Question
my daughter is 5 and i have been lately testing her vision b/c i noticed that for years she always like to sit close to the tv. so from about 7 or 8 ft away i questioned her on some letters that my 4 yo could see from the same distance. My x and i are divorced and since she is an CMA says that nothing is wrong and that it takes at least until age 8 to know if I child should need glasses. But I do not agree at this point. Should i get her glasses.
Answer
#1. You should not get her glasses until her eyes are examined.
#2. Your Ex is incorrect: If there's a vision problem, you do not want to wait until she's 8. You want to treat it a.s.a.p. so as to improve vision acuity, perception, learning, and prevent possible amblyopia, and there's no reason to have her sit close to the TV or chalk/marker board at school.
#3. Did she get her vision "screened" either at school or the pediatrician's office? This would probably have picked up amblyopia, myopia, or astigmatism, or any vision defect.
Hope this helps,
Dr. Ken
