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 I expected to just sail right through it. But then the optometrist said the words that, along with a pimple explosion and a growth spurt, would kill my social life for the foreseeable future: “Cover your right eye and read the chart.” Nearsightedness (myopia) usually happens during childhood and is sometimes classified by the age of the child when the condition starts. “This is usually in the school-age years between 6 and 8, but can occur up until the late teens,” says Dr. Raymond Chu, assistant professor at the Southern California College of Optometry. “Nearsighted” sounds like a misnomer. The reality is that objects far away are blurry while close objects are clear. Nearsightedness has an evil twin in the form of hyperopia, aka “farsightedness.” The description of this is counter-intuitive. A farsighted child can see clearly in the distance but not close up. Chu says that, as opposed to nearsightedness, “farsighted kids are usually born that way, and usually the condition corrects itself by the child’s first year of life.” After my diagnosis, my mom believed that it was nearsightedness behind my lack of math skills, and that glasses would pave my way to an MBA. School is usually where a child’s vision problems are first discovered. “Kids are notoriously bad about saying they need glasses,” says Chu. “[Vision problems] are picked up in school, or mom notices something like squinting. Sometimes it’s picked up by a teacher or school nurse.” Despite the repressed memories of “four eyes” that are undoubtedly buried in my brain, wearing glasses no longer carries a guarantee of lifetime psychotherapy. “I don’t really hear too much about teasing,” Chu says. “With movies like ‘Harry Potter’ and books like ‘Randy Kazandy,’ [glasses] don’t have the stigma they used to.” Chu emphasizes that taunting can be averted by allowing your child to choose her own frames. He recommends glasses made with a polycarbonate frame – a virtually indestructible material. Another recourse is contact lenses. In a study done by Ohio State University of 10 kids who used contacts, nine of them had no problems handling the lenses. “When kids can wear contacts usually depends on when they want them, and this differs from child to child,” Chu says. “I’d say kids can wear them as early as 8, but they tend to wear them in the teenage years.” In a study of almost 900 kids, most of them express that contacts made them feel better about themselves alone and with friends, and that they improved their ability to play sports. Wearing contacts instead of glasses during athletic competition is recommended because: glasses can break during play, which can result in injury; lenses can fog up during exertion; and contact lenses offer better peripheral vision. But if contacts are simply not an option, this doesn’t mean your little athlete is stuck on the bench. Most eyewear companies have a line that includes prescription sports goggles. “They give kids added protection and also give them the ability to see well,” Chu says. “There’s even prescription swimming goggles.” Parents also need to have a Q&A session with their child about the care that comes with contact lenses. You know, however, you’re going to hear “I can take care of them – I promise.” But look at it from a parent’s perspective. How responsible are they? For example, ask yourself if chores get finished in a timely manner and with little nagging. Daily-wear lenses are a good option. They cost a little more, but there’s no need for overnight cleansing, expensive bottles of chemicals and the inevitable loss of one lens down the sink. The lenses simply get tossed at the end of the day. There’s a lot of thought that goes into glasses. Just, please, avoid the thick plastic frames with glass lenses. Vengeance will be wreaked when the teenage years arrive – just ask my mom. Tamirra Stewart is a contributor to OC Family magazine. GLASSES: AN “OVERVIEW” Here’s a brief summary for you and your child: 1. Lens thickness – the prescription dictates the thickness, so keep frames small. 2. Proper bridge fit – Get the right fit, and look for adjustable nose pads. 3. Cable temples – They wrap around the back of the ear, so glasses stay on more often. 4. Hinges – Spring hinges allow temples of the glasses to flex outwards, an allowance for rough use. 5. Lens material – Polycarbonate is impact resistant. Look for lightweight material with built-in UV protection. 6. Warranty – Just get one. 7. Allow your child to pick out his frame – with a little bit of guidance. Source: Mark Mattison-Shupnick, optician at All About Vision |
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