any advice about eye test?

[Animol]

DS2 had an eye test yesterday, will need glasses - no big surprise as I'm very short sighted. The eye doctor (we live in Germany where you always see the eye doctor first not the optician) spent ages looking in his left eye after he had the drops to enlarge his pupils. He said he had something on the retina that looked a bit like a hole but DS2 was moving about too much for him to be sure and he said he'S too young (6) to have a hole so it'S probably just harmless pigment but the only way to be sure would be to send him to the eye hospital for tests under anasthetic and he wouldn't recomend that and we should come back in 6 weeks. Feeling very scared and knowing I'm going to be thinking about it all through the summer holidays - any advice?

[DBennett]

Well, it is very unlikely that your 6yr old does have any kind of retinal break.

Assuming that he doesn't have any other ocular or genetic disease the only thing that could raise his risk factor would be high levels of short-sightedness.

Now this is also unlikely in a 6yr old but you did say that he some family history and is getting glasses, do you happen to know the numbers?
I think you should have been given a written prescription as you do in the UK.

Lots of people do have pigment at the back of the eye (think freckle or mole) but not many types of them would be there at age 6.
The ones that do can have a fairly variable appearance and examining a 5yr old is not always easy.

The odds are very much on your side and you could be further reassured by noting the glasses being prescribed are not for high levels of short-sightedness.
If you have the numbers, I could do that.

But in general, you should be aware (for yourself and your DS) of the symptoms of a retinal detachment.

A sudden shower (or change in) floaters (little black/grey spots or strings in the visision), flashing lights being seen for no cause or a shadow coming over the vision from the side.

These would require urgent ophthalmic care.

Hope this helps you not to worry a little.

[Animol]

Thank you DBennet - very much. His prescription was 0.75 for his right eye and nothing for the left which is where the funny spot was. My eyes are about 6 each and my brothers too but otherwise no one else in the immediate family is short sighted - lots of cousins and their kids are though. My brother has also in the last few years had some problem with 'bits' in his eyes but I'm not sure exactly what it is. Do you know is it possible to take a photo of the retina and then examine that instead of trying to examine a wriggly 6yearold. I wish I'd asked while I was at the docs but as usual I only thought of loads of questions the moment I got out the door! Will try not to worry!

[DBennett]

Those glasses don't indicate an eye at increased risk of a retinal break.
Which is good.

To answer your question about retinal photography, it's complicated.

There are lots of ways to get images of the back of the eye.

Not all work on a 6yr old, especially a wriggly one.
Not all work for different areas of the back of the eye, imaging off to the sides is much harder.
Not everywhere has the appropriate kit for all situations.

And perhaps most importantly, the ability to see depth and move the image slightly is really helpful for diagnosis.

So yes, ask about photography.
But I would guess if it was useful/available it would already have been mentioned.

Sorry.

[Animol]

Thanks again DBennett!