Mild astigmatism, glasses?

[ChickensMightFly]

Took ds10 to the opticians today as he recently started an odd blinking habit which he does off and on at random times, I assumed it was just a bit of a habit but thought I'd better rule out eye problems.
Optician said it is just a common habit he'll grow out of, but she also diagnosed him with a mild astigmatism said he should get glasses.
She wasn't really interested in explaining her recommendation beyond the statement that he has a rugby ball shaped eye, she was one of those professionals who don't see why they should communicate their knowledge to the uninitiated, (if you're too stupid to have to ask you're too stupid to be trusted with a technical answer?) so I didn't really get answers to my questions, she just kept repeating he has a rugby ball shaped eye. I have no experience of glasses or glasses wearing so it's a whole new world to me.
She did say it was a very mild one and if he didn't get glasses it wouldn't be a problem as he isn't getting headaches.
So now I don't know what to do for the best. Could his problem get worse if he doesn't get the glasses or could glasses weaken the eye? Is having glasses more of pain than its worth if he isn't so bad he must have glasses?
What are your experiences please?

Is your DD able to go about her business with good vision these days? My DD has just made a new friend who wears glasses and she looks stunning in them as she has the most beautiful eyes and the glasses magnify them - quite captivating!

It was hard. She was 4 at the time and putting drops in afterwards was not easy. Her squint is much better but she will always need glasses (hasnt shown an interest in contact lenses so far)

Yes she's fine. We got her prescription goggles for swimming too. She doesn't have binocular vision though so can't see the effects in 3D movies

Off - at age 4 that is tough! Too young to really understand why it is necessary it's not fair is it. Well done to you both for getting through that.

Oof not off!

Yes, the internet is awash with info and it can be really hard to find what you need to know.

I don't know what vision test they used at the optician. On the ones at my work the 20/20 line and the two lines below that (physically above with larger letters but equivalent to poorer vision so often referred to as below) are all considered within the normal range. It certainly sounds like your son has normal vision of he is only one line below but if you want to phone the opticians and ask them I can tell you whether his vision is borderline or not.

Prescription goggles! Wow, never would have known such a thing existed, what a marvel it needn't stop her doing that activity. 3D seems to be falling out of fashion so hopefully she won't feel too left out.

Thanks Wonderwall I have to do school run etc now but I might take you up on that tomorrow.

@dementedpixie I'm sorry your daughter has had to go through all that, it's really tough on children (and on the parents!). I'm glad she's doing well now. Without 3D vision she might need a bit more practice learning to catch but apart from that it shouldn't affect her too much. How old is she now if you don't mind me asking? I'd also be really interested to know if she remembers the squint surgery at all?

I have astigmatism and although it didn't bother me too much as a child, in my early 20s I started getting headaches which got gradually worse and worse until it was literally every day and I couldn't deal with it anymore.

I went for an eye test (the first one in years) and was given glasses. My headaches were cured.

Your son might be fine now, but his symptoms might get worse in the future. It's up to you both whether he goes for glasses now or not, but at the very least if he does start getting headaches or struggling to focus, you'll know what the problem is.

OP - I'm an Optometrist and have a higher cert in children's vision.

I would usually prescribe that prescription for a 10 year old, who doesn't have a co-existing eye condition.

It would usually:

1. Improve visual acuity - so the amount of letters seen on the test chart
2. Reduce signs of asthenopia - astigmats have 2 separate light foci near the retina and swapping between the two can cause eye strain.

[quote Wonderrwall]@dementedpixie I'm sorry your daughter has had to go through all that, it's really tough on children (and on the parents!). I'm glad she's doing well now. Without 3D vision she might need a bit more practice learning to catch but apart from that it shouldn't affect her too much. How old is she now if you don't mind me asking? I'd also be really interested to know if she remembers the squint surgery at all?[/quote]
Shes 17 now and can't play anything very well that needs depth perception e.g. badminton, table tennis, etc.

I dont think she remembers much about the surgery, probably remembers the eye drop trauma more!

She remembers decorating eye patches with stickers/gems before putting them on as they were just plain ones she had. Think you get all sorts of patterns now

@dementedpixie Ah yes, eye drops can be traumatic! And the patches are much nicer nowadays I agree.

@chickensmightfly if you do decide to phone the optician tomorrow you could ask what your son's vision was unaided and with the prescription up. Comparing the two will show the potential difference in vision if he were to wear glasses (bearing in mind that he likely wouldn't notice a small difference). Hope that helps.