My 12 year olds son eye perscription changed a lot, is this normal?

Question

My son has had glasses since he was 3 with a pretty heavy perscription. I just had his eyes examed to get new lenses (his were all scratched up). We no longer have eye coverage on our insurance so I went to Vision World for $39. The Dr. mentioned his perscription had changed a bit but I thought nothing of it until I looked at it next to his exam from 2006. Now the OD is +8.25 (2006 +5.00), -3.75 (2006 +3.25), Axis 007 (2006 100);OS+5.25 (+8.50), +3.00 (-3.25),Axis 167 (075). This seems pretty extreme to me but maybe that happens in boys who are starting puberty. Why would the cylinder change from a + to a -? Is this normal or should I spend the money and go back to our regular eye doctor (who also happens to be the most expensive)?

Answer 1

That is pretty normal to change like that. I have had glasses/contacts for over twenty years. (Got glasses in second grade) Until your son gets into his late twenties he might have a big swing either way in prescription. In the last three years my right eye have even gotten a bit better. I use the wal mart vision department. All of the eye doctors have had the same training and use the same equipment. My eye doc has even caught several people in the begining stages of glaucoma. He has a bad habit of saying stupid things that make you mad, but he is an excellent eye doc. More expensive does not mean better in this case. If your son can see in his new prescription, don't worry.

Answer 2

well i've been wearing glasses since i was five. and im now 17.

my doctor said its normal. but in my specific case i waited to long to get my glasses to fix the correction before it got any worse. my prescription is now -9.50. but that from 12 years of straining my eyes. the doctors said i depended to much on my glasses which didn't allow my eyes to adjust. i now wear contacts, and glasses. but i wear the contacts for school and glasses around the house. and to the movies etc.

its not because of puberty. its just the cells in the eyes that are becoming damaged by straining the pupils. its very normal but try not to have him wear his glasses as constantly though, when its not necessary so his eyes don't rely on them as much.

hope everything works out.

Answer 3

It is normal for kids eye sight to change a lot.  Hope every turns out okay in the end though.