When do they NEED corrective lenses???

Last year, DS's ped said his vision screening was borderline - 20/40 - but recommended we go to have his eyes tested. That doc said the same thing, but he didn't need glasses yet. They just did another vision screening in school and he's now 20/50 - he has to get tested again. His issue is with distance.

Obviously I want him to see the white board better and everything clearer, but it seems as if most people I know who's kids get glasses have much worse eyesight before they get them. Are our doctors being very cautious or is this the norm? Will his eyes correct themselves in the future or will his vision have to be corrected for the rest of his life? I'm assuming the eye doc will tell us he's 20/50 now and he should get glasses.

I have no problem getting them for him but I've heard your eyes get lazy when the lenses correct for them (don't know if this is correct) and maybe his vision would improve if his eyes had to work for it (if that makes any sense).

Re: When do they NEED corrective lenses???

My 13yr old son and I both were glasses. Once we got glasses at ever yearly check up our eyes did get slightly worse however I don't know if that's the case for everyone. But back when I first got glasses the dr did say that my eyes were worse off because I did go so long without wearing them. So don't know if this really answered any of your questions but just figured I would share our experiences. I'm sure your eye dr will be happy to ans any questions you have but to be honest I never heard that straining to see is better then wearing glasses. GL

Re: When do they NEED corrective lenses???

Thank you - he needs to see so if he needs glasses, he'll get glasses. I just want to make sure he really does need them.