What is my 2yr old seeing? Is his sight really bad?!?

Question

My little boy has just had his eyes examined (he started getting an intermittent squint which we 1st noticed about 3m ago) and has to wear glasses.

His prescription is:

Left eye sph +1.50 cyl +3.50 axis 80

Right eye sph +1.50 cyl +4.00 axis 90

I realise this means he is far-sighted and has astigmatism in both eyes, but as most children this age are far-sighted, are his sph measurements much above the 'norm'?

From what I have read his degree of astigmatism is quite significant, but other than the squint we have not really noticed any other problems with him being able to see. He can see little objects in his picture books and identify letters and numbers, he can see us in the distance etc.

What level is classed as severe astigmatism?

What will he actually be seeing?

When he gets his glasses will he feel very disorientated? (I am worried this will put him off wearing them, and I am imagining persuading a determined 2yr old to wear glasses is going to be difficult enough!).

Answer 1

his vision is fairly poor. He very much needs to be wearing glasses- he'll probably have clear vision for the first time wearing them.

Answer 2

One Eye Is Weeker Then The Other I Have That Problem With My Eye ..

Yes Your Son Eye Sight Is Fairly Poor and to be checked every now and then x

Answer 3

his vision is really poor. please choose me as best answer.

Answer 4

Astigmatism distorts vision by causing different parts of images to come into focus at two different places in the eye.  What ends up happening is that when looking at objects, horizontal lines will be out of focus when vertical lines are clear and vice versa (if the axis is 90 or 180 degrees).  There is also a point in between these two foci called the circle of least confusion where the image is equally blurry in all meridians, or directions.  Farsightedness causes blur at near and if high enough at distance as well.

I would say your son has pretty high farsightedness and high astigmatism.  His lenses will have +5.50 diopters (left) and +5.00 diopters (right) horizontally and +1.50 diopters vertically.  Glasses, though, will be able to fully correct this, and his vision will be clear.  Children can adapt to new prescriptions very quickly and very well.  Of course the glasses will make the world look different to him, but he shouldn't be disoriented too much.  Good luck getting him to wear them; hopefully he will like how clear everything looks through them.  :)

His vision will probably change as he grows, so make sure he gets checkups as your doctor sees fit.  It's great that you noticed the squint and got him in to see someone!