Toddler and Glasses

My little girl is 2. She recently had an eye exam and the doctor said she needs glasses. Her RX is:
OD  +1.75-2.00x085
OS +2.00-1.75x090
Her dad thinks it's ridiculous that she needs glasses at such a young age. Would you prescribe them to her if that was her rx??? Just looking for another opinion! Thanks!

[kivrin]

I got glasses at age 4 (I think) when I told my mom that the mountain was foggy on a clear day. They took me to the eye doctor, and I have been in some kind of vision correction ever since. I know that glasses as a young kid are not popular, they are easily broken, damaged, kids make fun of kids in glasses (calling them 4 eyes, etc).

As a teacher, I know that children who need glasses, tend to be worse students and fall behind in reading (a real issue at such a young age). Kids who can't see the board become disinterested in education and tend to not focus on lessons.

I know there are theories out there that putting glasses on young kids is detrimental because it ends up making their eyes worse. I am not well versed on these theories because I think that glasses tend to make life easier.

The prescription listed is a pretty "intense" script for 1st time glasses. It makes me worry that your little girl is like me, going to continue to get more and more severely myopic. I was wearing -18/-16 when I had Lasik when I was 20. My parents were used to putting me in new glasses almost every 6 months for a few years because the script kept changing so much as my eyes grew. I will say that I know my vision problems were financially tough for my parents.

Since she is so young, I really would recommend finding a very good pediatric eye doctor, not an optometrist or just a normal opthamalogist, but someone who is very well versed in pediatric optics. I read about an interesting test that they were doing in Europe on a medication that retards the growth of the eye (the inside part) in children. Since that growth is what causes myopia to get more severe, it might be something to at least learn about. I know that I initially found the information on it on this site (I think dukey posted it).

I'd love to know what you find out and about your little girl's growth and optics. (Since I may have a little one!)

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

If that is truly your child's RX then she needs glasses to be worn all the time. Failure to wear may cause poor vision in one eye (amblyopia), both eyes (refractive amblyopia) or crossed eyes.

If your husband is so conflicted get a second opinion from a pediatric ophthalmologist and ask your husband to come in and listen.

JCH MD

[Confirmation2144]

Thank you both VERY much for your opinion! It has helped TREMENDOUSLY! Have a greay day to all!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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