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AIBU?

To remind you to take the dc for optic checks

65 replies

CurlyMoo · 26/07/2016 10:43

Posting for traffic here in the hope that it might spur those on, who like me put it off.

Took ds 7 to optician yesterday for the first time. My other 3 children all attend and have minor prescriptions. Was horrified to discover that ds is almost blind in one eye Sad His other eye has perfect vision, which has masked the deficiency in the "bad" eye. The sad thing is that if this was picked up early, he could have been patched and the eye could have strengthened and improved a bit. It will most likely require surgery now, we have been referred to the hospital.

I am kicking myself for not taking him sooner. I asked the optician about him a few years ago and he said that around 5 was a good age, as they could be more reliable in the test etc. It was my laziness really that has caused this.

I will hasten to add that it isn't the end of the world, he has perfect vision in one eye, which I am very grateful for, but still feel it is my fault. On the plus side ds is thrilled to be getting not one, but two pairs of glasses Smile

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NeedACleverNN · 26/07/2016 10:45

Thank you OP

I was thinking of getting my 3 year old checked but I will wait until she's 4/5.

I hope your ds recovers well from his surgery

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CurlyMoo · 26/07/2016 12:02

Thanks Need Flowers

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firawla · 26/07/2016 22:32

Good luck with his surgery OP!

I could easily have been in your situation as well. My ds age 4 has one weak eye, I had no idea at all! I noticed 6 yr old was standing close to the tv all the time (he actually had nothing wrong with his vision in the end!) so took them all for a check. 4 yr old had the typical eye checks in school before and they hadn't picked it up. It's really not easy to tell, when they can see perfectly from the other one!!

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backwardpossom · 26/07/2016 22:52

Kids get an eye test here (Scotland - no idea if it's just in my region or not, though) before they go to school. DH and I have terrible eyesight, but at the moment, DS doesn't seem to have any issues. He spots things I can't see even with my glasses on! I fear DD wont get away with it though!

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backwardpossom · 26/07/2016 22:52

I hope your DS's surgery goes well, OP!

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MummyBex1985 · 26/07/2016 22:55

Don't beat yourself up. Your DC would have said if it affected him that badly and he won't hold it against you. How could you have known?

It's fixable now so don't worry!

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MrsBobDylan · 26/07/2016 23:00

They can still patch a lazy eye at 7 and improve the vision. Thinking has changed as they now know that the optic nerve can re-make connections to a much later age than previously thought.

Patching has really helped my son, so it may not be too late for your ds. Mine needs surgery for his squint, but that's cosmetic and not about improving the vision.

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TheWoollybacksWife · 26/07/2016 23:02

Curly I hope your DS makes a speedy recovery and the process is not too traumatic for you all.

DH and I are both specs wearers and have been since our teens. Our DC have had eye tests regularly since infant school and our DDs both wear glasses. It is thanks to our fabulous optician that DD2's potentially life threatening condition was picked up last year. She is now fully recovered, thank goodness.

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LilQueenie · 26/07/2016 23:28

They dont actually send out letters for eyes tests until around 4 anyway. Don't feel bad op (easier said than done I know) you could not have known.

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redastra · 26/07/2016 23:49

OP I am like your son, I have 3/20 vision in my left and perfect in my right. So my right eye was compensating for the left. I was diagnosed when I was about 6 and despite patching and vision exercises there was no improvement. It hasn't held me back in anyway, I drive and have no problems! You may find that they won't operate but will do vision exercises and strengthening work with him!!! Or just enhance the good eye! Hope all goes well at the appointments!!

My youngest (age 2.5) attends the local eye hospital for a squint, and they said that it is good to take them to the optician from about 3.5 to get them used to going (a bit like going to the dentist), it makes their life easier when doing the actual eye tests later!

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BoopTheSnoot · 27/07/2016 00:30

You're so right. Took my 2yo DS to the eye clinic today as his right eye has been drifting. Turns out he has astigmatism in it. If untreated, the vision in that eye would have gotten progressively worse over time. He has glasses for six months and will then be reassessed.
Vision is precious and not to be taken for granted.

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amprev · 27/07/2016 00:36

As said by a PP, don't be hard on yourself. If your child had shown any signs of struggling with eyesight then you would have been on it. Coincidentally, I took mine for their first sight test just today (age 9 and 6) and it hadn't occurred to me to have it done before now. I have previously been satisfied that the sight tests they get in school were adequate.

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VioletBam · 27/07/2016 03:34

OP don't feel bad. The same thing almost happened to my DD but we caught it JUST in time when she was 6.

We only caught it because she was slow to read and her teacher had noticed the slightest of differences in one eye...we'd never seen that.

She got glasses immediately and there was an improvement but it could happen to anyone especially if the child has perfect vision in the other eye.

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ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 27/07/2016 03:36

FWIW I think the sight tests given in school may be rather more basic than the ones given in an actual opticians

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CurlyMoo · 27/07/2016 08:29

Thanks everyone.

I didn't actually know that yearly eye checks were a "thing" as I only ever had checks in school growing up. It was only because my older children have glasses that I thought I should take him. We don't get any notifications/letters about going to the optician where we are. I hope it can be patched and sorted. Ds is counting down the sleeps until his glasses arrive Smile

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situatedknowledge · 27/07/2016 08:35

Just seconding really. Fortunately (and I can't recall what prompted us to start) the DC have had regular checks since they were old enough. Last check up the optician spotted something in DDs eye that could lead to her being blind in middle age. It is easily treatable now, but less so if left till the obvious changes start. It could so easily have been missed.

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WhirlwindHugs · 27/07/2016 08:37

Bless him, don't feel bad these things get missed very easily. Hope all goes well.

If anyone has a toddler they're concerned about, do go see an optician - there are lots of tests they can do on children that can't read (with pictures etc) in fact I was amazed at how well our optician handled my 2.5yo with poor hearing who refused to speak at all during his test!

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GeoffreysGoat · 27/07/2016 08:42

I took 3.5yo ds when I had mine done - nearly all the family wear glasses - and they used little pictures, he had a great time!

Boots give you a free Zookeeper Zoe book so you can check at home, which was fun

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PaintedDrivesAndPolishedGrass · 27/07/2016 08:46

I took all my DCs for eye tests at the opticians when they were about 21/2, I don't think a health visitor and a wooden spoon is really up to the job. I think health visitors are a waste of time but that's another thread😉

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CurlyMoo · 27/07/2016 08:55

Painted it was the HV checks that highlighted a weakness in my other dc's eye. Our HV service stops at 6 months now, hence youngest ds wasn't checked.

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tigerlilly0404 · 27/07/2016 08:59

were we live we the children all get there eyes and hearing when they first start school, is this not the case in your area??
don't beat yourself about it, xxx

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redastra · 27/07/2016 09:08

In Scotland it is Optometrists that do the pre school eye check now! So hopefully things are not missed in the way they used to be. But do I agree with taking them at 2.5, as they can still cooperate with testing as it is done as a game and it is amazing what can be picked up and treated!

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NarcyCow · 27/07/2016 09:11

We brought ours when they were 5 and 4, and they both needed very strong glasses and patches. The ophthalmologist said they might not be able to drive as adults, but catching them that early gives them the best possible chance to improve. It really is important!

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ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 27/07/2016 09:20

Best of luck for your DS.

We were taking DS1 to get his eyes checked for the second time aged 8 and we thought we'd better get 4 year old DS2 checked not expecting a problem. DH is longsighted and I am shortsighted

DS1 had minor long sight.
DS2 was very long sighted with a significant difference between both eyes. He had glasses and patching on the stronger eye for about 12 months and it made a big difference. Before treatment, the hospital weren't sure if he would be able to drive as an adult but by the time the treatment finished his sight was good enough for driving.

There were no obvious signs that DS2 sight was bad as young children can compensate quite well for being long sighted. Without the eye test we would not have realised.

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MachiKoro · 27/07/2016 09:22

Don't they have an eye test at school in reception still? Mine did, however, they were already wearing specs by then!

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