Glasses for DS or not?

[jse107]

Let me preface this by saying I don't wear glasses (yet).

DS had an eye exam at a pediatric ophthalmologist today. This was prompted by us due to his crappy hitting in baseball and occasional squinting. DH took him, so my only info is through him.

Anyway, everything looked fine for the most part. The doctor wrote a prescription for 0.75 (both eyes) with some correction for astigmatism (Axis 005 in one eye and 175 in the other).

Is it worth it to get glasses? DS is 7 and in first grade. Teachers haven't noticed anything. The doctor just said his job isn't to sell glasses and that it could resolve on his own. Basically, it's really up to us. Of course DS wants them, but we don't know if it's a need or a novelty, KWIM?

Do we just get them and hope he doesn't lose them? We have crappy vision insurance, but the cost isn't my biggest concern.

[citymama]

I would. My DD just got glasses (age 6) and has already lost her first pair so let me recommend Costco to you - the frame plus lenses will run you about $100. I was 7 when I got my first pair of glasses at 0.5 in each eye, and by 15 I was at 6.5 in each eye. I hope this isn't the course for either of our kids, but my vision issues didn't just resolve themselves. My cousin, otoh, started out with a prescription of 3 at the age of 16, never wore her glasses, and her vision is 20/20 now! I think hers is an unusual trajectory.

Did your doc recommend any alternative therapies to slow the development of myopia? Ours didn't yet, but she wants us to come back in over the summer to see DDs progress and potentially explore some options.

[calv]

Originally Posted by citymama

I would. My DD just got glasses (age 6) and has already lost her first pair so let me recommend Costco to you - the frame plus lenses will run you about $100. I was 7 when I got my first pair of glasses at 0.5 in each eye, and by 15 I was at 6.5 in each eye. I hope this isn't the course for either of our kids, but my vision issues didn't just resolve themselves. My cousin, otoh, started out with a prescription of 3 at the age of 16, never wore her glasses, and her vision is 20/20 now! I think hers is an unusual trajectory.

Did your doc recommend any alternative therapies to slow the development of myopia? Ours didn't yet, but she wants us to come back in over the summer to see DDs progress and potentially explore some options.

curious, why recommend costco? because it's inexpensive?

[dogmom]

Get them. Until he tries them he has no idea what he has been missing. I remember getting mind then after a few weeks adjustment thinking, 'Oh, my head doesn't hurt!" I never even noticed in 3rd grade.

[rin]

Get them. We've bought our glasses for the past few years from zennioptical.com; they're a Chinese-based company that sells super cheap frames & lenses. Nothing fancy or designer, but for kids the prices can't be beat (around $15-$20 for a pair of frames w/lenses, shipped). If he ends up wanting them long-term, you can always get fancier frames down the road, but especially for something that the doctor says might resolve itself, don't invest a lot!

(If you do order from an online place, most of them require what's called the "pupillary distance", e.g. the measurement between the pupils of each eye. It usually isn't written onto a prescription, but any eyeglass shop/optometrist/etc can measure it for you in about two seconds, no appointment or anything needed. I had it done at Lenscrafters at the mall, and they did it for me at the little desk where they normally tighten frames and fill out receipts.)

[MaiseyDog]

I agree get them. I can remember getting my first pair of glasses as a kid and being surprised at all the details I could see that I had never even knew were there. We just got DD1 a new pair of glasses at walmart. THey have $9, $18, and $27 frames and lens are $29 if you dont' get the anti-glare lens- $49 if you do. They also offer a 1 year warrently so that if they get broken they will replace them.

[wellyes]

Get them for sure. No question. My mom is still bitter that her parents waited until she was an older elementary student to get her glasses. She was ASTONISHED at what the world looked like all crisp and clear.

[Gena]

I think you should get them. But my son has severe vision problems and has been wearing glasses since he was 2, so I may not be the best one to ask. I don't know it's like to have have a kid with mild vision issues.

Originally Posted by jse107

Anyway, everything looked fine for the most part. The doctor wrote a prescription for 0.75 (both eyes) with some correction for astigmatism (Axis 005 in one eye and 175 in the other).

Just so you know, you're missing a set of numbers.

The sphere tells how nearsighted or farsighted the person is. You said your son measured 0.75 in both eyes. You don't indicate if this is a + (plus) or a - (minus). Plus numbers indicate farsightedness and minus numbers indicate nearsightedness.

Astigmatism is indicated with 2 sets of numbers. The cylinder tells how much astigmatism. The Axis tells what direction; it's a number of degrees, so it will be between 001 and 180.

It can be confusing to try to figure out what all the numbers mean, so I hope that helps a little.

[jse107]

Well, that's just it--I'm totally confused. On the script it looks like the numbers are +.75 and -.75 both eyes. ???? Plus teh astigmatism seems really, really slight to me. Sigh. I should have gone with DH yesterday.

Help!!

[Gena]

Originally Posted by jse107

Well, that's just it--I'm totally confused. On the script it looks like the numbers are +.75 and -.75 both eyes. ???? Plus teh astigmatism seems really, really slight to me. Sigh. I should have gone with DH yesterday.

Help!!

You can call the doctor's office and ask to have someone explain the prescription to you.

Or this might help:

Understanding your child's glasses prescription