We took Charlie for his first eye exam when he was 4-years-old, and the optometrist told us that glasses would be in his near future. Shortly thereafter in kindergarten when Charlie got a vision test in school, they sent home a letter asking us to take him to an optometrist. He got his first pair of glasses when he was 5-years-old.
Charlie is now 9 1/2 and the past year and a half his eyes seemed to be rapidly worsening, complaining about not being able to see just 6 months after getting new glasses. His vision was – 2 a year and a half ago, and then -3.25 less than a year ago. That concerned me because I’m 40-years-old, and my prescription is -3, so Charlie’s vision was already worse than mine. My childhood friend, who is now an optometrist, visited us in the Philippines a couple months ago and suggested several options to slow down the progression of Charlie’s vision worsening, including atropine eye drops or hard contact lenses worn at night. I posted to a Korean moms’ Facebook group I’m a part of, since almost all Koreans wear glasses, and got some really great advice.
On this trip to Los Angeles, we saw a pediatric ophthalmologist just to rule out any issues other than the nearsightedness and astigmatism in one eye that we already knew Charlie had. He got a very thorough vision examination, including testing for color blindness, and his eyes were now -4.25 in one eye and -4.0 in the other. In about a year and a half, his eyes went from -2 to -4!
The ophthalmologist wasn’t concerned with Charlie’s rapid-to-me progression, though he did tell us that Charlie would end up with worse vision than Mr. Bee, who was about -5 before getting lasik. The doctor suggested atropine drops instead of hard lenses worn only at night, which temporarily correct vision during the day. I was glad that he suggested eye drops which are supposed to slow the progression, because I had heard that hard contacts were really hard to use from Mr. Bee who tried them when he was younger, as well as some moms from my Korean mom Facebook group who had given up on the contacts. The contacts also cost ~ $2000, and we don’t have American medical insurance, though I heard insurance doesn’t cover much of the cost anyway. The ophthalmologist’s office gave us a discount card to use at CVS/Target for prescriptions since we didn’t have insurance, and I was shocked that the office visit was only $155, considering the doctor spent so much time with us! We had really positive medical experiences on this trip to the US! With the discount card, we bought a 15 month supply of eye drops for Charlie since we most likely wouldn’t be able to get it on our island.
I hadn’t noticed any eye problems with Olive, but since an optometrist was right by my dad’s office while we were in Los Angeles, I decided to have her get an eye exam too. I was surprised when she had a -2.75 in her right eye, and a -.75 in her left eye. Because she could see with her left eye which compensated for her right eye, we didn’t realize that she needed glasses! So Olive has now joined the glasses club with the rest of our family. She hadn’t had an eye exam since she was 3-years-old, but I want to remind you that kids really do need eye exams every year because it changes so quickly!
These pink glasses were the first ones Olive tried on, and they were perfect!
Do you or your SO have bad vision? Do your kids?
pear / 1565 posts
I am like a -7, my mom is even worse so it def runs in the family. I really should take my 4.5 to one too, b/c my husband also had bad eyes (tho not as bad as me), and I feel like glasses are in our girls future for sure. Thanks for this post to remind me to make that appointment!
blogger / apricot / 439 posts
We just recently had to take one of the girls in for an eye exam because we started to notice an eye drift. With this post, now I’m thinking I should take the other one in sooner rather than later just to check!
pomegranate / 3438 posts
We are going today! It’s been two years since my 7 year old has had an eye exam and he recently failed the eye exam at the pediatrician. I was 8 when I got glasses so I won’t be surprised if he needs them. He was borderline when he went in at 5.
pomelo / 5621 posts
DS1 is 6 and so far no glasses. He has gone for a yearly exam since 3. His optometrist says it is likely he will end up with glasses. DH & I both have bad eyes so this doesn’t surprise e at all.
pomelo / 5084 posts
Yup. I got glasses in 3rd grade and contacts in 4th though I likely needed them sooner. I’m 35 now and have been about a -9 in both eyes for 10+ years. With daily disposable contacts though I really don’t have any complaints! I know DS (now 3) will need vision correction at some point ….
apricot / 420 posts
I got glasses in 4th grade and had hard contacts by 6th grade to slow down the progression. My daughter had to get glasses in 1st grade and got put on atropine drops in 2nd grade because her vision was worsening so quickly. She goes in every 6 months for check ups but since we started the drops her vision has worsened but it is much slower than before. I wish they had drops when I was a kid, hard contacts take a lot to get used to so I don’t want to subject her to that until she’s in middle school at the earliest.
pomelo / 5866 posts
I got glasses in 4th, contacts in 5th, then Lasiks in my early 30s. Your kids looks so cute in glasses. My husband also wears glasses. My 8yr old daughter is the only one who doesn’t need glasses and I’m relieved because it sounds expensive.
blogger / cherry / 138 posts
They look so cute in their glasses!
Mr. S and I both have poor vision and got glasses as kids. Snowy has great vision so far, though.
pomegranate / 3768 posts
Pefecting timing I’m was actually at the eye doctors as I was reading this. I feel like I really don’t know what the numbers mean., My contract -2 but I don’t know what that means in terms of Viviual acuity. I didn’t get glasses until college and DH has perfect vision so hopefully our girls might get away with not needing them hor awhile,
guest
Both the husband and I are near sighted but we have two of our girls (10 and 7.5) on ortho-k hard night time contact lens. It’s working out for them. My older one has been wearing it for 2 years and it has slowed down her progression. I would do it again in a heartbeat. My younger one was given a choice of glasses or lenses and she picked lenses. It has been 6 months for her and she’s doing well too.