepster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billie That is exactly what it is....

Then every time he "looses" them or breaks them beyond wearabilty, he gets a great great reward. He is able to just see clearly for however long it takes you to get them replaced.

 

[Billie]

Snoopy, I don't know. That's a good question... I'm going to have to research that. I doubt the optomotrist would tell me so, because they want to make money off the glasses.

Eepster,
So what did you do? Did you just learn to deal with the glasses?

 

[eepster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billie Snoopy, I don't know. That's a good question... I'm going to have to research that. I doubt the optomotrist would tell me so, because they want to make money off the glasses. Eepster, So what did you do? Did you just learn to deal with the glasses?

Nope, I still have "lazy eye."

I use my "lazy" extremely nearsited eye for things like reading, and my only mildly nearsited "strong" eye for most other activities. My father (who never got glasses till he was an adult) does the exact same thing.

I do wear glasses happily now, but they are to correct my nearsitedness and I see better while wearing them, not worse.

I did have the corrective surgery as a child since the week eye would wander when not in use, but though it gave a cosmetic improvement, it did not change how I used my eyes. When I'm very tired, the eye that I'm not using will still sometimes wander.

 

[snoopy5386]

I would take him in to see a pediatric opthamologist and get their opinion. They have a lot more training then optomitrists.

 

[Dmitrizmom]

i second the recommendation for a pediatric ophthamologist. ds got his first pair of glasses the week before his 2nd birthday. He is extremely farsighted, but also has a lazy eye. We patched the good eye for 2 months, did dilation drops for 5 months. he still wears glasses (is 8 now). We strapped the glasses to his head as the other kids at daycare would take them off if they weren't attached (same problem with the patch).

I also second zenni optical - decent glasses at a reasonable price.

 

[DaughterOfKali]

Definitely go to a pediatric ophthalmologist. My son has strabismus. They tried patching and glasses but it didn't work. He ended up having surgery. I'm so glad we did it. He still needs to wear glasses to help keep his eyes straight but at least they are straight when wearing his glasses now.

My son is very rough on glasses. You NEED to either get very cheap glasses (zenni optical) or get flexon or other flexible frames.
If you have state health insurance, many eye glass store will give a discount.
Some will give a discount if you have AAA.
Also, I've always taken ds's glasses to Sears or any local optician to get his glasses straightened for free. They don't care if you bought them there or not. If they are a little bent out of shape, it's an easy fix for them.

If the lens keeps coming out of the frames, the place where you bought them should fix it or replace it for free.

 

[fek&fuzz]

.

 

[KatieBonita]

Flexible frames are made very small - they should fit a three year old unless he's got a small head. Flexon distributed by Marchon, who should be able to give you a supplier in your local area - you may want someone who has not just Flexon Kids, but also Power Rangers, because they'll probably have a decent range. The other good brand is Memoflex. Both brands have good warranties and will sometimes cover breaks that other companies don't. Often an adjustable strap that goes across the back of the head (kind of like a bra strap) helps hold the glasses on more securely, and kids will usually fuss less about them if they don't move around.

It depends on what sort of lazy eye he has as to if patching is appropriate or if it will work without glasses. It sounds like you don't really know much about what's going on, so I fourth the idea of getting a second opinion, hopefully from someone who will give you more information. You definitely should see someone who specialises in children or regularly tests children. Broadly, Ophthalmologists do more medical intervention (drops, surgery) and Optometrists do more glasses and exercises, but there's a lot of overlap. A Paediatric Ophthalmologist or a Behavioural Optometrist is a good place to start. (A Behavioural Optometrist usually has a generally crunchy approach, FWIW.)

It might be that he's long sighted, in which case patching and any other intervention won't do a lot if he won't wear his glasses. Or it could be that he has a turned eye that isn't totally dependant on glasses in which case patching or drops could be of use. Actually, there's probably too many possibilities to list without writing a textbook. Wait, I've already done that. Sorry!

It's probably also worthwhile asking the cost of putting the glasses on your household insurance. It's usually tacked onto a home and contents policy for a fairly small fee.

 

[KatieBonita]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaughterOfKali If the lens keeps coming out of the frames, the place where you bought them should fix it or replace it for free.

Unless the lenses are coming out because the frame has been bent where the lens is held in, then absolutely.

 

[DaughterOfKali]

Most places (if you buy them in person) have some sort of warranty. My son has mangled his frames but they optician (eye glass store) fixed it for free because it was within 60 (or 90) days.

I have 3 yrs experience with this.

 

[alexsam]

My ds has a lazy eye and we patch (the glasses DO correct his vision, the patch covers the strong eye, so we patch 2 hrs a day and the rest of the time the glasses help him see tremendously).

And... the surgery isn't for everyone (and it doesn't correct the vision, just aligns the eye), so you might want to keep that in mind and discuss it thoroughly before doing it. Just to think about.

And flexible glasses CAN be very small (even baby size).

A good pediatric optomotrist can be good too... We prefer ours over an opthomologist.... but that's just us. Lazy eyes can be complicated and none are the same and so lazy eyes can be treated in many different ways depending on why the eye is turning in.

I'd look around. It sounds like something is missing in this equation...

 

[lara1828]

OP, be careful if you decide to go to an opthamologist. They are often quick to recommend surgery and often inaccurately characterize vision therapy as ineffective. Alternately, an optometrist who does not specialize in developmental optometry may recommend glasses where a developmental optometrist or vision therapist would have other treatment options including vision exercises.

www.covd.org
www.visiontherapy.org

My son started vision therapy at age 4 for strabismus and has made a lot of progress in a year.

Lara