Letter from school about DDs vision

[Hannathy]

I'm not sure I'd rely on that. What's "normal" for her might not be what's normal for average people. Before I got my first pair of glasses, I didn't realize that you could actually see raindrops falling from the sky (at least sometimes). When people would say "Look at it rain!" I could see the ground getting wet and puddles forming and I thought that's all anyone could see. I thought I could see fine and I didn't know I was missing them.

.

That is why I said compare it to what the OP could see. Have her DD read something far away that the OP could read easily and see.

I was there only it was me, I never realized I couldn't see far away. I was always in the front row being short and we arranged by grades, so I was never in the back of the room. The only thing I couldn't see was the calendar but I thought no one could!

 

[sissy_ib]

I found out I needed glasses because of a middle school "health fair". The nurse called me in a few days later and asked me about glasses and such and said I should go to the eye doctor. I'm guessing I was 12-13 at the time, so about your DD's age. I never knew I had bad vision until I got glasses! I did always try to sit in the front of the class and such, but it wasn't until someone said, "You have bad vision" that I realized somethings were hard to see.
My vision now is 20/200 but correctable with glasses/contacts. My guess is your DD is not that bad as sitting 18 inches from my laptop screen I cant make anything even squinting.

 

[Kimberle]

I would take her to an eye dr. My dd had an "eye test" in 4th gr by the school nurse. She "passed". She came home that night and told me, "the nurse said my vision was fine, but I can't see". I promply took her for an eye exam by a doctor. Sure enough, she needed glasses.

 

[twinmommyks]

Just have your child checked by eye doctor. My oldest ds passed eye test at school only to tell me months later he couldn't see boards at school, needed glasses.

My younger son failed vision 2 years ago at school, eye doctor said 20/20 and has passed screenings the past two times, no glasses yet.

My daughter failed screening at school on one eye 6 years ago. Vision written on form was so bad she would have been close to being considered legally blind, went to eye doctor, had 20/20 and has passed all eye tests since then.

Eye doctor told me that the tests at school are just a quick screening and numerous things could have happened to cause the 2 failed exams.

Good luck!

 

[Ceila]

I wanted to come back and say one more thing as to why I would say NOT to take her to an ophthalmologist.

Generally the person who checks her vision will be someone like me, an ophthalmic tech. Now depending on the clinic, some require or push for their technicians to be certified. But it is usually not a requirement and definitely not a law (it should be, imo). I've worked in 4 different eye clinics in my time and only two of the four really cared about it. A lot of technicians are great (like ME, ), but many are not. Some are hired without any experience and there is a lot to learn when it comes to eyeglass prescriptions.

And I have yet to find an ophthalmologist that knows squat about refracting someone. They are medical doctors and are there to treat medical eye problems. Optometrists are there to prescribe eyeglass prescriptions and check for medical problems.

Hope that helps!

The information in the above post is terribly misleading. I am in my 40's and have worn glasses since I was 4. My daughter has worn them for 4 years. We both have only ever seen opthamologists. Yes, they are medical doctors, and thus capaple of handling a wide variety of issues. However, they are also very adept at working with people who are near-sighted, etc. We have had excellent eye care from the doctors we've seen. OP, please don't let opinions like the one above dissuade you from seeing an opthamologist. Our insurance covers it, so be sure to check into that, too.

 

[Auggietina]

The test for visual acuity is a simple eye chart. I have a hard time seeing how it could be "bad".

My dd's school it was a machine they used to test her vision. It was not a simple eye chart

 

[Hannathy]

I wanted to come back and say one more thing as to why I would say NOT to take her to an ophthalmologist.

Generally the person who checks her vision will be someone like me, an ophthalmic tech. Now depending on the clinic, some require or push for their technicians to be certified. But it is usually not a requirement and definitely not a law (it should be, imo). I've worked in 4 different eye clinics in my time and only two of the four really cared about it. A lot of technicians are great (like ME, ), but many are not. Some are hired without any experience and there is a lot to learn when it comes to eyeglass prescriptions.

And I have yet to find an ophthalmologist that knows squat about refracting someone. They are medical doctors and are there to treat medical eye problems. Optometrists are there to prescribe eyeglass prescriptions and check for medical problems.

Hope that helps!

I have had glasses for over 40 yrs and I have never been examined by a tech ever! Either at an Optometrist or an Opthamologist. I have never heard of this. The only thing a tech has ever done was check for glaucoma with the puff machine.

Every script I have ever had written was done by the DR.

 

[HamTown]

I would ONLY take my kids to an ophthalmologist for their first visit for an eye screen. Kids can have medical problems that cause their eyes to not work properly.

My oldest could see everything perfectly but when he was screened at the pediatrician at age 3, she felt something was a little off. Turns out his left eye wasn't working properly and the right was compensating for him. The ophthalmologist was able to diagnose and treat. An optometrist wouldn't have been able to do it. DS will eventually need glasses (just like his dad) and after the initial prescription from the pediatric ophthalmologist, we'll switch him to his dad's optometrist for his glasses.

From my experience, I recommend to everyone that all children should be seen by an ophthalmologist before they begin kindergarten. It's much easier to treat kids' eye problems if they are caught early.

 

[Coconut36]

Keep in mind it's simply a screening..it doesn't mean there is a vision problem but if their is, it's nothing to be concerned about. Vision changes over time for most people..my vision was perfect until I was in my very early 20s and I needed glasses (minor correction but still needed it). It happens. It's just a head's up to you she needs to be checked out by an expert.

 

[Coconut36]

I have had glasses for over 40 yrs and I have never been examined by a tech ever! Either at an Optometrist or an Opthamologist. I have never heard of this. The only thing a tech has ever done was check for glaucoma with the puff machine.

Every script I have ever had written was done by the DR.

Same here..I have only been wearing glasses for 10ish years but never ever have I been examined by a tech beyond the glaucoma and field of vision screenings.

 

[spacemountainmom]

Just to clarify, take her to an optometrist, not an ophthalmologist (an eye surgeon). If you call an ophthalmologist, they'll just tell you to call an optometrist

Really? - an ophthamologist is a doctor that specializes in the eye and not just a surgeon. I have been seen by an ophthamologist since I was 18 months old. I really doubt they would tell you to go to an optometrist if you chose to make an appointment.

ETA - I have been examined by a tech and then run through the very same tests with the Dr. The Dr. always checks everything himself. My Dr. does hand you over to a tech for a contact lens exam.

 

[minkydog]

hi there! don't stress yet and follow up with an eye doc. I am sure it was probably just a screening test that likely has a high margin of error. She will like need something I assume, but don't worry about the specific numbers until she gets a full exam

edit - I agree with the pp on the vision changes over time....

I'm a school nurse and I just completed over 200 hearing and vision screens. I test for color vision, depth perception and eyes that move together or not. Trust me, there *is* a difference between 20/20 and 20/100. Someone with 20/20 vision sees clearly at 20 feet what people with normal vision see at 20 feet. Someone with 20/100 vision see what people with normal vision see at 100ft. In my district, passing is 20/30 and no difficulty with depth perception. When a child fails vision(or hearing) I have to rescreen in 2 weeks. I don't know about your school nurse but I had to have a special training to do hearing & vision screening.

Now, there can be reasons for such a difference. Perhaps the OPs daughter's vision actually *has* changed dramatically in the last couple years. Perhaps she had a little eye infection or allergies at the time and her vision was a little blurry. There may be *some* possibility that the daughter is faking it. I see that at least a few times a year, usually with girls who want to get some cool glasses(don't know why they think it's cool, but there you have it.) Sometimes they get with the program on the second screen, especially when they realize that their parents are going to have to take them to an opthamologist.

I'm not saying that the OPs daughter is faking. Not at all. My sister didn't get glasses until she was in 8th grade and was found to have 20/200 in one eye and 20/400 in the other. My mother was horrified, but DSis apparently had been seeing that way for a long time--she didn't know that trees had individual leaves! Dsis was an excellent student and she just compensated well.

Good luck, OP. Don't beat yourself up about this. Most children who have difficulty seeing don't realize that they see differently that other people.

 

[itsheresomewhere]

Take her to an eye doctor. If it makes you feel better, DS can pass those school eye exams yet he needed glasses. He had just passed with 20/20 vision the school test yet I noticed he was rubbing his eyes and a few little things. I took him and he needed glasses. His vision was actually pretty bad.

 

[100%Disney]

I didn't realize my DD12 couldn't see, until she started school. All kids stand really close to the tv when they are young. I had no idea it was because she was legally blind in both eyes. I almost cried when the eye doctor told me that she didn't even register on the eye chart. They used, count fingers at six feet for her. Her left eye is now able to be corrected so that she can get her license at 16, but her right eye she's still legally blind even with correction.

She never let it stop her from doing well. I've been amazed at her focus to overcome her limitations.

 

[jahber]

Really? - an ophthamologist is a doctor that specializes in the eye and not just a surgeon. I have been seen by an ophthamologist since I was 18 months old. I really doubt they would tell you to go to an optometrist if you chose to make an appointment.

ETA - I have been examined by a tech and then run through the very same tests with the Dr. The Dr. always checks everything himself. My Dr. does hand you over to a tech for a contact lens exam.

You're right. That was a gross oversimplification. Obviously ophthalmologists don't just do eye surgery. And now that I thing about it, of course they'll give you an appointment (and accept your money if you ask!). But, my point (obviously not well stated) was that an optometrist is usually the starting point for *most people's* eye care. You don't typically *need* an ophthalmologist unless you have a disease or disorder beyond what an optometrist covers. And ophthalmologists sometime charge more, but this may not be the case in all areas. It boils down to specialization and focus. But perhaps the fact that my optometrist is my BIL and my best friend is also one has clouded my judgment. It's actually a hotly debated topic in certain circles! So really, what do I know?

 

[aprilgail2]

All my kids went to an opt. a few years ago and they had no problems (had like 20/40 and the DR said that might adjust to 20/20 as they got older). QUOTE]

OK- I don't get how they could say they had 20/40 vision and not want them back yearly for exams...a FEW YEARS???? My daughter goes to the eye Dr every year from the time she was 4 or so just for routine yearly check ups- she had perfect vision from 5 until 10- at 10 she said she was having trouble seeing smartboard so I took her in 2 months early for her annual exam and she did indeed need glasses. She hated wearing the glasses though so for her 12th birthday she got contacts.

 

[Bonniec]

The information in the above post is terribly misleading. I am in my 40's and have worn glasses since I was 4. My daughter has worn them for 4 years. We both have only ever seen opthamologists. Yes, they are medical doctors, and thus capaple of handling a wide variety of issues. However, they are also very adept at working with people who are near-sighted, etc. We have had excellent eye care from the doctors we've seen. OP, please don't let opinions like the one above dissuade you from seeing an opthamologist. Our insurance covers it, so be sure to check into that, too.

Not misleading at all. I've done this for over 20 years and well aware of how it works. Are all ophthalmologists bad at refracting? Of course not. Many are fabulous (as are many technicians). I've worked for two small privately owned practices and both MDs were great at refracting. I've worked for two large clinics and wouldn't trust most of the doc's with checking a prescription at all. They are more concerned with medical issues and have technicians to refract for them (Again...many technicians are great. This is why we have certifications. But it's not required and not all clinics care about it.). The OP can certainly see an ophthalmologist if she wants to. Doesn't mean the doctor won't know what he's doing, it just really depends on the clinic. An optometrist is not a technician. They are DOCTORS and are trained to spot problems (and even treat certain issues). Ophthalmologists are surgeons. It's overkill to tell the OP she should bypass the optometrist. They will likely be cheaper and she will have someone evaluating her prescription that does it everyday. I don't want to sit here and argue, but I did feel the need to respond since you stated I was misleading. By all means, see who you are comfortable with seeing. But knowing what I know, if it were MY kid and I was able to do it, I would send my child to an optometrist (unless my child was very young, the OPs child is a teenager).


For those that have never been refracted by a technician at an ophthalmologist's office, you are in the minority. At least is the US. Most ophthalmologists hire either technicians or optometrists to refract for them. A privately owned small clinic that does not see high numbers of patients may be an exception. Optometrist assistants/technicians are different. They usually just use an autorefracter to get a baseline and an air puffer for glaucoma and then an optometrist fine tunes it. There are always exceptions to the rule, but this is how the majority of it is done.

Regarding the PP who mentioned her smaller child. Smaller children (under age 5 or 6) can see either type of eye doctor but should see someone who specializes in pediatrics, or at least someone who sees a LOT of kids. Smaller kids have different tests that need to be done. As the one poster said, screenings are very important and much more than just looking at letters on an eye chart. Color vision and depth perception should be checked on children. Especially if there is a family history of lazy eye.

 

[tvguy]

Just to clarify, take her to an optometrist, not an ophthalmologist (an eye surgeon). If you call an ophthalmologist, they'll just tell you to call an optometrist

With all do respect, that is incorrect.

Ophthalmologists do eye exams, I've 55 and that's all I've ever seen. Worn glasses since I was 10. They are MDs. And yes, some do surgery too.

Optometrists can prescrbe glasses, and do basic eye exams. They can not deal with more complicated eye issues or do surgery and are not MDs. They would refer you to an Ophthalmologist.

In this case, either will work to start with.

 

[tvguy]

Not misleading at all. I've done this for over 20 years and well aware of how it works. Are all ophthalmologists bad at refracting? Of course not. Many are fabulous (as are many technicians). I've worked for two small privately owned practices and both MDs were great at refracting. I've worked for two large clinics and wouldn't trust most of the doc's with checking a prescription at all. They are more concerned with medical issues and have technicians to refract for them (Again...many technicians are great. This is why we have certifications. But it's not required and not all clinics care about it.). The OP can certainly see an ophthalmologist if she wants to. Doesn't mean the doctor won't know what he's doing, it just really depends on the clinic. An optometrist is not a technician. They are DOCTORS and are trained to spot problems (and even treat certain issues). Ophthalmologists are surgeons. It's overkill to tell the OP she should bypass the optometrist. They will likely be cheaper and she will have someone evaluating her prescription that does it everyday. I don't want to sit here and argue, but I did feel the need to respond since you stated I was misleading. By all means, see who you are comfortable with seeing. But knowing what I know, if it were MY kid and I was able to do it, I would send my child to an optometrist (unless my child was very young, the OPs child is a teenager).


For those that have never been refracted by a technician at an ophthalmologist's office, you are in the minority. At least is the US. Most ophthalmologists hire either technicians or optometrists to refract for them. A privately owned small clinic that does not see high numbers of patients may be an exception. Optometrist assistants/technicians are different. They usually just use an autorefracter to get a baseline and an air puffer for glaucoma and then an optometrist fine tunes it. There are always exceptions to the rule, but this is how the majority of it is done.

Regarding the PP who mentioned her smaller child. Smaller children (under age 5 or 6) can see either type of eye doctor but should see someone who specializes in pediatrics, or at least someone who sees a LOT of kids. Smaller kids have different tests that need to be done. As the one poster said, screenings are very important and much more than just looking at letters on an eye chart. Color vision and depth perception should be checked on children. Especially if there is a family history of lazy eye.

Maybe it's a regional thing.

The tech at my ophthalmologists office goes over my medical history, does the Glaucoma air puff test, puts the eye drops in and sets up the refractory machine thingy with your current prescription and leaves. Ophthalmologist does the rest. My last ophthalmologist did it the same way, don't remember how the previous one did it.....other than he was the last ophthalmologist that did not have a dispensing store in his office.

I have the option of going to either, the copay is the same, and looking around at websites, the fee is the same.

Now, full disclosure. My mom is an RN, and I grew up being told when you go to a Doctor, you go to an MD. So Optometrists (and chiropractors for that matter) were never a consideration.

 

[indimom]

OP, don't panic. You didn't miss anything. Kids can really acclimate well. And the school exams aren't always perfect. A friend's son failed his school exam and had perfect 20/20 at the eye doctor. Just make an appointment with an eye doctor of some sort, lol, and you'll get it all figured out.

Our daughter had a big fat black hole in the the center of one eye (like in macular degeneration) and she had no idea. She was 13 at the time. So, even an older kid could miss the "obvious."

I've gotten hyper vigilent since then, so I noticed when her squint showed up last winter/early spring. (It was pretty funky looking since she only squinted with her "good" eye. lol) She was seeing a Retinal Specialist every six weeks at that point and they tested both eyes every time. It was a tech doing the screenings and they kept putting her good eye down as 20/20.

But, I noticed that she was missing letters and struggling more than she used to so I decided to make an appointment with our regular eye doc. He put her at 20/40 in her good eye. Two days later the school had their exams and put it at 20/60, so they did a pretty good job on their evaluation, IMO. Better than the RS' techs. (In defense of the techs, I'm sure they were looking for more significant vision issues. They aren't concerned with minor near-sightedness, which may be what the PP was referring to as being common in their offices.) Our opthomologist did a great job with her lenses, he even managed to improve her bad eye a bit, something the RS didn't think was possible. (And, yeah, the funky squint is gone.)

Long story short, things can be missed on all levels. Just get her checked (by whoever you are comfortable with) and if you have any concerns after that, don't hesitate to get a second opinion.