When do kids reach 20/20 vision? Or, is 20/50 bad?

[KrisM]

DS1 and I were at an event and we were talking about things on Saturday. I pointed out a sign and asked him about. He said he couldn't read it. Then, I played the "can you read that" game with him :). Tonight, I printed out an eye chart just to get an idea. Obviously, I am not a professional - this was just to get an idea of where he was with a better approach than pointing out signs in a building :). He ended up with 20/50 for the right eye and 20/40 for the left. Doing the same, I was 20/20 for both.

So, obviously, infants don't have 20/20 vision. But, when do they get there? DS1 turns 9 this month. Is 20/40 or 20/50 bad for a 9 year old? Should I take him to the ophthalmologist? We went last June because he was complaining of double vision when reading. Eye tiredness was given as the reason and we just limited night time reading for a bit. He hasn't complained in 6 months. No mention of any other vision problems and it was a well recommended pediatric optometrist. But, I don't know where he was on the chart, either.

Anyhow, should I make an appointment? Should I just wait for his 9 year physical and see what the ped says?

ETA: He says he can read the boards at school without a problem. He does well with all As in school.

[Momit]

My DS is much younger than yours, but we had his eyes checked (as best you can with a 4-year-old) and his vision was 20/25. I had the impression it would only get worse from there - the doc said it was not bad enough to correct "yet". DH and I both have awful eyesight so it will be no big surprise for DS to need glasses.

In hindsight I wish I had gotten my vision corrected sooner. I failed the vision exam at the beginning of 8th grade and then hid from the nurse all year so I would not have to get re-tested and get glasses. When I went to get contacts that summer the doctor couldn't believe I had been walking around like that for so long - I mean, I couldn't even recognize my friends in the hallway until they were right in front of me. And my X's and Y's were all mixed up in my algebra notes. Maybe it wouldn't have helped but I have always assumed my vision would have stabilized sooner if it had been corrected earlier.

So long story short, I would get his eyes tested at an ophthalmologist.

[kdeunc]

I think he needs an eye exam. I went into glasses at 7. "Failed" an eye test at school. I was around 20/40. By age 12 I was we'll over 20/200. My niece just had her vision checked at 9 months (because of other eye issues) and it was 20/40. Should have been 20/20.

[newg]

I would have him checked out. DD1 had her eyes checked at her 5yr checkup and was fine....20/20 in both eyes. Her best bud had his eyes checked at his well check and is now wearing glasses because he was 20/80, 20/100 and now that he is wearing glasses he is seeing details in his house for the first time!

[wendmatt]

I agree, I think you should get his eyes checked, I do not believe they will now change to 20/20, but get worse. The ped is not an opthamologist so will prob tell you the same.

[KrisM]

Okay, I'll call the ophthalmologist tomorrow. I'm hoping I can get him in before school is out so I can do it without the other kids in tow!

[MSWR0319]

I took DS for his first check a month ago and he was 20/40 I think. He's 4.5 and she said that's what she expected and that they'll swing farsighted for awhile and then start to go back to 20/20 after a few years. But she didn't specify an age, so I"m not sure if 9 is too old for that "normal" swing. I think I'd just get him checked.

[123LuckyMom]

Check with your ped for who you should see. An ophthalmologist is a specialist for eye diseases, and you will most likely need a referral. An optometrist deals with vision and glasses. They also do checks for eye health and will alert you to an issue that needs to be addressed by an ophthalmologist. It may be, though, that kids go straight to the big guns. I don't know. Has your ped not done vision tests with your 9 year old before? My 4 year old just started getting tested at the ped this year. My understanding is that vision corrects in infancy. A 9 year old's vision is not going to correct itself but may get worse. I'd definitely get it checked out.

[wellyes]

In my state, 20/50 is as "bad" as your eyes can be to legally drive without glasses. I am about a 20/40 in one of my eyes and feel like I am borderline for needing glasses to drive.

[Mermanaid]

I'd get him checked by an optometrist. DD got glasses when she was 6. I don't remember her numbers, but the opt told me it wasn't anything he wouldn't expect given that DH and I both wear corrective lenses (and mine is STRONG!).

While she was on the line as to whether she really needed glasses, we went forward with them after a discussion with him. He rec'd getting them to make reading as easy as possible for her so that it didn't become a chore or something she didn't want to do because of an excuse.

[sariana]

I agree with recent PPs that you need an optometrist, not an ophthalmologist. The latter is for specific eye issues, not vision checks. My DS (8) sees an optometrist for prescription checks. My DD (5) sees an ophthalmologist because she has a weak eye. With our previous vision coverage children were referred to an ophthalmologist until age 6, but I don't know if that's a universal standard. Regardless, a 9 year old generally would start with an optometrist unless you suspect something more serious about his eye health.

[Kindra178]

Check with your ped for who you should see. An ophthalmologist is a specialist for eye diseases, and you will most likely need a referral. An optometrist deals with vision and glasses. They also do checks for eye health and will alert you to an issue that needs to be addressed by an ophthalmologist. It may be, though, that kids go straight to the big guns. I don't know. Has your ped not done vision tests with your 9 year old before? My 4 year old just started getting tested at the ped this year. My understanding is that vision corrects in infancy. A 9 year old's vision is not going to correct itself but may get worse. I'd definitely get it checked out.

Ophthalmologists do both, at least in my experience.

[elephantmeg]

DS was tested at the Dr's office as 20/50 and they said that was the point they recommended him to go to the eye dr, took him to the optometrist and he said not really nearsighted (but not as far sighted as he should be at 7 and had a nasty astigmatism). His glasses finally came last evening and today is his first day in them. We got them at costco and it was 2 weeks for them to come in (but glasses + lenses were $98 instead of 250-400 that everywhere else had) for polycarb.