Does DS need glasses? And how to persuade him to have his eyes tested?

[Sarah111213]

My DS is 7 and I have noticed recently that he has made quite a few mistakes.

We like to play a game in the car where we read out number plates of cars and then make up silly phrases for the last three letters. He used to love playing it, but recently, we have to be in a traffic jam and really close to the car in front before he will read out the last three letters, and even then I notice that he screws up his eyes slightly to read it to me.

He also had a friend round for tea last week who said that he had got full marks in a test because the answers had been on a poster on the wall (whole different post). DS looked confused and said that he couldn't have done the same because the poster looked blurry. They sit next to each other.

There have also been other things which have made me think about his eyesight - sometimes I notice him slightly squinting to see the captions on the News and he often tries to sit quite close to the TV. I've also noticed that he's not as keen to watch it as he used to be, although I've put this down to it being summer and him wanting to play outside more.

Tonight, I broached the subject that a pair of glasses might help him to see better, and told him that I was going to try and get an Opticians' appointment this week (he has never been before as neither DH or I wear glasses, and he passed the Reception checks with no problems). He had a massive tantrum and said that he could read perfectly well and didn't need to wear glasses.

So, now I am stuck with a son who might need to wear glasses but won't even consider going to the opticians. He is also quite stubborn, so even if I do persuade him to go, there is no guaruntee that he will co-operate.

So, I have two questions:

Firstly, does it sounds like he needs his eyesight checking?

Secondly, how can I persuade him to go and have his eyes tested?

Thanks, and sorry it's a bit of a marathon post!

bribery

I think you have to be really tough and insist he has an eye test (would some sort of bribe work??) - my parents didn't wear glasses and I never had my eyes tested until I was about 12 - and I really did need glasses - I hadn't realised you were supposed to be able to read what was on the blackboard !! It made such a difference to me when I got my glasses - please try to encourage him.

As both my DH and I wear glasses now I am paranoid about having my DS's eyesight tested, he goes every 6 months - interestingly he doesn't need glasses (yet).

All children should have yearly eye tests.

Tell him some of the coolest people have glasses should he need them:

Harry Potter
Fabio Capello (well not that cool but he has a cool job)

Umm, can't think of any others that would appeal to a 9 year old but you might be able to!

Reassure him that it's painless and so important and make it non-negotiable. The optician will be used to non-compliant children so take him there and wait in the waiting room whilst they do the test; it doesn't take long. Then buy him a treat - bribery definitely has it's place!

I think that he does need to have his eyes tested.

Does he know anyone with glasses? My 7 year old DD thinks that glasses are really cool - she was gutted to find out that she didnt need them.

I think that it would be worth taking him along for an appointment - he might feel that he has to cooperate in front of the optician.

Its also possible that he doesnt really understand the problems that his vision could be giving him. Reading your post reminds me of when I was at school - I couldnt see the blackboard, and used to copy the people around me, but for some reason it didnt occur to me that I should be able to see the blackboard, IYSWIM.

I really didnt want glasses, and when I went to the optician lied about the effect of the lenses for a bit, though after a few minutes realised that I was obviously getting glasses anyway, so had may as well get ones that were right for me.

When I did get glasses I was amazed at the effect, and all the things I could see. Im shocked by how handicapped I was by my poor vision without ever realising.

Sorry 7, not 9 year old.

My 7-year-old DS wears glasses. His eyesight was checked routinely at school and they picked up on it last year.

He really, really didn't want them. Harry Potter comparisons didn't work, he was miserable at the idea of it. But at the wonderful opticians we found Star Wars ones. Instant conversion. He went into school the next day proud as Punch, and even the horrid little shits slightly meaner, teasing kids in his class were impressed.

He now wears them without question, and actually appreciates how much easier they make everything for him.

I honestly thought I'd have loads of trouble with this, as he's very resistant to lots of things (clothes, food, etc ) but good old D&A were life-savers.

Agree with the poster who said you should all go for a test, like going to the dentist. And try to prepare him by saying 'I know you think you don't want them, but this may be one of those times when you just have to do something you don't like'. It's tough but he can't not have them if he needs them! (Spoken as one who avoided glasses for far too long and whose eyesight suffered as a result.)

Good luck!

yes, it does sound like he needs his eyes tested.

what is it that he doesnt like the idea of? has he seen someone at school bullied because of glasses? does he see them as a weakness? Does he know many people with them?

My DS started wearing his when he just turned 3, and the eye tests were a struggle at first - luckily he sees me and his Grandma wearing glasses and his best friend at nursery does too.Does anyone in your family wear them?

DD has been wearing them for a couple ofyears now, her problem was picked up by school nurse[embarrassed]. Could you emphasise how much easier it will be to see the football he wants to kick (or whatever sport he likes to do), There are so many funky fashionable cool frames now, I look back at my pink NHS ones and cringe.

"Does he know anyone with glasses? My 7 year old DD thinks that glasses are really cool - she was gutted to find out that she didnt need them."

My DD was four when she got her glasses and was thrilled with them, as she has been with each subsequent pair. You can get some really lovely glasses for children these days.

darlin g, you don't persuade a 7 year old. you tell them. he is 7. "We are going to specsavers" should suffice.

bribery can come into play when he needs to wear them, clean them, put them in the case etc

I think a firm approach is possibly best.

And this is of no help to your child but a good time for a 1st eye test is 9monthes or 3yrs and then it becomes just part of the fabric of life.