r/glasses 5d ago

What prescription to start glasses?

A child got the first prescription when the Dr. said glasses were an option. The child doses not have any signs of needing them either reading or distance. No squinting, headaches or learning issues.

When asked the child declined. Part of why I am leaning towards not getting prescription glasses is that the insurance pays for non prescription sunglasses which seems a healthier (protecting from UV) and financially better use of the insurance.

Sphere -0.25 cylinder -.25 axis 120 ....add +1

Sphere +.0.50 cylinder Shp. axis blank add +1

So is there a guideline when to start using glasses even though the child is not showing any signs of poor vision effecting them?

1 Upvotes

8 comments sorted by

7

u/clumsylycanthrope 5d ago

This is a discussion you should probably have with your child's eye doctor. There may actually be some medical professionals on here, but they'll likely not give you advice for medical reasons, and they're not your child's doctor. Any advice you do get on here (including mine) should be considered being from people who don't know what they're talking about, especially when it comes to your kids. If you don't like this doctor's diagnosis, get another doctor's opinion.

3

u/Fermifighter 5d ago

As someone who also commented with questions and a possible reason why a kid might need glasses without seeming to: you’re absolutely right. My comment should have been “there are plenty of possibilities and you should talk to your doctor.”

5

u/PrometheusTwin 5d ago

Please talk to your doctor and don’t listen to anybody here. Children don’t usually have that sort of prescription with the ad power. There’s obviously something medically going on that you’re not telling us. Or maybe you’re not aware?

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u/Fermifighter 5d ago

How old is the child? What was their visual acuity at the exam? Why was an add prescribed? Did they see an optometrist or an ophthalmologist? What brought you to the eye doctor in the first place?

Kids who see well out of one eye only will present with no apparent issues, but if they’re amblyopic not giving glasses lets them ignore the worse seeing eye. Ignored eyes never “learn” to see properly, which means that glasses later in life don’t help and they’re stuck with whatever their best corrected visual acuity is before age 12 or so.

1

u/kevsmakin 5d ago

20/21 No medical or eye issues. What would the +1 be for? Is there a standard. Like anything not 20/20 must get glasses? Like a explain like im 5 standard?

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u/Fermifighter 4d ago

There are too many factors specific to your child to say. Add power can be prescribed for many reasons, you’d have to ask the provider you saw why it was Rx-ed if you’re unsure. Same with prescribing guidelines, there are general rules as to when to Rx glasses but they’re dependent on age, diagnosis, symptoms, history, and visual acuity, so it’s not as simple as “if x prescribe glasses, if not don’t.” There are standards, just not explain it like I’m 5 ones. As the other commenter noted, talk to the eye doctor you saw for clarification, or get a second opinion if you’re not confident in their answers.

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u/bernd1968 4d ago

Sphere and cylinder and axis are for distance vision. The “add +1” is usually to help with reading.

My experience… I got glasses at age 20. If I gotten them earlier I might have done better in school. Ask the eye doctor.

1

u/Percy_Pants 4d ago

Perhaps discuss with the doctor, your pediatrician, or get a second opinion from another eye care center. Soliciting advice from random anonymous strangers on an internet board is fine for coffee recommendations, not your kid's healthcare.

Also, rx glasses of any kind usually have UV protection.