My kindergartener has come home several times saying she thought the little "a" on the board was an "o" because she couldn't see the little stick. She has also played around with my mother-in-law's glasses, trying them on, and said she could see things better. I obviously need to get her eyes checked so I'm looking for a good, inexpensive place to take her in the Rockwall/Rowlett area. We don't have vision insurance so low cost is important. Any suggestions?
I've put this off because I keep hoping it will go away. Isn't that silly? I just hate the idea of her being stuck with glasses for the rest of her life. Plus, she's not the most responsible kid, even for a 6 yr-old. She's a bit of a butterfly and I'm worried she'll lose them at every turn. On the other hand, I know it's important for her to be able to see to be successful in school. Help me feel better about this!
Thanks to everyone for all the tips! I decided to wait and see how she did on her eye exam at her annual physical before paying for a thorough exam. She failed the eye exam at the doctor's office so I went ahead and made an appointment at the Wal-Mart eye doctor. It turns out that her eyes are okay but she has a very slight astygmatism. She can see things initially but then they go out of focus. I realized I have that too but it has never bothered me and I don't have glasses. The doctor recommended that as long as her teacher has not indicated there is a problem, that we wait and get her eyes checked again before the next school year and give her eyes a little more time to grow. We feel good about that and I am now optimistic about her eyes in the future, thanks to your responses!
Hi,
I would certainly get her eyes examined. You don't want to put off what you're able to get done now.
Regards,
Hi E., your feelings are real not silly. I started wearing glasses at 6 yrs old myself and thankful my parents saw my need. As far as an inexpensive place to go for glasses...try your daughter's school nurse. I live on a fixed income and they have resources available for children to get exams and glasses at a low cost and possibly free. As for her being responsible with the glasses...my parent's attached a privelege earned (for specific time period) to my maintaining my glasses. I loved to go outside to play with neighbors and I didn't get to go each day. With the glasses returned intact daily I was allowed 30 minutes of playtime each afternoon. Once my parent's saw that my responsibility toward my glasses was achieved new goals were set. Something you didn't mention that I would like to bring to your attention is the negative attention she may experience if she does need glasses. Name calling (four eyes), someone else bullying her to let them try her glasses on, mocking behaviors--kids acting like they are blind walking into walls,etc. My parent's sent a note to my teacher informing them of the upcoming change and asked for their support, providing positive attention/feedback. The first day I wore them to school my music teacher(who wore glasses) told me in front of the class that I looked beautiful in my new glasses. She said, I made a great choice in the color and shape of frames, wishing she had them. Of course, it totally boosted my confidence but also spoke a message to the class that opposing them would be opposing her view. Food for thought, hope all this helps but I've never regretting have to wear glasses since I was 6 yrs old. I've been thankful to be able to see all the colors of the rainbow, expressions on a persons face, type print to read a book or the chalkboard. Good Luck in this new phase of life for you and your daughter.
I took my son to Pearl Vision to get his glasses. You can get your daughter a sturdy pair of glasses that are actually kind of stylish. My son has been wearing glasses for the past year and he's gone through 2 pairs of glasses already. To his credit, his little sister broke them. Both times!!!
I use Dr. Nie at The Optical Clinic in Plano, just north of Collin Creek Mall on thr southbound I75 frontage road. Dr. Nie is so calm and reassuring with kids because he is a Grandpa. Also the eye exam, glasses and contact lenses are so affordable. Yes, contact lenses are easy with Dr. Nie. He appraises your child's personality before recommendding them. My 13 year old daughter has been in contacts since 2nd grade with backup glasses. Dr. Nie is extremely reassuring and even recommends eye exercises teaching them to your child with your child's agreement.
Not only will the problem not go away, but your daughter is subject to unnecessary frustration until something is done. Start with asking her teacher if she can sit closer to the board. I don't know about exams since I am on the Spectera vision plan, but I do know you can get glasses at www.glassyeyes.com for a fraction of the retail cost. Their frames start at $6 or $8. For that price, you can get her more thatn one pair and not feel the crunch. Last, a little psychology goes a long way. Tell her how pretty she looks in her glasses. Tell her they call attention to her eyes (her already lovely eyes). I figure we only have a few years to tell our daughters they are beautiful before messages in the media make them doubt half of their attributes and characteristics.
I love my children and want them to love themselves.
HI E.,
I have an inexpensive solution to your problem. I represent a medical discount company that is great for families that need additional help with items that are not covered by their current insurance. For $19.95 per month you can get dental, vision, prescription and chiropractic discounts. One plan covers the ENTIRE FAMILY. This is not insurance, so there are no examinations, questions or procedures or items excluded. If you think this might be the answer for you, get in touch and I will send you the necessary information.
D. W
North Garland Vision is really good - Dr. Lorraine Suder and Dr. Michael Bollish are both great with kids. They are located in the Kroger shopping center at 190 and Shiloh ###-###-####). Call and talk to them about their prices. Also, you'll want to make sure and buy the glasses from a place that carries a good selection of childrens' frames and knows how to fit them properly. Good luck!
I needed to have my eyes checked so I took my daughter along with me. We went to the local WalMart eye doctor and she was wonderful!! Very patient and explained what she was doing as she went. It turned out that my daughter only needed a very light prescription and we got the lenses and frames for less than $75.00 at the eye glass store next to the eye doctor inside WalMart. They offer Hannah Montana and other popular styles for the kids!!! and they were so affordable. I think the exam was about $50.00
Check with your School Nurse. She can tell you if your daughter needs glasses and probably recommend a good Doctor. That way you aren't spending any money until you know if you really need to.
Have you tried WalMart? They are resonable on everything else.
E., it is very important to take your daughter to the eye doctor. The cost for an exam is minimal -- around $60. Call some doctor's and ask for their rates. When my daughter was almost 5, we discovered that she couldn't see well either and when we took her to the eye doctor, he diagnosed her with lazy eye (common name). We then went to a pediatric opthomologist (covered under medical insurance) and she was treated for a couple of years by wearing a patch on her good eye. If we had waited, her eye sight may not have improved so well. She's now 12 years old, and for the past 3 years she has been wearing a contact in only one eye! We are very happy that we did not delay the process of improving her eye sight.
E.,
Definitely get your precious little girl's eyes checked. Early reading is happening now and it will slow her down academically if she is unable to see the letters correctly on the board. You might check with the school nurse as she may have a list of places that give low cost eye exams in the area. Our nurse always had a list, at least. Also, check your area Wal-Marts. Their prices on the exams and glasses are quite reasonable. Good luck.
T.
E.,
Get his/her eyes checked immediately by a licensed Eye Doctor. First Grade comes fast and you do not want for your child to get held back instead of moving on to 1st grade and being able to see well during playtime, avoiding accidental mishaps. Worth the money you'll spend for an eye exam, about 60$, glasses are anywhere from 199.00 to 550.00. Small price to pay for perfect seeing eyes.
Usually an eye exam can be made free with a little effort of filling out a survey after your childs exam. goto www.beyondhello.com, they offer to repay you for the exam up to 70.00 and give you a fee of 10.00 to complete their survey, you have to submit your receipt and your quote for glasses and wait 60 days for the repayment. Tell them you were referred by S. Wagner, and sign up to be a shopper.
She definitely needs glasses as soon as possible if you want her to be successful in school. She needs to be able to see the chalkboard.
Also, your daughter doesn't have to be stuck with glasses for the rest of her life. As soon as you think she's old enough, get her contacts. Most people need glasses or contacts at some point in their lives anyway, so putting off the inevitable won't help her.
Dr. Schneider is my eye doctor. He's located at Dalrock and 66 in Rowlett - in the Tom Thumb shopping center. Every time I've been in his office, there are always kids in the waiting room. I noticed another mom referred him as well. He's really nice.
E.,
I am not sure if you have had any responses however let me offer the following name - Dr. Schneider at ###-###-####. He has been in Rowlett/Rockwall for several years as my teen kids went there - 10 yrs or so. He is located at Dalrock and 66 (Lakeview Parkway) between Tom Thumb and Starbucks. His wife also works with him and they are very nice. She raised their 4 kids without any insurance, medical, dental or vision. I think they would work with you.
Hope that helps,
V.
I don't know if this will help or not, but sometimes kids only need corrective lenses for a short while...so don't go into it thinking that your child is saddled with glasses for the rest of her life! I would also suggest if it is at all possible to spend the extra on the "flexible" frames as it probably will save you money in the long run. Finally, I will share with you the rhyme that I used with my daughter, "If they are not on your face, then put them in the case"!
Good luck and even if she does need corrective sight aids, she will be able to use contacts as a teenager!! Oh and here is one trick that I use when I think things seem a bit overwhelming. I put my problem into perspective as I had a nephew who was diagnosed with Leukemia at age 2 and who survived for two more years as he fought through 2 bone marrow transplants and eventually left this earth as his body could not beat the disease. Thank God your child only needs a tiny pair of glasses to be successful. (I hope that wasn't too preachy as that wasn't my intent. My true intent is to help you feel better about her possible need for glasses!)
