My son failed his school eye screening!

[mom2jared]

My son is nine years old and has never had vision problems in the past.  Yesterday, I received a letter from the school saying that he failed his eye screening and that we needed to take him to an eye doctor ASAP.  I wear glasses, but didn't need them until I was in my 20's.  My ex-husband told me that he didn't need glasses until he was 13, but my dad just told me that he had an astigmatism when he was 5.  My son has ADHD and I'm hoping that this was just a case of him being distracted.  I did some eye tests at home with him such as holding up an eye chart from far away and having him read the letters.  He only missed one letter on the bottom row.  I'm kicking myself because my company offers vision insurance and I didn't even think to add my son to the plan.  

I'm very worried and could use some advice!  Thanks!

[mom2jared]

Well my ex-husband took our son to the Optomotrist and it turns out that he's nearsighted (20/60) so he needs glasses.  Of course my ex-husband wants to purchase the $130 glasses rather than listening to my advice to go to Walmart where we can probably get the same pair for $40 with the lenses.  

Thanks for the advice!

[allmymarbles]

Just for your own peace of mind try my "mother's eye test." Two of my children, both girls, became enamored of eyeglasses. They claimed they couldn't see well and needed them. I didn't believe them but wanted to make sure I was right. When the daughter was at the far end of the garden, I stood on the porch and stuck my tongue out at her. She laughed and stuck her tongue out. (Good distance vision.) In the house I pretended I couldn't read the small type on a medicine bottle and asked her to tell me what it said. She did. (Good close vision.) A third daughter did not ask for glasses but said her eyes bothered her. She passed the mother's test, but I felt something was wrong anyway. It turned out to be a neurological problem.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

You have to have it filled out.  It does not mean he needs glasses.  Frequently, vision taken at school or the DMV are incorrect.

Dr. O.

[mom2jared]

The problem is we can't ignore the warning because there is a form we have to fill out saying that we took our child to the doctor.  I heard if we don't fill it out, they can notify CPS.

[des900]

He didn't have any problem, school authorities are aggravating the diagnosis. its very normal to miss bottom letters of the eye chart & even with glasses & contacts many people can't read the button letters.

I suggest you to ignore their warning, this condition will not even come closer to any ASAP.
Also i suspect your child do not have any ADHD problem too. Comparing children with some certain standards creates such assumptions.