Dd has just come home from school with a letter suggesting a referral to an orthoptist

[tortoiseSHELL]

As far as I'm concerned her eyesight is fine, but they did vision tests at school today, and she came home with R for refer to the orthoptist. I'm now panicking! She's in reception - any ideas or reassurement? Thanks!

Bump. Do you think it's significant that they referred to 'orthoptist' not optician? I REALLY hate these letters that say 'we could not get a satisfactory result', but don't tell you anything more. My brain goes into overdrive.

this happened to my ds2, just before xmas, he is in yr one and had a check up with the school nurse, also his teacher was finding it hard to get him to read (because he is stubborn and will only do what he wants to when HE want to) anyway we took him for a test, they are free for children and all is fine

i think its quite common they suggested that about 4 out of a class of 20 had eye tests, only one needed glasses and his mum already knew that anyway hth xxx

That's encouraging 3madboys! It seems such a small thing but I really don't want her to need glasses!

An orthoptist is a specialist in eye muscles/movement, so they would look at totally different things than an optician. So her eyesight might be fine in terms of long/short sighted but there might be other issues to do with stereoscopic vision or eye movement.

When I was about 16 I had really bad headaches and some genius (my lovely GP) thought to send me to an orthoptist who figured out that my eyes were not focusing well together and that this was causing me to get headaches. She gave me eye exercises to do that strengthened my eye muscles and the problem went away.

Just one other thing: as someone who has worn glasses since I was a child: please, please don't let your dd pick up on how much you don't want her to wear glasses. There are much worse things that could happen. Needing glasses as a kid is a big deal and you feel self-conscious enough without feeling your parents wish it wasn't happening too.

i know, i panicked to as my sister wears glasses and there is a family history of it on my side, but he was fine, basically he wasnt co-operative when they did their tests, which is typical of him, he spends hours with wheres wallys books etc and fiddling with tiny bits of lego and knex so my gut feeling was that his eyesight was fine, but good to get it checked out

skidoodle - you're right, I will be very positive if she needs glasses, but inside me I really don't want her!

I'm hoping it's just an over-fastidious nurse, and that actually there's nothing the matter.

3madboys - I'm not sure that non-co-operation is likely with dd - she's quite good about that sort of thing, but I can but hope!

tortoiseSHELL I know how you feel. My DH has truly terrible eyesight, so I'm trying to put a brave face on maybe having one of those babies with glasses

but it doesn't sound like your DD is likely to need glasses anyway. opticians mostly prescribe glasses themselves. it's a pity they couldn't have been more informative on the note.

Don;t panic - mine was referred to one for a suspected squint and has since had 3 orthoptists and 3 opthalmologists (don't ask me the difference - I have no clue!!) tell us that, no squint, slightly long sighted which will probably go with time. My dd1 quite enjoys going except when we have to have the drops - which are horrid and sting.

My DD1 has glasses, she is really long sited, has a squint and a lazy eye (doesn't look through one eye). If it is a lazy eye, she needs to strenghten it when little ro she will never be able to see through it. Apparently a part of yoru brain closes off at age 7 or something - have a friend that this is the case - an adult.

anyhow, worth going to see. And like someone else said - keep your worries to yourself. I REALLY didn't want DD to have glasses, but have since got over it. And as she gets to pickt hem, adn lots of kind people tell her that they are gorgeous, she loves em! DD2 trys to put them on all the time and often asks me if she can wear glasses. DD1 gets patches to strengthen her lazy eye too adn DD2 pinches those out oof my bag and wanders round with them on.

It is possible for you to convince her and others that it is cool!

I've put some pics of her on the profile - if you scroll down past ds2 on the piano you can see some which show her eyes - I don't think they look squinty but what do you think?

My DD had eye test this week (also in reception). Think it told us to take her to optician (guess i should read it properly). Ours was long-sightedness related i think. Either way, i'd rather waste my time and get it checked out than a potential problem goes unmissed.

Don't panic - just make appointment and go.

flatmouse, I will - have phoned the clinic and they are going to phone back tomorrow.

I know it's stupid, and it's much better to correct anything that needs correcting. But I just don't want there to BE anything that needs correcting iyswim!

In some areas even if you take them to an optitian you get an automatic referral to orthoptics as standard in children so that in itself wouldn't be a worry. If there is any need for glasses for lazy eye or whatever they will dispense them as well.
If you want to put your mind at rest while you are waiting for a referral you could take her to the optitian to get her eyes tested if there are any otehr problems they should hopefully note something there as well.

I am not being confrontational but do you mind if I ask why you so don't want her to have glasses? I felt like that when dd got hers I was gutted I have worn glasses forever and I really didn't want her to be lumbered with that from so young but she LOVES them always has and now she wouldn't be her without them.

My ds saw an orthoptist for several months, she was lovely he enjoyed doing all the exercises on her machine and when he got everything right she stopped seeing him. He has a squint, wears glasses and doesn't seem bothered by it at all. Better to get it checked and sorted than to have unresolved problems. I would have thought a visit to the opthalmologist would be a good idea as well.

Well I'll talk to the nurse tomorrow and see what she says.

The reasons I don't want her to wear glasses are because she is only 4, and it would be a real hassle for her to not i) lose them and ii) break them.

And she has the most beautiful eyes (and I KNOW this is stupid and irrational) but I don't want her to have to wear glasses and cover her gorgeous eyes.

If anyone has any experience of squints etc could they have a quick peek at my profile pics and just see if you think she looks like she has one. Thanks!

Sorry, I know that sounds pathetic. And I think glasses do look nice, it's just me being silly!

Hmm, I am looking at her eyes, and I wonder if one of them is slightly lazy - it does sometimes seem a bit more turned in than the other - perhaps this is what they've picked up?

probably tortoise.

dd3 sees orthopist regularly, as she has a squint. all 3 dd's have seen her at some point as a family history of squints.

i wouldnt worry, but get an appointment for dd, and get it out of the way

btw, glasses are the new cool, laods of girls in dd1 class actuially want glasses lol.

My ds was referred as well in reception. It turned out that the eye chart they used at school was capital letters and he didn't know all his capitals so he guessed. He is fine but we kept the appointment anyway.

*tortoiseSHELL it doesn't sound pathetic at all it was all the same things that went through my mind when dd got her glasses. On the first point childrens glasses are not the same quality as adult glasses so they are made to be disposable in a way and they are free so they will get replaced.
And glasses don't cover gorgeous eyes, the right pair can enhance them there is such a HUGE choice out there now it is not all pink and green plasctic nhs glasses now, dd has had some gorgeous pairs to choose from and I am envious lol.

A lazy eye won't necessarily cause a squint BUT something usually causes the lazy eye, in dd's case an inherited astigmatism. All a lzy eye is that it is not pulling its weight in comparison to the other one. Glasses can be fantastic at correcting a lazy eye IF that is what it is.

Also at the age she is now if she did wear glasses she is more likely to think they are cool kids her age are always a bit at the other kids with glasses. DD thinks she is ace cause she has way cool prescription sunglasses too

THis is all speculation anyway she probably won't need them but it is better to get it checked and if she does need them in a few months time you will think she looks strange without them.

My ds passed his test (twice) at the optician and was only referred (for extreme short sight) when the school nurse did her tests. I am incredibly grateful to her (and very pissed off with the optician). If you treat long sightedness when children are young it can be corrected with glasses. However dd is now the only one in the family who doesn't wear glasses, and at her last sight test she was very disappointed, as we were all choosing away

dd has worn glasses from age 3 and never lost or broken a pair. She loves them.

Thanks for the responses. I know it isn't the end of the world, and ds1 failed a hearing test in reception, and is fine. I just want everything to be perfect for my kids! I will let you know what happens.

If anyone has time to look at the pics I'd be interested to hear what you think!

Why don't you want her to have glasses?