Anyone have a 5 year old (or younger) with glasses?

Question

I took my son to the doc today for his annual checkup & discovered that he has poor vision. They estimate his vision at 20/100 and have recommended an optometrist and glasses.

If you have a 5yo with glasses... Are they good about keeping them on? Do you have any issues with breakage? We're you surprised when you first found out (I feel like a total s*****k for not knowing)?

Answer 1

We found out my son needed glasses when he was 16 months old! He has been wearing them ever since and is now 9. The best advice I have is always have a spare set around, because they break...often! My son has always been good about keeping them on. I guess because they make that much of a difference. Help him learn how to take them on and off. My son used to pull the glasses off by pulling the arms away from his head. Then the glasses would get all stretched out and slip down his nose. It took awhile to get him to understand, but he finally got it.  

Answer 2

My little cousin actually has very thick glasses and he seems to be very paranoid about taking them off so if he is a behaved child he shouldn't have a problem and if he is about to play make sure he takes them off when he is about to play.

Answer 3

ask for a referral to a pediatric opthalmologist who will answer your questions.

Answer 4

Don't beat your self up over this. If he's just 5. its hard to really know before this age. My son started wearing glasses at 3 and should have had them much earlier. I felt horrid also.

I just read another answer and I agree, you must have at least 2 pair of glasses at all times. I'd also get the insurance. You need to really work with your son to teach him the proper way to take them off. They stretch out so easily.  When Travis (my son) was in kindergarten he forgot his glasses a lot. I never knew if it was on purpose or not. He couldn't really see well with out them and we'd have to take them to the school. By the end of the year he'd realized how much they helped him and was much better about putting them on. Buy a sports strap so they don't hit the floor also. If you can find the temples that go around his ear that will also keep them in place a little better.

Travis had big thick lenses and it wasn't until a couple of years later someone told us to get the smaller, roundish or oval shape frames as they can make the lenses thinner in that shape. He felt so much better about them when we changed them from coke bottle thickness to more stylish. i'd never been told that and thought he needed what he had as that what we were offered at the eye doctor. Shop around for frames and do not get them at the eye doctors. Lenscrafters and those type places often have buy one get one free on frames.

They now say that kids can get contacts at a younger age too. Trav was 12 and he counted the days until he could get them. He's worn contacts since. I think he wore glasses one day in high school when he got a new pair and that was it. Once.

My granddaughters teacher was the one who noticed she needed glasses in second grade and her mom felt bad too. She really couldn't see the chalk board or any thing but at home reading up close was fine. She always puts hers on when she rolls out of bed. When they really help its easier for kids to remember.

Your son will be fine, it just takes some getting used to. Good luck.

Answer 5

First, don't blame yourself, there is very little education on vision problems!  (My personal pet peeve)

My 7 year old was diagnosed with alternating accomodative esotropia at age 14 months.  (Meaning that she is very farsighted and her eyes cross to help her see.)  It took two months for her to do it enough for the doctors to see it, but I did not really notice her eyes crossing until she was a year old.

I was terribly distressed at her neeing glasses and was convinced that she would not wear them, did not really trust that she had an accurate Rx, you name it.

Everyone told me that I would be surprised that she would wear them because she would know that they were helping her.  I would think, "Yeah, right!"

Guess what?  She did and her eyes did better.  We had no problem with her taking them off at all.

We just got her new lenses this week - she is now in bi-focals, and she put them on, saying, "I can see - near and far."  

Your son will do just fine.  I would call around town and find a pedatric optometrist, or a practice that sees kids.  That will help in getting him comfortable and ensure the Rx is good.  (A good eye doc is crucial - I have a great one - and would even drive 100 miles - and have - for one that was good with my daughter.)

Otherwise, do spend a little more for an anti-glare, he will be much happier and get good frames that have spring hinges at least - they hold up better to the lifestyles of kids.  Flexon is a good brand, but a bit pricey - they hardly ever need to be adjusted and won't break.  Ask if there is a warranty on lenses.  One place that we have gone had a one year warrantee - even including scratches and Rx changes.  

Take a deep breath and it will all work out in the end.  Trust me.

If you want to email me, feel free.

Answer 6

My son saw the eye doctor at age 6 months.   He began wearing glasses before his first birthday.   It was amazing to watch him see better with his glasses.  I'll never forget his first trip to the supermarket, and how he enjoyed seeing things more clearly.  

Congrats to you for taking him!   The eye continues to develop til about age 7.  So it's great that you are intervening now.

May I highly recommend to take him to see a Pediatric Ophthalmologist instead of an optometrist..  An ophthalmologist does a more comprehensive exam and a Pediatric one has completed a one year fellowship for the care of children's eyes.