https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:26:28 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851835 Wed, 17 Oct 2018 12:48:45 +0000 alphagam84 2851835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would absolutely take my child to the eye doctor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851733 Wed, 17 Oct 2018 06:46:17 +0000 MrsBucky 2851733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: my 2.5 son saw a pediatric opthamologist several times due to an orbital fracture. He did the circle/ square/ Apple test at 2.5 and his vision was just shy of perfect. Doc said a slight near sightedness is normal in young kids, but that looking at my husband and I (we both wear glasses) he was likely to need them in the future, but not now. I’d go to the appointment and be honest about your thoughts/ concerns and hear the doctor out, at least. But personally I’d trust their judgement, though I do t think it’s wrong to ask whether it could hurt her eyes more if the test was failed due to her unwillingness to try more than her bad eye sight. In that regard you definitely know your DD best. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851723 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 23:24:05 +0000 QBbride 2851723@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Huh? Not getting your 5yo glasses because you don’t feel like she needs them/don’t want her eyes to rely on them? That doesn’t sit well with me. It actually makes me feel kind of sick. </p> <p>My son is 5yo and he is super reliable, you ask him a question and he answers you. At that age kids are really good at answering questions, following instructions etc. I doubt she didn’t pass because she didn’t understand what was being asked. </p> <p>Please follow up with the optometrist. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851714 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 21:44:29 +0000 PurplePeony 2851714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>IIRC, the research was that sunlight can help prevent or slow the progression of nearsightedness, but it’s not a cure for vision loss that has already occurred. It’s been awhile since i read about it so I could be wrong, though. I’m another who got glasses fairly young (8) and found it life-changing, so I’m definitely on the side of getting her evaluated again...you can still do outside time and see if it helps even if she has glasses on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851671 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 18:45:59 +0000 gotkimchi 2851671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: I actually have a cousin who has Coates disease in one eye which was caught at a well baby appt. he has lost most vision in that eye and it has required patching + glasses. His mom admitted that prior to that she thought well baby visits were sort of useless. So I totally agree with you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851665 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 18:34:17 +0000 codeitall 2851665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I see a lot of standard advice, but I don't see this bit so I'll add it in.</p> <p>I have two siblings that had glasses at very young ages. One had juvenile cataracts and the other was born without his whole optic nerves.</p> <p>The doctor said that there is a brief window when we are young where our brain learns to use the tools we have: ears, eyes, touch, etc. If we miss that window, the brain doesn't catch up. Because of my brother's juvenile cataracts, he has permanent double vision. His brain never learned to put the two images together.</p> <p>It is super unlikely that your child's issue is anywhere near that bad. But I really do urge everyone to take advantage of every screening you can do for your child when they're young. My kids have eye and hearing exams every year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851651 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 17:02:41 +0000 MenagerieMama 2851651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Adding another voice to the chorus about going to the specialist. I got glasses at age 5-6 years old and it was life changing! I see no downside to evaluating and considering glasses if needed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851640 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 16:25:26 +0000 lioneyes 2851640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>20/50 means that what people with perfect vision can see at 50 feet, your daughter can only see from 20 feet, so it is nearsightedness which will affect her seeing the board, her teacher, details in the world, versus reading a book up close. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851628 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 16:05:40 +0000 kiddosc 2851628@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I get the impression that you yourself don't have impaired vision. I don't see any reason to delay letting my child see the world clearly. It's not just about reading, it's about making out faces from afar, knowing the difference between a squirrel and a rabbit in the grass, or being able to see the pictures in the book the teacher is holding. The expectation isn't that glasses will "correct" her eyes and she won't need them in the future. It should be that you're providing her the means to see clearly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851613 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 15:10:36 +0000 wrkbrk 2851613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hummusgirl: This, 100%. Same for me. I was 9 when I first got glasses - exact same experience. I likely needed them way before then ... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851539 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 11:34:58 +0000 Mamatimes3 2851539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Please go see a pediatric ophthalmologist. My son has used glasses since he was 4. He failed his eye test at school so we took him to the eye doctor specializing in kids. One eye is 20/20 but the other one isn’t. He needed glasses and had to patch his eye for a while. Basically, if one eye is weak the other eye will overcompensate and eventually the weak eye will no longer communicate to the brain. </p> <p>Pediatric ophthalmologists are also trained and can see things in the eye without the child even knowing shapes and letters! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851512 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 10:52:17 +0000 snowjewelz 2851512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would go too just to see what they say! I've had glasses since I was 7 and my prescription just stopped getting worse in recent years (30+). I also have astigmatism as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851509 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 10:33:02 +0000 Sams Mom 2851509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To add to what @lindseykaye: said about prescription changes, my eyes became worse every year from when I got glasses at 11, but then started getting better every year starting around 23, and leveled out around 27. I do have an astigmatism in both eyes though, so I don't think they could get back to perfect ever, even with lasik. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851507 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 10:27:03 +0000 lindseykaye 2851507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You've had a lot of advice along the same lines that I would give as a glasses-wearer since childhood and as a mother to a glasses-wearing 5 yo.</p> <p>We didn't know my LO might need glasses until her VPK teacher told us that she squints and tilts her head during circle time when looking at the book being read to them across the mat (to see the pictures). And we didn't connect how closely she put her face to the page when she was coloring or drawing with her needing glasses, but it made sense later. I also hesitated to use the chart as a true measure of her vision but once she saw an actual pediatric opthamologist we were sure her vision was impaired and we took the doctor's advice and got her in glasses right away.<br /> Her vision has still gotten worse actually, in the last 6-months since she started wearing her glasses, so we have started daily patching in order to try and strengthen each eye individually.</p> <p>I know my vision deteriorated at every appointment from childhood through to my late 20's. I don't think I had a single year go by that I didn't need to increase my prescription strength until then. Just some additional info that initial prescriptions could be slightly off AND it is also still possible that vision can be getting worse - not that the prescription was incorrect. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851503 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 10:11:19 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2851503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got glasses as a teen so can’t speak to the experience of younger kids, but my best friend growing up also had a similar experience where she couldn’t see the kids or slides at the park across the road and it was life changing for her. </p> <p>FWIW I am near sighted but don’t require glasses for driving, but both my mom and I have had our prescriptions improve and require less correction over the years. I only wear my glasses when I leave the house. So I wouldn’t assume that her eyes will worsen or it would be a bad thing.. I don’t think I can see any negative to getting them, especially if they would help your child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851498 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 09:55:52 +0000 MrsADS 2851498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree w/all others - please take her to be seen. I cannot believe any study that says that outside time fixes vision problems?!?!? I got glasses at a fairly young age and it was literally life changing. My mom tells me that I told her "mommy, do you know that there are leaves on the tree?" Because all I saw was just a blur of green. I mean, really. My mom says she felt so awful that she didn't take me sooner. But I have super super bad vision (legally blind w/o correction, -13 diopter). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851492 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 09:36:01 +0000 dolphin 2851492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would follow your pediatrician's recommendation and see an eye doctor. You want to rule out any other underlying vision issues too. Preventing what is preventable is so important. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851485 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 09:11:03 +0000 erinbaderin 2851485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another vote for the optometrist. Forget reading, but you want her to be able to see her friend across the park! I was seven when I got glasses and I remember marveling at the drive home, all the things I didn’t know about - I didn’t realize there were wires between telephone poles or mortar between bricks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851482 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 09:05:46 +0000 ALV91711 2851482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely go to the optometrist. They do more than just the shape chart to determine sight. They also check the health of the eyes. </p> <p>DS is 5.5 and we e been taking him yearly since he was 3. So far he doesn't need glasses but his optometrist figures he will at some point. </p> <p>I remember getting glasses at 12 and it was life changing. There were so many things I didn't know you were supposed to be able to see. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851481 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 09:05:10 +0000 KT326 2851481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another vote for a pediatric optometrist. We took my son at 5. His vision was borderline needing glasses so we opted to wait and are checking it again this year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851479 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 08:48:03 +0000 gotkimchi 2851479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got glasses very young like 5 or 6 and it made a world of difference. I was getting headaches from the eye strain and the glasses fixed it. As soon as I would get headaches again we would have the prescription checked. We take all our kids to our regular eye doctor yearly and they get a regular exam just like an adult. So far nothing needed but it’s good to have a baseline so they can see if things change </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851478 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 08:47:59 +0000 DesertDreams88 2851478@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also I have a student whose vision is t<br /> 20/40, and his parents haven't bought glasses for him because they have 10 kids, and he sits in the front row and strains to see the board. So in my opinion, 20/50 would be a big deal. My eyesight is something like 20/400 though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851477 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 08:45:40 +0000 DesertDreams88 2851477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If she needs glasses and you don't get them, her eyesight will get worse.</p> <p> Like a pp above, when I got glasses of age 9, it was life changing. The idea that your daughter might need them and not get them because of your hesitancy.... that's sad to me. Do you have glasses? I just wonder because maybe it's hard for you to imagine what it's like to not be able to see?</p> <p>I'm skeptical about "curing" myopia with outside time, but I haven't read the studies. I thought that myopia was mainly structural?</p> <p> I also did not think that getting glasses if you didn't need them would cause your eyes to adjust to need them. I thought it would give you headaches, which would be a clear sign. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851473 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 08:16:17 +0000 avivoca 2851473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: My oldest daughter was borderline at her eye appointment this past summer and we chose to wait a year. Her appointment was during nap time and she was nervous/tired/not cooperative. The doctor wasn't a pediatric ophthalmologist and I know from her first appointment when she was 3.5, she did better with a doctor who was trained to work with pediatrics. I'll probably take her next year to the pediatric ophthalmologist and if they recommend glasses, we will go ahead and get them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851462 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 07:10:12 +0000 misolee 2851462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would take her to a specialist. Reading has nothing to do with long distance vision unless she specifically failed near sightedness but they don’t usually test for that in kids. If she truly has eye problems, she will be squinting trying to see farther things (like tv or signs or the board or whatever) and that can make her vision much worse to be straining her eye. </p> <p>Also, not sure what kindergarten regulations are in your state but in ours at our five year appointments we had to get a signature from her peds or eye doctor on this form saying she passed the vision portion to enroll her in kindergarten. If the peds had found an optamalogist was needed then they would have had to sign that portion. (My neighbors twins failed eye and their peds wouldn’t sign the vision part. They needed a specialist signature). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851458 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 06:40:52 +0000 Mamaof2 2851458@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Hypatia: DS failed the eye test st the Ped at age 5 so I took him to an actual eye doctor- he passed<br /> I would go see an eye dr! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851444 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 04:37:08 +0000 Sams Mom 2851444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My six year old niece just got glasses, and up until now we honestly thought she was just a klutz. Turns out she didn't have great depth perception, and the glasses have helped tremendously with her not tripping or wrecking her bike or running into things. Now it is a fight to get her to keep them on her face, but after having them adjusted for fit a couple times she's getting much better.</p> <p>I would go to the appointment because there is definitely other ways than vision charts to test for vision because there are young children that don't know all those shapes with glasses.</p> <p>I had 20/50 in one eye when I was younger and it's not great (is take it over the 20/90 I have now though). Being able to see clearly is so important even if she won't be reading anytime soon; it's just ensuring one of her major senses is at her best. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851443 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 01:41:22 +0000 RKitty 2851443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As somebody who needs glasses I'd take her to see the eye doctor. I have a defect in one of my eyes that can never be fully corrected and even with my glasses I dont have 20/20 vision and the delay in getting my glasses essentially harmed my vision by putting extra strain on my good eye. </p> <p>Glasses aren't just for reading but if she has issues setting things in the distance you miss signs and other important cues. I can't drive with it my glasses because it's likely I'd not see stop signs or other signs in time. Or miss people stepping in front my car or another car suddenly stopping. (I mean I can see but it's all blobby so it takes longer to process.) Your daughter obviously isnt going driving but she could miss something while riding a bike or out on a walk. I can't see people waving at me or make out facial features till they're right in front of me. </p> <p>Not only that but vision issues can cause balance issues and headaches. I always hate when I get new glasses because my eyes hurt for a day or two tull they adjust (even though it improves my vision) and I have gotten headaches from it. </p> <p>Also id think a doctor specializing in eye care ( and hopefully you can find one specializing in kids) eo know when somebody is faking the test. </p> <p>Plus your daughter must likely will want to wear the glasses if they help whereas if they don't she probably won't bother with them </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851440 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 01:18:28 +0000 hummusgirl 2851440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would go to the appointment and try to understand what's going on. I remember getting glasses for the first time when I was 10 and it was life-changing. I didn't know you were supposed to be able to actually see individual leaves on trees - I thought everything was just a blur for everyone. </p> <p>I wouldn't worry about reading (sounds like seeing close-up may not even be a problem) but I would think that if your daughter really has bad eyesight, being able to see clearly would help her now in her everyday life (bike riding, climbing, playing, etc.). I am so thankful every day that we live in a time and place where glasses are so readily available! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/waiting-to-get-glasses#post-2851435 Mon, 15 Oct 2018 23:07:35 +0000 Hypatia 2851435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: Thanks, maybe the pedi just didn’t know! You’re probably right that we should at least go to the appointment and see what he says. </p>