Toddler wore my glasses and now I am worried

[WaltzingTilda]

My dd(3) briefly put my glasses on (about 5 to 10 seconds I guess but not sure) and I am so so worried if she would have damaged her eyesight because if this and would need to wear glasses . I remember I used to do this for fun when I was a young child and since my teenage years I've had to wear glasses. None of my family wore glasses until they'd passed their 40s. Now I am worried if my dd would have to wear glasses be because she wore my glasses for a few seconds. An optician at specsavers once told me that a child's eyesight can get damaged if they wear glasses when they don't need to. I am freaking out now. I don't know why I am posting tbh, I am in tears now because of this. I hate and always have hated wearing glasses and the one thing I don't want for my dd is glasses. Does anyone know how long after wearing glasses does a child's eyesight get damaged?

I also think you might need to accept there’s a fair chance your daughter might need glasses at some point. Plenty of children do.

Jesus Christ.

You need urgent help for your anxiety.

Seek help.

@WaltzingTilda

I don't know if I have anxiety tbh, certainly didn't before having my dd, but who knows maybe I do now. I have always found wearing glasses an I convenience, it hasn't kept me from doing what I want I suppose but it's been a mighty inconvenience.

Your level of concern about a few seconds is disproportionate and an anxious response.

Most people would find it uncomfortable to wear the wrong prescription and take them off long, long before the eye is significantly affected.

I've had distance glasses for over 20 years and still find them irritating enough that I only wear them for specific concentrating in the distance, mainly driving. I see well enough for general purposes.
Children wearing glasses now is pretty cool. Eye issues are picked up younger so it's no longer a tiny number with bottle rims, plus for those with strong prescriptions, lenses are lighter and more subtle. Frames are more interesting and flattering. Needing glasses really isn't an issue in concern in itself.

As someone who has worn glasses and hated them since age sbout 7, there are still many many worse things I worry about for my daughters to the point that them maybe one day needing glasses is something that never crossed my mind as an issue to sorry about. In fact dd2 has them and she looks amazing, she doesn’t have to wear them all the time but it’s no issue for her at all when she does. They’re rather trendy now, teenagers getting clear glass ones and all sorts.

For you, two thing: you really need to talk to someone about your reaction to this as it’s not normal or proportionate. It might just have touched a nerve but please talk to someone. Also have you tried contact lenses? Game changer for some things.

🤓

I did this all the time as a child and I've never needed glasses. She'll be fine, don’t worry. If she needs glasses in the future, this won't be the reason.

Honestly it will not have damaged her eyes.

You on the other hand may need some help with anxiety as your response is disproportionate to what actually happened.

For me its not just the wearing of glasses (that too) , it's the constant deterioration of my eyesight and the constant pain I experience since a consultant at Moorfield EH did a test on my eyes. Poor eyesight has given me a world of grief. Even having a shower is a pain, i have to place everything I need before I take a shower , can't just reach out an get it when I need. When i come out of a shower everything is a blurr, glasses getting steamed up and all sorts. Need to wear contacts when swimming in the sea. But yes, I probably am projecting on my dd.

OP dont worry, the kids would have to be wearing your glasses for days at a time for there to be any damage!
Chances are if you need glasses she will too, it wont feel like a catastrophe for her if you dont treat it like one. You might want to start thinking about how you show your attitude to wearing your glasses around her, if you are always going 'ugh i hate my glasses' or 'i look so ugly in these' if she ever needs them she will see them as a negative, whereas if you treat choosing new frames as a fun activity etc and speak about them positively etc she will have a much better time of it.
Im sorry you've felt so awful about wearing glasses over the years, but look at this as an opportunity to put energy into making sure your daughter sees then as a positive thing.
Remember you are her mum, her hero, so if you are positive about stuff she will copy you.

I didn't think you should wear contacts while swimming. Are you short sighted?
My dd is long sighted and ds is heading towards short sight.
You should get your dds eyes checked fairly early if you have bad eyesight

OP, I don't mean this unkindly, but it's a bit daft to think that it's possible that trying on someone else's glasses can damage a child's eyes.

@RJnomore1 I do wear contacts, but I don't want to wear them too often, so I mostly wear them when going out or to the beach in case I want to swim.

How short sighted are you, OP?

I’m a -8 prescription so pretty short sighted, I’ve worn glasses since I was 7/8. Yes, I would prefer to be able to see in the shower, not get steamy glasses when I walk into a building in winter, not have mask problems now, but it’s fine, those are minor niggles... I really don’t mind wearing glasses

dementedpixie you’re not supposed to wear contacts in water because of an increased risk of infection. Most people (including me!) ignore this.

What?

Swimming in contacts is not advised. Do you wear goggles too?

Sorry that ‘what’ was my initial reaction to the OP. Please do not waste another second worrying about this

My dd has prescription goggles for swimming

Is there a reason you don’t want to wear them too often?

If you’ve had proper optical care and are wearing new style ones aNd have no eye issues you shouldn’t have to ration yourself.

I’ve got a bit of a problem (underlying allergic reaction which we can’t get to the bottom of, not the lenses but slightly irritates my eyes) which means I can’t wear mine daily the last few years and I do miss that.

One day when I’m brave I’ll get surgery.

Oh hold on why do you have pain? Are you meaning an eye test left you in pain? I can see why you would worry but honestly that shouldn’t happen.

@dementedpixie I am short sighted. I don't have a choice as far as I am aware , if I don't wear contacts when swimming i can't really see. I'd probably go crash into someone else. I've got -8 something prescription for glasses and -7 something prescriptions for contacts. I did get dds eyesight checked about a year ago (just before first lockdown) and her eyesight seemed okay. I think they said she needs to go back for a check after 2 tears unless I have concerns

Even if she does need glasses as a child, it doesn't mean she will for life either. My DS had to have patches and glasses from when he was 2, he had two operations to correct a squint (the first when he was 5, and the second when he was 8) and has a rugby ball shaped eye just like me. He's not worn glasses since he was 17, the early interventions really helped and improved his sight. His squint is now starting to return and is visible when he's tired, but it's not enough to need glasses at the moment. He may need them again in future. But eye problems can be hereditary, so it would probably be useful to not instil a fear or loathing of glasses into your dd now, otherwise she will be self conscious if she has to wear them in future.

Don’t worry. Her eyes won’t have been damaged by a few seconds wearing your glasses. Not everyone is negative about having to wear glasses though. Some people wear them as a fashion accessory without a prescription lense. I remember my 9 year old niece crying after an eye test because she didn’t need them.