short-sightedness in children

[EmmaJW1976]

My DS1 has had glasses for a year now. Previous to this his eye tests were fine. When he went back six months after he first had glasses they said his eyes had got a fair bit worse. They also said that usually eyes don't tend to go short sighted til teenage years (I know I was 11 when mine did).

I think basically they were trying to tell me they were going to get a lot worse.

What are anyone elses experiences with early onset shortsightedness?

My dh was young (5/6 ish I think) as was his Dad they are both really really bad and unable to see without glasses/lenses as adults.

I think sports was always the biggest irritation for him, much easier now he'll wear contacts for playing football.

DDs hve got worse and now at 10 she wears them all the time. I was just the same, but was picked up later.

Like you cali, I couldn't see a damn thing without my glasses. Ever time I get my eyes tested, the prescription gets a little stronger. Im -9.5 in both eyes now and wear contacts

I was about 10 I think.
They got worse for a while, then settled down until I was in my teens, then got a bit worse recently - since dd2 actually.

I was diagnosed with myopia when I was 8. I started wearing contact lenses, but my eyes got worse until the age of 20 or so.

Started out -0.50 on one side and -0.75 on the other, and they stabilised at -2.25 and -2.50, with a bit of astigmatism on one side.

I doubt if "early onset" myopia is that rare, though. Certainly were quite a few "four-eyes" in my elementary school and the ridicule they endured was why I was adamant not to wear glasses and went straight for contacts.

I'm short sighted. Problems were picked up very early adn I had eye drops from a young age (not sure what for- think they were monitoring them) and then got glasses at 5.

WOrn them ever since.

My eyes got worse adn worse, and I am extremely short sighted, but they have remained sameish over last 5 years or so (am 25 now).

Used to have goggles with lenses in for swimming when I could no longer see the brick on the bottom of the pool.
Never really been bothered by them. Used to wear contacts as teen, but didn't get on with them (very dry eyes) adn used them jsut for playing sport really - they wouldn't let me play rugby in glasses for obvious reasons.

Dp has worn glasses since a baby, but he is longsighted and had eyesight damaged by too much oxygen (he was premature).

Shortsight is common in young children, but often not picked up until later. When it starts is not an indicator of how bad it will get.
Also, siblings can end up with different levels of short-sightedness.

So I reckon they will get worse then

I have one quite bad eye but perfect vision in other so don't need to wear glasses, although I have them.

My son loves swimming and can't see me very well when he's in the water.

At what age can contacts/laser treatment be an option?

How old is your DS?

I was 8 when I started wearing contact lenses, and that was 28 years ago. Contacts were much more difficult to wear and care for in those days.

They might not get worse. Mine was detected at 5 or 6 and the got worse til about 16 and then levelled out, but not very bad.
Personally I would not have laser surgery as there are always risks. I suppose contacts would be good for sport for children - I don't know what age they are suitable for - ask your optician about disposable 'one-day' ones - the less time you wear them the better for your eyes.

You can get prescription goggles for swimming, as someone said. Worth investigating if it is a problem not seeing you in the pool.

Yes I will definitely look into the prescription goggles, thank you.

DS is 8.

look around for the prescription goggles, our optician wanted over £100 but i got them at another for just £25