Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want more info on this prescription?

46 replies

3dworld · 10/04/2021 19:16

Child a couple of months off of their 4th birthday.
Went for an eye test yesterday. Never noticed any squinting or problems seeing things.
The prescription seems very very mild to me, yet they have prescribed glasses.
Just wondering if the optician was being over zealous or if they will really benefit DC!
I obviously trust the opticians judgement, but my prescription is similar and I don't need glasses or have any issues with my sight.
I believed I had a very mild short sightedness and that my eyes were slightly rugby ball shaped.

DC Prescription is
SPH +1.00
Cyl -0.5

SPH +1.50
Cyl -1

Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
3dworld · 10/04/2021 21:09

Well obviously ordered the glasses.
I just think there was a lot of factors I wasn't comfortable with.
Child in the eye test on their own and not fully cooperating or answering questions because they are 3 years old and wanted their mum.
They weren't kicking off, but very shy and hesitant, plus wearing a face mask.
Then nothing being explained to me re the prescription.
I just don't want them wearing glasses if it isn't necessary or not a true reflection of what their eye sight is like. Or on the other hand they may need much stronger glasses, as they were too shy to answer the questions on what they could and couldn't see.
Plus they refused the initial eye checks that look in the back of your eye, so I don't know if that makes any difference.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 10/04/2021 21:11

@3dworld

Well obviously ordered the glasses. I just think there was a lot of factors I wasn't comfortable with. Child in the eye test on their own and not fully cooperating or answering questions because they are 3 years old and wanted their mum. They weren't kicking off, but very shy and hesitant, plus wearing a face mask. Then nothing being explained to me re the prescription. I just don't want them wearing glasses if it isn't necessary or not a true reflection of what their eye sight is like. Or on the other hand they may need much stronger glasses, as they were too shy to answer the questions on what they could and couldn't see. Plus they refused the initial eye checks that look in the back of your eye, so I don't know if that makes any difference.
I can't believe they didn't let you in. I was in with my 14 year old on his test. Did they use drops in your child's eyes?
Original poster
3dworld · 10/04/2021 21:12

No they didn't use drops. And no we weren't allowed in. All children regardless of age had to wear face masks and parents had to wait outside the door that was left open a crack

OP posts:
underneaththeash · 10/04/2021 21:15

We don’t base the prescription on their answers when they’re so young. We have an intrude time called a retinoscope which allows us to determine the prescription.

The long sighted bit of the prescription may reduce slightly as he ages. The astigmatic bit may change, but if it doesn’t, it’s not bad enough for him to have to wear glasses full time for ever.

Regularsizedrudy · 10/04/2021 21:16

Yes they need to wear glasses with that prescription. It’s really weird that you think you know better than the optician. You clearly have a very limited understanding. Why don’t you want to or child to see properly?

Regularsizedrudy · 10/04/2021 21:16

Your*

Original poster
3dworld · 10/04/2021 21:17

Thank you @underneaththeash
This reassures me!
I think they did the test with shapes rather than letters, but I still wasn't sure how accurate the answers needed to be!

OP posts:
Umbivalent · 10/04/2021 21:18

Was it a large chain optician, or a smaller private one?

As your child's treatment is free, maybe you should try a different optician?

Umbivalent · 10/04/2021 21:18

Not to get a different prescription, I mean, but one where you are happier with the communication and process.

dementedpixie · 10/04/2021 21:20

At that age they would normally use dilating drops to get a more accurate prescription and don't need to rely so much on what the child is saying.
You should have been in with them too

RaiseTheBeastie · 10/04/2021 21:22

It’s really weird that you think you know better than the optician. You clearly have a very limited understanding. Why don’t you want to or child to see properly?

What a ridiculous thing to say Hmm

If the op has a limited understanding, that's likely the opticians fault. It's part of their role to explain their findings, like any medical professional.

dementedpixie · 10/04/2021 21:22

My kids go to a local small independent optician and they've always been very helpful and explained what's going on

dementedpixie · 10/04/2021 21:24

@RaiseTheBeastie

It’s really weird that you think you know better than the optician. You clearly have a very limited understanding. Why don’t you want to or child to see properly?

What a ridiculous thing to say Hmm

If the op has a limited understanding, that's likely the opticians fault. It's part of their role to explain their findings, like any medical professional.

I agree. The optician should be taking time to explain what's going on and what everything means. And I can't believe they don't let parents in with a 3 year old - bizarre
LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 10/04/2021 21:32

Children tend to be longsighted and as they grow they become less so, and as their eyes develop up until about eight early intervention with any required prescription is crucial in order to prevent amblyopia.

This is where there brain ignores one eye resulting in no 3D (stereoscopic) vision and poor visual acuity in the affected eye. Possible squints too, as the brain ignores that eye it can do its own thing and not work with the other one.

Eventually the poor acuity (poor quality of vision/amblyopia) will not be able to be corrected with a lens as it's no longer purely a focus issue...a simple way to explain it would be like dot pictures...the finer and smaller the range of dots, the better the picture is , (good acuity), a poor focus means larger coarser dots which make a poor quality image.

So the specs are to try and prevent this happening. Poor vision does not always mean large prescriptions.

MrsBungle · 10/04/2021 21:36

I have a very minor prescription but have astigmatism. I can’t look at screens without my glasses on, they’re totally blurred. Optician says my sight itself is pretty much fine it’s just the astigmatism.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 10/04/2021 22:04

Go,to an independent. I go with my DC wearing a mask in the room. DC don’t wear a mask because they are under 11. Incredibly kind and reassuring.

aretherereally4Hs · 10/04/2021 22:41

I wouldn't be going to any optician where I wasn't allowed in! Both my children have had eye tests this year and I was in with them and they are young teens! So not appropriate

WetWeekends · 10/04/2021 22:53

@aretherereally4Hs

I wouldn't be going to any optician where I wasn't allowed in! Both my children have had eye tests this year and I was in with them and they are young teens! So not appropriate
Me too, I went in with my 6 year old last year. I really wouldn’t be happy in your position OP.
Isadora2007 · 10/04/2021 23:00

Specsavers here asked would my children be okay to go in alone. I’d have been allowed to go in with them aged 8 and 11 if they’d not been okay.
I hope you’ve had some reassurance here but that’s shockingly bad service IMO from your optician.

FireflyRainbow · 12/04/2021 01:47

How would we know over an expert. Ring the opticians and discuss it.

FireflyRainbow · 12/04/2021 01:49

Just see you had to wait outside. Specsavers told me to go in with my 14 year old as he is a child.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.