DS blurred vision....hospital referral?

[Walkingwounded]

I am really worried about DS (7). He has been complaining of headaches and blurred vision.

There has been a nasty virus around, so took him to the GP, who said probably just a virus, glands are up, see how he goes. Also took him to the optician. Second appointment today found that his prescription is just about normal....but he has 'poor visual acuity' (i.e. Can't see well - I sat in on the test and he couldn't read even large letters on the board.)

Optician has written to the GP, suggesting a hospital referral. But I am very worried. And have googled, which was a mistake.

Does anyone have any idea what causes of poor vision in a child could be, without their prescription actually being bad? Optician did a thorough check and said his eyes were healthy. I am so worried about this being something serious, but have no sense of the range of possibilities.

Thankyou

Yes Googling was a mistake! When DS was referred and I googled I was convinced he had a brain tumour!

The orthoptist at the hospital are very busy dealing with children referred by opticians, so your ds is just one of madani.

I'm sure someone who knows far more than me will be along soon. x

Thankyou lynette. He mentioned seeing the orthoptist. Yes brain tumour....MS...at this point, I will be pretty grateful if it turns out to be diabetes or something.

Thanks for the reassurance though.

Is it all the time, or just sometimes? Headaches and blurred vision is how my migraine attacks often present.

I hope they figure out what is going on soon, your poor DS! Try not to worry too much, dr. Google is rather an alarmist and needs his bedside manner looking at.

Thanks naoko. It does seem to be when he's reading, watching TV etc. Yes dr google is a health hazard in himself.

(Orthoptist here) When the optician examined you son's eyes they will be looking inside and at the back of his eyes. If you have been told his eyes are healthy this means that the optician hasn't seen any sign of pressure on the optic nerves or any other problem such as cataract to cause reduced vision. Sometimes children can have reduced vision because something else is bothering them when no physical cause can be found, this is a possibility and is called non- organic vision loss. You are going to worry and imagine the worst but most children who are referred to us with this sort of history do not have anything seriously wrong. Hope it gets sorted soon

Oh thankyou truflenut. That does help. He really couldn't read much of the chart at all. I am not sure who we will be referred to? - I presume an orthoptist in the first instance, but don't know.

Just want it sorted for him poor chap. Hopefully the referral will not take long to come through.