My son is 5 and has a severe astigmatism. We are now being referred to hospital - waiting list 4 months.?

Question

Is it worth paying to see a doctor privately? He has been wearing his glasses for about a year and now I find out the glasses are not working for his left eye. Spec-savers inform me that they have done all they can for him and he isn't responding. His reading and writing are not brilliant and he is quite clumsy. His prescription is

Right eye - +1.25 -2.75 25.0

left eye - +1.25 -2.75 165.0

When I first took him they told me it is rare of a child of his age to be so badly affected. Because he has been wearing glasses that were apparently a little too strong - his right eye has now become lazy and she mentioned patching at the hospital. He is now on the hospital waiting list which is 3/4 month wait. Due to this and the fact I feel his education is suffering is it worth me finding a pediatric ophthalmologist privately?

Many thanks

Answer 1

I agree with Spectacle.  Right now is a critical time for his the development of the connection between his eyes and his brain.  Waiting a few months could actually be detrimental to his eyesight now and in the future.

I'm sorry to hear that the glasses gave him a lazy eye.  He is still young enough that this can hopefully be corrected, but it needs to be done NOW.

I definitely recommend looking into a new doctor and I really hope you can find someone who can help and is also affordable.  Good luck to you all!

Answer 2

Only you can decide that. As well, ask to be put on the cancellation list and say you can come at a moments notice (leave a number where they can reach you at all times and not get a machine if they call). That sometimes can speed things up.

Answer 3

They don't need to put him in hospital to put a patch on his eye!  All they're going to do is take a gauze patch and tape it to his face so that he can't see out of his left eye.  His right eye is "lazy" (this is known as  amblyopia) because his left eye is stronger and it's easier for his brain to ignore the input from his right eye than it is to take the two images and merge them.

Why don't you call the doctor back and ask for a DETAILED explanation of what she expects to do in hospital?  She can put a patch on his eye in her office in about 1 minute, or you can do it at home.  If she's insisting on him being in hospital, she has more planned than that.

Amblyopia, by the way, isn't necessarily connected to astigmatism.  I have severe astigmatism - my corneas are shaped like footballs and have so many hills in them that I can't wear contact lenses at all.  But I was born with the astigmatism and near-sightedness.  I've never had amblyopia, which can develop in anyone with any kind of vision problem.

Answer 4

I would see a pediatric ophthalmologist on your own if you can. Does your insurance cover it, or do you have to pay cash? In any event, I would not wait things out at all. This is his vision and he needs to be seen. I have seen worse astigmatism than this, though, and also in the very young. As far as loosing vision in his worse eye, you should have that checked, The sooner the better. Patching works for some kids, it doesn't for others. only a good kids doctor will be able to tell you what would be best for him. GOGOGOGOGOGO!

Answer 5

Your son is only 5, it is unrealistic to expect him to be reading and writing.  Lazy eye, if he has one, will not affect reading and writing or clumsiness.

Although astigmatism is not common, it is not rare either.  Astigmatism alone will not cause lazy eye, nor would having too strong glasses.  Getting another opinion is a good idea, but I'm not sure that saving three or four months is worth the cost of a private doctor.  You may find a private doctor has the same waiting time.