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Glasses for young children
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My Dd6 was recently experiencing headaches after extended reading. I suspected perhaps her eyes were strained and made her an appt with the eye doctor. She began reading at age 3 and often reads for long periods of time. She loves reading more than anything she says. Anyways, I was expecting reading glasses.
Initially the doctor said her vision was fine. When he looked into her eyes he decided he want to dialate her eyes. He then said she is overcompensating by focusing too much. He said she is nearsighted. He gave her an extremely strong prescription that she must wear all the time. Bottom line – the lenses are terribly thick and make my daughter look cross eyed and ridiculous. He wants her back in a few weeks and says he may have to increase the strength then once her eyes adjust.
I have read about myopia (nearsightedness) in children and many say glasses will make it worse, not better. I just feel really dissatisfied with the whole process. I don’t feel she needs such a strong RX. I am tempted to toss the glasses and just purchase some non prescription reading glasses for her. I read that this can help take the strain off young children’s eyes and the nearsightedness will correct itself with good habits and less strain.
The part that really frustrates me is that because my husband owns his own business we cannot afford private insurance. The children are on a State HMO. I wonder if we were paying cash if they would recommend such lengths? I know it’s terrible but I have dealt with doctors ordering unnecessary tests or visits I have felt were simply because the insurance pays for it.
If she really needs glasses We are prepared to pay out of pocket for a better pair of glasses. Thinner lenses, better frames, whatever it takes. But Im not really convinced she needs them. I usually trust my intuition but its so hard when medical professionals give dire warnings and statements.
Anyone been down this road or have an objective opinion?
Tara
Probably not much help here. But I am nearsighted in one eye. When I was 6, I got glasses too. However, my mom didn’t make me wear them nor did she encourage me to wear my eye patch covering the good eye to help strengthen my bad eye. I did wear my glasses for a little while but that was it. My eye never got strong. Ended up w/ another pair of glasses when I was a little older. Didn’t wear those!! And then as an adult, my eye is still weak.
I do need to get glasses now but put it off! When I went to the eye doc a few months ago for a eye problem, I told him about not being able to see well due to old age. He told me to purchase reading glasses. While they help w/ the “long arm reading”, my weak nearsighted eye it does not help with.
I wished my mother encouraged me to wear my glasses and eye patch. Just wondering can you dd see letters far away on the chart? I too, had headaches when reading that alarmed my mother to take me.
Is there anyway you can get a second opinion? I would even go to Walmart. My dh has had success there.
Like I said, I probably didn’t help but just wanted to share my story!
I hope you find some answers!
I think I would want a second opinion. I wouldn’t like it that he initially said her eyes were fine and then decided that she needed a strong prescription. Call the state office for the children’s insurance and ask if they will pay for a second opinion.
Tara, there is never anything wrong with a second opinion. I wouldn’t personally recommend Walmart but try to find an optometrist that is specializing in children. From what you reported the other opt. said, I suspect the problem may be more complicated than mere nearsightedness, possibly also involving eso or exophoria. You don’t want to ignore this, and I know the expense is difficult (we have insurance, but it does not cover eye care) but self-diagnosing with reading glasses could really handicap your daughter in the long run. I really recommend another visit with this doctor (at least one more, and ask your questions) and then pursue a second optometrist if necessary, but try to find one that is well qualified to treat young children. Please please please. I wish I, an early reader, had had good eyecare when I was young, it would have helped me a lot. (Didn’t know I needed glasses until I was 9)
I was only suggesting WM due to money issues. My dh is farsighted and they had helped him. He has been there a few times for eye checks and glasses. I think it depends on where you go and what kind of care you receive. Some WM are not good some are. Ours had good customer service and when 1 pair didn’t come in they gave him another one for free!
A specialist can be expensive..but well worth it in the long run if you think it is a severe problem.
I have 3 children in glasses. Starting from 3 years on. Some with big issues to little ones. I would second another opinion and I would not let Wal-mart be my judge. i would find a child eye doctor. They specialize in their little eyes and can do a lot more for them.
My dd5 began wearing glasses and an eye patch at age 1. She is far-sighted, has astigmatism and esotropia (eye turns in). She has had eye surgery, too. She would be losing her vision in one eye were it not for the specialist care she has received. I, too, recommend following up with a second opinion. Where you buy the glasses is less important that the optometrist you see, IMHO.
I just wanted to ditto Missceegee as that is exactly (weird) what my son had to do, from the patch etc. Though we have not done surgery as we don’t have ins. for that.
You might want to seek out a pediatric *opthamologist* rather than optomitrist for your second opinion. Opthamologists are medical doctors and the appointment should be covered under your regular health insurance.
However, while opthalmologists CAN treat many eye issues, many specialize in other eye health concerns and not refractive issues. Meaning, that while they CAN diagnose nearsightedness and prescribe glasses, a lot of their training is in other areas. They are terrific for glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration, but in my experience (I’ve worked for both) optometrists are better at refraction. Also, there are not a lot of pediatric opthalmologists except in major hospitals. (I only know of one.) AND the diagnosis code is what determines whether or not insurance pays—a refractive error diagnosis is a refractive error diagnosis, and many plans will not pay that, regardless of which degree the provider has. Now, if there is another diagnosis (exophoria, for example) then many plans WILL pay—but again, regardless of whether the treatment is provided by an opt or an opthal. I’ve worked closely with both kinds of providers and watched them treat patients, and for my family I choose optometrists for most of our problems (refractive error, astigmatism, esophoria, amblyopia, etc) and we will choose an opthalmologist if we run into glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration or other eye disease (refractive error is not a disease.) I also worry a LOT about the care provided at some chain stores, as I have seen a lot of mess-ups coming from those sorts of places (missed diagnoses of problems like esophoria or glaucoma, incorrect prescriptions, incorrectly fitted contact lenses, etc.) You will pay a little more at a private practice with an emphasis on children, but IMO it is worth it.
Thank you ladies. I am looking into a second opinion but I don’t know if our insurance will cover it or how much it will cost. I did talk to the current doctor and we are supposed to go in and discuss my concerns this afternoon. At the very least we are planning to purchase new glasses for her out of pocket and buy her thinner lenses. Evidently our insurance won’t cover any special lenses even if they are super thick and heavy. Which is fine, but I grew up with those ugly frames and thick lenses myself and I am not putting my daughter through that! I got the feeling the receptionist was disapproving of me not liking the glasses because of how they looked. I save my money and buy myself fashionable glasses that look great on me. I always get ultra thin lenses. I figure I would of course do the same for my daughter? I’ve already decided to put off my own new glasses and use the money for hers. I want her to look in the mirror and feel beautiful, because she is.
Thank you again for your opinions.
Tara
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