Almost 4 year old DS been prescribed glasses!

[LONC2012]

Hi all,

3 weeks ago I took my nearly 4yo DS to have his eyes tested at spec savers as he still can't get his colours so thought there might be an issue there.
The first test she did was put an eyepatch over one eye and show him some symbols from a distance (this broke my heart when she showed him a photo of a car and he just didn't know what it was) the other eye however he got it straight away without hesitation.
She put some drops in his eyes that dilated his pupil then took a reading from them again using a machine. She then said that his eyes were worse than she thought and he would definitely be wearing glasses all the time and to be rechecked in 6 months time.
We got the glasses 2 weeks ago the first day he wasn't so keen but I after that he has worn them all day.
He tells me that he can't see me properly and that he can't see things he is doing properly (he doesn't say this all the time but it's happening more).
I'm wondering whether or not to take him back to be retested or try somewhere else for a second opinion? I'm starting to feel guilty that I'm making him wear them all day and he can't see. I can't see anything out of them at all.

Any advice or personal experiences would be great!

X

If you're determined to go to Specsavers then ask them to refer him to the hospital. I cannot believe your GP said no.

I'm an Optometrist. The majority of NT 4 year olds are perfectly fine being examined in a high street practice and we use cycloplegic drops routinely to assess a spectacle prescription in children especially when they are long sighted.

Some Optometrists also have higher qualifications in binocular vision or are orthoptists themselves, if they do not have either qualification - generally we refer to the hospital eye service if there is a suspicion of ambyopia (or lazy eye) as this is now recommended by our professional guidelines. It is possible that with the glasses your DS doesn't have a lazy eye, however, the fact that he is now squinting with them on and not seeing well means that you need to go back and have a re-test.

If at the re-test he is not seeing the same amount of letters with both eyes with his glasses on then ask for a referral. If you're still having problems after the re-test, them please pm me and I'll call the practice on your behalf.

Agree with Totalshambles, I've got a complicated prescription (non binocular vision) and Specsavers were awful. Vision Express much better.

Agree with Karoleann. I'm also an Optometrist. Using the drops test it is possible to slightly 'over-plus' but this isn't serious and can easily be changed. If your Optician is competent there is no need for referral so long as your child is regularly checked. I'd be doing this no later than 3 months. As for comments about lazy eyes being unable to be fixed beyond the critical period (earlier comments in this thread) - that simply isn't true and is not considered up to date practice. We know now that at least up to the age of 17 (and probably beyond) the eye is still flexible for change. You're doing a great job!

I am surprised that you had such an in depth eye test at Specsavers, eye tests that involved drops for children are usually done through a hospital clinic, not an optician.

This is not true.
My first test where I needed glasses they did this.
When dd1 needed glasses, (aged 7) they asked me to come back for a longer appointment so they could do this.
Dh has had this too.
All Asda opticians.

BUT my friend's ds had his eyes tested, needs glasses all the time ( aged 6 ish) Specsavers did the test, the test was accurate. He complained from day one about his glasses, was looked over the top of them etc.
She went back, they tested the glasses, they did not match the prescription AT ALL. Redid the glasses, still complained, took them back, specsavers said they were fine. So she went somewhere else (still high street) and showed them prescription and glasses, they said they weren't correct.
In the end she started all over again, new prescription and new glasses from somewhere else. From the first day, they were fine.

I wouldn't say it was specsavers, I would say that you can have good and bad experiences with any optician.

steppemum, that is an excellent post. I am an Optometrist (Optician in UK terms) and worked in the UK for two years as a locum. I hold extra qualifications specifically involving paediatric care. I worked in over 80 practices in the UK with an even mix between independents and multiples (usually Specsavers). The experiences I had were that it very much depends on the particular Optometrist (Optician) in the store/practice. I certainly experienced some shocking stories at independents and some excellent care at multiples as well as vice versa.

My advice to parents would be to find an Optometrist you click with, especially if they are good with children, and stick with them whether it is an independent or multiple.

Afaik specsavers is a franchise? Our local one is excellent and dd has never had any issues there.

Thank you all for your replies.
I went back yesterday morning and she tested his eyes again through his glasses saying she didn't think there was any issue there and it's probably just him getting used to his as his right eye is having to work a lot harder.
She originally said 6 months but now wants us back in 3 months. If there is no improvement then she will refer us to the hospital eye clinic for possible patch treatment to get the right eye working harder.

:) feel much better for going back as I now feel confident he can see out of them. Fingers crossed they do the trick and he doesn't need referring.

Chelsea :) X

Chelsea, I think that's a really good result. Keep us up to date with how things go. Don't worry if it does eventually need a referral - I work in both situations and we are all there to get the best result for the child.

Children who are longsighted have to over accommodate (focus) to see without glasses. When glasses are first prescribed children can often continue over focussing as that is what they are used to ,making their vision blurred with the glasses on. It doesn't necessarily mean that the prescription is wrong, the eyes may need to adjust and relax into wearing the glasses. ( I'm an orthoptist)