I am very concerned - about my son's eyesight

Trish_4boys wrote: My 8 yr old son wears glasses. When he first got them in first grade he was 20/70. He had them a year and we went last Dec for his yearly check and he was 20/70 WITH HIS GLASSES ON! I am really concerned because now just 5 months later he is already complaining of not being ablke to see good with his glasses on again. Right now with no glasses on he is 20/140 and at 20/200 he will be considered legally blind! I am taking him next Friday for an appointment because I am not waiting until Dec. Right now he is wearing a bifocal because the doctor thought hat might slow it down. His vision could continue to get worse until he hits puberty I was told.

I am really nervous about this appointment, I hope it is his imagination and his vision is NOT getting worse but last time he complained like this it had doubled so we'll see.

MomToMany replied: My kids haven't had a problem with their eyes yet (knock on wood), so I know nothing about vision problems. HAs he been screened for other medical problems that could cause a deterioration in his sight? Just a thought.

amymom replied: Just a thought.... See an opthamologist, this doctor is a medical doctor (MD) and can check for medical problems. He/She will do a the job with the medical aspect but after you know the medical is OK then you need a VISION doctor. That would be an Optometrist, He/She is trained to check for problems with vision. So find out which you are seeing and be sure it is 'just' a vision problem (big enough in it self so just is not the correct word but can't think of another). Then when you know you have a vision problem get the best OD (Optometrist) you can find. Don't stick with the ones next to the chain stores although some are good you want one that specializes in kids etc.

I used to work with an OD and I go overboard in my explanation some times but there is alot to vision, that we sometimes miss. The MD's will sometimes skip over what they can't fix with surgery. Ok I'll stop now.

Good Luck....

MyBlueEyedBabies replied: I don't really know much about vision problems, I have such mild problems that I wear glasses only to avoid headaches but my vision is stil lbetter than 20/20 w/o.
Mel Tanner'sMom probably knows a lot, I believe Tanner is legally blind???

gr33n3y3z replied: what did the Dr say about it?
What is causing it?
Are they testing your child for eye disorders?
I would be asking alot of questions and making them run tests.

My daughter is blind in her left eye and as of right now her right eye is stable and she has vision in it.

Wills Eye Hospital is one of the best Hospitals in the country and thats where Erin goes. Maybe you should look into it for them to find out what is causing your childs lack of vision.

If you want to PM feel free to.

ediep replied: I am legally blind and pretty much 100% handicapped without my glasses or contacts. Basically, I could not function in everyday life without glasses or contacts. I got glasses when I was 7, and everytime I went back to the eye doc (every year) I had to get a stronger pair. I am 30 now and I just had to get a stronger pair again.

My only advice is that it did slow down. My prescription jumped up a lot when I was younger, but as I got older it slowed down a lot.

Everyone had great advice and definately follow your instincts on the matter. An eye doc (optomitrist) will tell you if he needs to see another type of doc.

Good Luck!!!!!

Trish_4boys replied: Thank you everyone I have No idea if his eye doctor is an OD or MD I'll have to check. I know nothing about this. The eye doctor he goes to is the same one I go to so I know he's not a pediatric one. What kinds of medical problems can cause bad eye sight? I don't know what to think.

Jamielou replied: I dont have much advise but i know my op told me and my mother that it would get its worst before it would slow down and could possibly turn around. I got glasses when i was in 4th grade and i would have to get a new pair every year, i would get migranes at the time i started needing new ones. Then as i got older i would be able to go about 4 years without going to get a new pair. Now i wear contacts and i have to have an eye exam every year or they wont let me reorder any. but it stays about the same...

Jamie

amymom replied:
Don't drive yourself crazy thinking of all the medical problems that could be wrong. Sometimes the more we know the worse we are. That's how I am anyway . I always think the worst is going to happen.
Just talk to the docs and see what things are available to help with his vision.
If you have your doctor's card or bill you could tell if they are an OD or MD from that. Or look it up in the phone book. Or on switchboard.com just put in the phone number and it will give you the name.
Good Luck, I am sure this is just normal aging with nearsighted eyes. My son wears glasses and has since 4th grade.

Trish_4boys replied: Well I took my son today to the eye doctors and sure enough his eyesight has changed a lot for only having been 5 months since he got his new prescription. Now with his glasses he is 20/50. The doctor says it could be that he went through a growth spurt but he wants to have him checked for diabeties just be sure because that can cause it too and we have a history of it in our family. I am hoping it's the growth spurt and he can just get his prescription changed again. I am glad now that I didn't wait until Dec to go back, I can only imagine how bad it would have been by then.

redchief replied:
I would definitely recommend a Pediatric Ophthalmologist at least evaluate your son. Family eye docs are great for reading glasses and such, but when it comes to degenerative eye disorders, a specialist IMO is definitely a must, if for nothing else but to rule out your worst fears.

There are a lot; more than can be listed, of named pediatric eye disorders. Some are correctable, some not. Some come with a laundry list of other, not so obvious maladies. I don't say that to scare you, but to reinforce my belief that your son should see a specialist at least one time. Good luck!

coasterqueen replied: Yikes! Have you seen a pediatric oncologist (I think that's what they are called - eye specialist)? When we thought our DD had eyesight problems that where we took her.

And my p&pt's are with you. Let us know how it goes.

redchief replied:
A pediatric oncologist would be a pediatric cancer doc. You want a pediatric ophthalmologist

coasterqueen replied:
Yeah that's what I mean. I thought oncologist didn't sound right. Mommy brain....I swear.

Trish_4boys replied: Thanks, I am taking him Tuesday to his regular doctor he wants to see him for a physical and we are going to go from there. I am going to ask HIM if I should see a specialist and if he can refer me. They will prob do the blood test first and see how that comes back. I hope it's nothing serious.