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Children's health

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Original poster

5 year old DS has astigmatism (rugby ball shape) eyes. Is the computer use causing it?

32 replies

Carolhh · 06/08/2022 20:51

Hi, we will need to go back in 6 months, as the optician said this can increase or it can improve. Currently no glasses given, I really hope that he doean't get glasses. Should I stop the computer use? He does use it to watch some kids programmes everyday, and I am starting to wonder if this is causing it. Other than that he seems healthy. Will he get glasses in 6 months? Thanks

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

greenacrylicpaint · 06/08/2022 20:54

I think current standing is that it's not.

though too much time spent indoors is linked to short sightedness.

generally, eyes need 'exercise' as well- different activities and in addition spending time outside in daylight for at least one hour a day.

RunningFromInsanity · 06/08/2022 20:56

Astigmatism may be present from birth, or it may develop after an eye injury, disease or surgery. Astigmatism isn't caused or made worse by reading in poor light, sitting too close to the television or squinting.

SoftSheen · 06/08/2022 20:56

No-one on here is going to be able to predict whether or not your son will need glasses. However, both my children have glasses (DC1 since age 2, DC2 since age 4) and they both adapted very quickly and have had no problems. They enjoy choosing the new frames. Don't worry your DS does end up with glasses, it's very common and really no big deal.

AppleHa · 06/08/2022 20:56

I can’t help much OP, except to say that I think astigmatism is pretty common - I have it myself, and I didn’t need glasses until I was 11. I have never heard that it can be “caused “ by anything, I think you have it or you don’t.

StubbleTurnips · 06/08/2022 20:57

I have astigmatism- it’s hereditary in our family. Has made zero difference to my eyesight, just need regular checks at the optician.

Chattycathydoll · 06/08/2022 20:57

No. I have astigmatism and it’s definitely not caused by screens since we didn’t have any when I was little! It’s eye shape. And for me glasses were inevitable.

Rather than what he’s looking at, make sure he isn’t pressing or rubbing his eyes because that can make it worse.

itsgettingweird · 06/08/2022 20:58

Not at all.

I started needing glasses when early 20's. Every check up my astigmatism was worse for 20 years and now it's severe.

I have an eye condition.

It's generally genetic or something you're being with but it's to do with shake of eye and light through the cornea so what you do or don't do wont change that.

MammaWeasel · 06/08/2022 21:01

No, screens are not causing astigmatism. None of us can tell you if he will need specs or not.......what have you got against them?

Quartz2208 · 06/08/2022 21:04

Nope I have it my Mum has it my DD has it - it is hereditary

And why not want glasses? Perfectly normal nowadays and just as likely to be genetic (Im short sighted, my DD is and my Dad)

peachgreen · 06/08/2022 21:08

I have astigmatism. 38 and still don’t need glasses.

MrsPnut · 06/08/2022 21:09

I have astigmatism in one eye from being young, computers weren’t a thing until I was a late teenager.
My DdD2 also has astigmatism, similar to mine as it’s the same eye and same rotation. The only difference is I am short sighted and she is long sighted.

autocollantes · 06/08/2022 21:09

I have it plus extreme shortsightedness. Not caused by screens as I barely watched TV before it was diagnosed as a kid.

Wearing glasses as a kid really isn't the end of the world, although it can be annoying. If you ever need them for him count on getting two pairs: if he breaks/loses one then you'll have an immediate backup.

DrDreReturns · 06/08/2022 21:11

I've got astygmatism. As pp said it runs in the family.
I didn't have to wear glasses until my early 20s. At no point did an optician advise me to stop / limit computer use.

MilliwaysUniverse · 06/08/2022 21:12

Me and DS have astigmatism. He also has a squint, he's had two lots of surgery to correct it when he was a child (aged 5 and 9) which worked for a long time but now he's 22 it has returned ☹️

My optician isn't worried about the astigmatism in respect of screen use, I've worn glasses since I was 10, DS from about 2.5. I have a special coating on my lenses to filter excess glare from screens though.

Twiglets1 · 06/08/2022 21:14

No my husband has it and he’s 60. Didn’t use computers when he grew up

Conwell933 · 06/08/2022 21:15

My little one had his 1st birthday 2 weeks ago and I’ve weaned his off his formula completely (goodbye baby bottles) he is getting whole milk in a cup to replace this but is there anything else I need to give him in terms of supplements? I have the wellbaby vitamin D drops but I haven’t been consistent with them. Any advice or suggestions are welcome

whenwillthemadnessend · 06/08/2022 21:17

No I was born with it and I'm 51. Never used a computer till
I was 19

Amortentia · 06/08/2022 21:22

Most people with astigmatism are born with it and they can range in severity. I wear glasses but Im also very long sighted. My astigmatism is so bad I couldn’t get laser surgery.

I refused to wear glasses when I was a child because of the stigma, I missed so much because of it. I wish I’d had a supportive parent who encouraged me to believe that there is nothing wrong with wearing glasses, because there isn’t.

Thinkingblonde · 06/08/2022 21:22

Doubt it, I have it, worn glasses since I was 10, long before computer screens.
my sister had it and my daughter and grandson 11, have it.

Prometheus · 06/08/2022 21:25

I was diagnosed with astigmatism when I was 9 in 1989 - I didn’t use a computer until I went to uni in 1998 and only started using computers regularly when I was about 22 and started my first job.

itrytomakemyway · 06/08/2022 21:25

In my 50s. Screens did not exist in my childhood. I have astigmatism. It is incredibly common and there is no 'cause' as such and nothing you do - watching tV, reading in poor light makes it any worse.

Thinkingblonde · 06/08/2022 21:29

Wish we had an edit function,…I have prisms in one lens to correct some double vision, when I look at the red and green lights on an opticians eye chart my right eye looks straight ahead but my left eye looks upwards to the right, the prisms deflect the light hitting the back of my eye to bring it in line.

Favouritefruits · 06/08/2022 21:37

My husband and eldest son have astigmatism, it’s just the eye shape my son has bad eye sight minus 4 at just 8 years old the optician has said not to read as much nothing about screen time.

gingerninja99 · 06/08/2022 21:41

I have exactly the same as your son, one eye shaped like a rugby ball. I didn't need glasses until my mid 30's and would wear glasses when working on a computer but now I only really need them for driving due to depth perception in that eye and don't wear them for reading anymore.

He may or may not need them in 6 months, I would of thought if he does it'll only be for certain activities but I'm no optician or expert

ijustcouldntthinkofausername · 06/08/2022 21:42

I'm in my 30s and have rugby ball shaped eye balls and I didn't have computer use when I was young until teen years so it's not necessarily just down to the computer

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