Does My Son Need Glasses?

I would take him to a pediatric opthalmologist just to be safe. But yes, he will likely need glasses.

The pediatrician's office has an eye chart, but I don't think they really test for much other than that. So going to an actual eye doctor would be best.

My daughter's doctor is David Plager, and he's very good.

He may very well need to see an eye doctor, but I would ask the school if they can do a preliminary test first, and then ask the pediatrician.

I think you should take him to an eye doctor and have his eyes checked. He probably needs glasses.

My son was 4 and experienced frequent headaches. We took him to the pediatrician and they did a whole work up and couldn't find anything wrong with him so we took him to the eye doctor as a last resort and it turned out that he did need glasses. He was far-sighted in one eye and near-sighted in the other so he could see everything but only out of one eye. No wonder he was having headaches! He got glasses and did really well with them even at such a young age. I would definitely recommend taking him in to the eye doctor to get his vision checked. Good luck!

I would take him to an eye doc. You could always check with the ped but I think they'll just have him look at the eye chart and then would tell you to call an eye doc.

Good Luck!

My son goes to our family doctor every year for a physical and they check his eyes there. I believe that if you call the school, the school nurse should be able to have him read the eye chart and let you know.

He definitely needs glasses. Squinting and complaing of headaches are classic signs of a vision problem, probably astigmatism. I found out I had it when I was your sons age. I would just take him straight to the eye doc. If you take him to the pediatrician, they can identify the issue, but you'll end up having to take him to an eye doc anyway since the ped can't fit him with glasses and do additional tests. It would basically be a waste of time and money.

I don't know if you or your husband have glasses, but I remember how awkward and uncomfortable I felt when I needed glasses at 7 yrs old. Make sure you talk (and listen) to him during the whole process. Good luck!

G., Check with your insurance to see what will be covered. I worked in an ophthalmologists & optometrists office for several years. Either of these drs will be able to find out if your son needs glasses or if there is something else causing him trouble. Sometimes young kids simply 'want' glasses, but these drs will give an exam that will make it impossible for him to 'fake' the exam. All offices I know give eye health evaluations, & do not simply just check to see if he needs glasses.

As a rule: Do NOT rely on your ped for any eye problems. Drs all have their specialities, & most Peds do not prescribe the most up to date medicines for eyes & sometimes this actually causes more harm than good. ALWAYS see an optomotrist or ophthalmologist for eye issues. Good luck!

He definitely needs to be tested!!!! And no, your ped. doesn't do this. You can take him where ever. Wal-mart, Target, Ossip, Lens Crafters, etc. But do it now, it's going to start affecting him at school if it hasn't already.

Hi, G.! I would certainly consider taking him in for an eye appointment. It sounds to me like it couldn't hurt to have him checked out. If he is having difficulty in school, this might help as well. Good luck!

Go to the eye doctor, Your child probably needs glasses.

He should see an eye doctor- an ophthalmologist. Your insurance might even cover it since he is having complaints or if there are eye diseases etc that run in your family. An optometrist tests for visual problems, but is not an M.D. like an ophthalmologist is.

Hi G., by all means get him to a opthomologist right away. This Dr. can do a lot more than a regular eye DR.. I can remember that I was 9 when my parents finally took me to the eye Dr.. I would stand on a kitchen chair and holde my book as close to the overhead light so I could see good enough to read. Our daughter had glasses when she was 21 months old and our youngest son had to have bifocals when he was 3. They both still wear glasses but there eyes would be a lot worse if they hadn't had the early detection. He and you will thank yourself later in life. Good Luck and U = R - a GOOD Mom

Hi, I would certainly take him to the eye doctor. We go to Pearl Vision on North court...I love it there. the Doctor there is very nice.
I don't believe that pediatricians do eye exams...I have never had my childrens eyes checked there at all, that I can remember.
I know that "they" suggest you take your children to the eye doctor when they are 3 yo. for yearly routin exams.
If it were me, I would be taking him to the doctor. The headaches and squinting are enough for me to believe something is going on...
I hope all goes well.

You need to take him to an eye doctor and have his eyes examined. A ped. visit won't be thorough enough to check for lazy eyes, etc as well as needing glasses. I would say he probably needs glasses.

Hello,
I hope that i can be of some help i work for a eye doctor and we sugest that children have there eyes checked by a eye dr when they are about 5 years old. If you detect any problems before the age of 5 you cant ake the child to childrens hospital they have a clinic that has special thigns for younger children. But i would take your child to a eye doctor just to check it out.
Hope this helps

Ask the school nurse to check them. That way if he is not having that much of a vision change it won't cost a bunch. But, the school is supposed to check them every so often.

The ped. checks my child eyes each year at his check up, but she said that if there are problems you would have to go to an eye doc. for a through exam.

your pediatrician can do a general eye examination, but it sounds like you may be better off just taking him to an eye doctor.

I'm sorry, but I have to say it. Bypass the school nurse, the family doctor, and the pediatrician. All these people are going to tell you is that he should be seen by at least an optometrist. He/she is also the only person who can prescribe glasses, if needed. Optometrists are not specialists that require extra authorization from your insurance. Find one and make an appointment. Maybe, like someone else said, stop in somewhere next time you're are Walmart, Sam's, or even the mall.

Definitely schedule an eye exam for your son. Those are all signs of vision problems. My son had the "exams" at the pediatricians, school, etc., and nothing was ever detected. When he had his first real checkup I found out he was far sighted in one eye, regular in the other, but with such severe astigmatism that what he saw on a regular basis was pretty messed up. There were no signs of problems...he didn't know he should see any different. He also needed some vision training, but that's all fine now.

Hi G....

I have three children... two girls ages 12 and 6 and a 1 year old boy. of course the pediatrician does screenings for vision testing...beginning at age 3, so im sure your son has had them performed. the school my kids attend was the one who found the problem. i had no idea my daughter could only see out of one eye when she was 5!!!! amazing. never any squinting, and for all we know, she had always had the minimal vision and just grew accustomed to it. needless to say, we hustled to get her checked out and narrowly avoided blindness in her one eye. up to that point she never complained so thank God for caring school nurses!! with my second daughter she just got glasses. she is 6 and in first grade. now, she WAS complaining of headaches, but again, the school nurse during an eye exam found that her vision test was subpar twice in a row. if you arent sure, you can always take your son to get an eye exam..make sure you go to an Opthalmologist, not an Optometrist.... a pediatric opthalmologist is even better...they specialize in not only improving vision, but in diseases of the eye and treatment and recovery. i hope this helps you....

the nurse at school tests the kids once a year. i have received a note from school telling me to have my child seen by my eye dr. Call the school and ask them to check first since it is free. then you will know for sure.