Eyeglasses for kids

[Fyrefly]

The insurance sounds good. I think with xmas break you will be fine waiting until Jan 1st. It looks like you are planning to go see a real Dr., which is good. When I first needed glasses I ended up just doing a back of the room exam and my prescription was far too weak. We had to do the whole thing over eventually with a real Dr.

One thing I would recommend which you may not know because no one else in the family uses glasses is getting into good habits with them It sounds like he's nearsighted. Don't let him wear the glasses all day long. Only when he's looking at stuff far away like the blackboard, TV, etc. and he needs them. Tell him to put them on his desk when he's doing worksheets, reading and so on. If he uses the glasses to see up close, his eyes will adjust to looking through them when they don't need to, and then he'll need glasses all the time.

I've had glasses since I was 12 and my mom before that and she is in her late fifties, and we've both preserved our close-up vision by not wearing them all the time. My classmates who were too lazy to take off their glasses or look under them when taking notes now need them all the time.

 

[GAGirlInVA]

Not for routine refractions which is what the op will be bringing her son in for. I recommend seeing an optometrist in private practice for continuity of care. You may not get the same practitioner every time you go to walmart or sears.

Under our insurance they are. This will be a YMMV issue. I do realize that we are blessed to have very good insurance.

 

[angwill]

The insurance sounds good. I think with xmas break you will be fine waiting until Jan 1st. It looks like you are planning to go see a real Dr., which is good. When I first needed glasses I ended up just doing a back of the room exam and my prescription was far too weak. We had to do the whole thing over eventually with a real Dr.

One thing I would recommend which you may not know because no one else in the family uses glasses is getting into good habits with them It sounds like he's nearsighted. Don't let him wear the glasses all day long. Only when he's looking at stuff far away like the blackboard, TV, etc. and he needs them. Tell him to put them on his desk when he's doing worksheets, reading and so on. If he uses the glasses to see up close, his eyes will adjust to looking through them when they don't need to, and then he'll need glasses all the time.

I've had glasses since I was 12 and my mom before that and she is in her late fifties, and we've both preserved our close-up vision by not wearing them all the time. My classmates who were too lazy to take off their glasses or look under them when taking notes now need them all the time.

I have never heard of this before but I can tell you that I have been wearing glasses since 3rd grade and a mix of glasses and contacts since 6th and I never took them off as you suggested. Now that I am an adult every night I read a book in bed minus my glasses and can see up close just fine. All I can say is what you suggested didn't effect me in the way you are saying.

I think that is something others might want to talk to their eye doctor about first.

 

[I*heart*MickeyMouse]

We went to an opthamologist (sp? doctor who does eye exams for both glasses/contacts and also for eye diseases/conditions) who was on our insurance list.

After MUCH research, and much to my dismay because we otherwise despise Walmart, we decided to get ds's glasses there. We got him a regular pair of glasses (single vision, anti glare coating, springy hinges) and a pair of sports goggles (single vision, no glare coating or springy hinges but has the strap around the back of his head and he can keep them forever and Walmart will change the lenses as his prescription changes for only the cost of the lenses!) and paid $160 total! They have awesome service - walk in any time for adjusting, and if something breaks we can go to any walmart and have them fixed! (no need to carry any paperwork for that I guess they have exclusive brands and know by looking if they were purchased @ walmart) They also have a one pair per year replacement policy!

Awesome quality and customer service. I recommend whole heartedly!!! This means a lot because like I said we otherwise despise them.

 

[LIFERBABE]

We went to an opthamologist (sp? doctor who does eye exams for both glasses/contacts and also for eye diseases/conditions) who was on our insurance list.

After MUCH research, and much to my dismay because we otherwise despise Walmart, we decided to get ds's glasses there. We got him a regular pair of glasses (single vision, anti glare coating, springy hinges) and a pair of sports goggles (single vision, no glare coating or springy hinges but has the strap around the back of his head and he can keep them forever and Walmart will change the lenses as his prescription changes for only the cost of the lenses!) and paid $160 total! They have awesome service - walk in any time for adjusting, and if something breaks we can go to any walmart and have them fixed! (no need to carry any paperwork for that I guess they have exclusive brands and know by looking if they were purchased @ walmart) They also have a one pair per year replacement policy!

Awesome quality and customer service. I recommend whole heartedly!!! This means a lot because like I said we otherwise despise them.

This is our family exactly! We went the insurance and Opthamologist (Specialist) route and they gouged us. We were being up-coded with every visit! They were billing our PPO for eye health exams, and billing our supplemental vision for the exams and dilations. Each service required a co-pay from us in addition to our premiums. We pay $5 for eye exams, but found the Dr's on the list are all specialists and for many it is just a way to get access to the well insured.
I cant stand to set foot in Wal-Mart, but their Vision department has been excellent for our 2 DS's. I've worn glasses/contacts all my life so have run the gamut of optical departments and Wal-Mart ranks at the top of my experiences.
Thank goodness it is in the front of the store and I dont have to stand in 1 of those long check out lines!!

I've reduced our families yearly eye care budget by 50% while maintaining our yearly exams and contact/glasses replacement schedule.