Eye tests

[2bayumimum]

Hi there,

I had my DS's eyes tested a couple of weeks ago, because he occassionally complared that print was too small for him to read. He is 5 in April and I was keen to ensure he wasnt just making an excuse to not read, or to try new words...The Optician I took him too, said he needed a mild prescription for glasses, for when he was reading or doing close up work, I wasn't fully convinced ( although he did make a couple of mistakes on the eye test, but he has only been reading since September, and does something get certain letters muddled, B becomes D etc ). He now has the glasses, doesnt really seem to be using them ( they were a novelty to begin with ) and today had a "New Entrant Health Review " and his eye sight has come out as within normal range, with right eye being -0.050 and left eye 0.000 on the Logmar screening, so wondering now if the Optician was simply trying to get a sale out of us and he doesnt really need them ? If he needs glasses then off course I want him to wear them when he needs too, but equally if he doesn't, I dont want to potentially aggravate his eyesight. Any Opticians out there, knowledgeable on those LOGMAR ratings ?

Many thanks

I've no help but just want to clarify the 'trying to get a sale' comment. - Were the test and the glasses not Free? as they should of been.

Hi, yes badly worded in my post, yes they were free of charge to me, but of course the optician would have claimed back the cost ( of over £100 from the NHS ), its not the cost Im concerned about, its does my son actually need glasses as the school test would suggest not....

2bayumimum,

I'm an optician.

A professional claiming the NHS voucher fee (£36.20 btw - not over £100 ) for a pair of spectacles that wasn't needed could get stuck off and taken to court for a fradulent claim so it would certainly be something you wouldn't do to 'gain a sale'.

At age 4 at an eye test we wouldn't rely on a child's answers (subjective) which are very unlikely to be that accurate and more on the test with the light - retinoscopy (objective) which gives us the prescription needed.If there is a need for more reliability we would put in drops and then check with the retinoscope.

Your ds's distance vision is very good with the logmar chart : just less than 20/20 with the right(actually an american term which is called 6/6 in Britain) and 20/20 in the left.

However,if he is longsighted he would have normal distance vision but problems with close work.It is normal for children to be slightly longsighted which they will grow out of, but more than a certain amount and if there are symptoms present we would give spectacles.

I would go back to the opticians and explain your concerns about your ds not wearing the spectacles and ask them to explain the prescription strength and necessity to you.Ask if he needs a retest and if you were not happy with your initial optician ask for another one in the practice to do it.

It comes down to trust in the professional I'm afraid and it sounds as if you didn't feel you had that with the optician who tested your ds.

Thanks Easter Chocolate, really appreciate your reply. The bill, which was run up in front of me, for the test and glasses, was over £100, but of course reduced to zero for me, although I wasnt aware that there was no cost - so a bonus I suppose in that respect.

Will do as you suggest and take back to the optician and ask for more details on his presciption.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.