|
Post by fc11 on Sept 20, 2016 9:31:32 GMT -5
For kid with astigmatism, do I need to go to specialized eye glasses store to get a pair of prescription eye glasses, or can I just get it from Walmart? In the past, I got them just from Walmart and assumed they knew what they were doing, but then I read recently that astigmatism may affect reading and other issues, I like to be very careful...going back to the eye doctor will unlikely help as they do not sell eye glasses. thanks
|
|
|
Post by bros on Sept 20, 2016 11:31:13 GMT -5
Go to an eye doctor (I prefer ophthalmologists) and get a prescription.
Then you can take it wherever you want.
I really like getting glasses at Costco - last time I went, it cost $109 for the frame and lenses - last time i went to Pearle Vision, it was $350.
|
|
|
Post by fc11 on Sept 20, 2016 12:34:11 GMT -5
I do have a prescription and we always went to walmart...but I am now nervous as I am not sure whether they know what they are doing... I do have a Costco membership.... thanks-- I do not know the different can be so big
|
|
|
Post by healthy11 on Sept 20, 2016 21:52:47 GMT -5
I'm unclear about what you're asking...is it that you don't trust the optometrist at Walmart to give you a proper prescription, or you don't trust their opticians as far as ordering the glasses?
I can confidently tell you that the main difference between an optometrist at Walmart versus one in a private practice is basically just that Walmart doctors are "independent," versus being tied to a given office. They have proper Doctor of Optometry degrees. You can have very experienced doctors at Walmart, as well as "recent grads," but the same thing can happen in a private practice. You can ask what their background/training is. (Most states also have licensing requirements, and you might be able to look up credentials by the practitioner's name, online.)
I have a very close friend, who attended ICO (Illinois College of Optometry, a highly regarded school in the field.) She has worked for private offices as well as Pearle Vision, but has been at a local Walmart for the last 20+ years. When she initially started with Walmart, she was considered an employee, and got profit sharing, medical benefits, vacation, etc. through Walmart, however a few years ago, to "save money," they switched all their doctors to an "independent contractor" status. While some of the doctors did quit, my friend was caring for her ailing parents, and found that becoming an independent contractor gave her flexibility in determining her schedule, as opposed to Walmart telling her which days she had to work. Although Walmart optical centers might be open every day of the week, my friend only works 3 days, so the store found other optometrists to see patients on the other days.
Ophthalmologists receive medical degrees, and then specialize in eye care...they may do surgery, for example, where an optometrist cannot. My experience is that ophthalmologists also charge much more, if they are even willing to see a patient for an "ordinary" exam! My good friend, the optometrist, will refer patients whose condition requires special treatment to an ophthalmologist, but astigmatism is not unusual...unless your child has other problems, I don't believe it's necessary to see an ophthalmologist.
As far as having glasses made, most eye examiners contract with labs that provide the frames and lenses...neither Walmart, nor most private practices, have opticians sitting in back of the store grinding the glass. In any case, if your child doesn't feel like the delivered glasses help with what they're supposed to do, then they should say so, and they can have the glasses remade at no additional charge. (That happened to me once, and I was at a private practice.)
|
|
|
Post by fc11 on Sept 21, 2016 22:27:14 GMT -5
Hi Healthy,
I think my concern is with the opticians... DD has already been seen by an ophthalmologist (covered by insurance) and got the prescription...We normally went to Walmart to get the glasses, I assumed it was handled by the opticians (they are nice and we like them), the prescription specified astigmatism and I always assumed that they would give her the right lens...but recently I found out astigmatism affects reading, hence I began to question whether she has been getting the right lens.... Regardless, I am going to make a change....
|
|
|
Post by healthy11 on Sept 21, 2016 23:26:20 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by bros on Sept 22, 2016 12:12:00 GMT -5
Hi Healthy, I think my concern is with the opticians... DD has already been seen by an ophthalmologist (covered by insurance) and got the prescription...We normally went to Walmart to get the glasses, I assumed it was handled by the opticians (they are nice and we like them), the prescription specified astigmatism and I always assumed that they would give her the right lens...but recently I found out astigmatism affects reading, hence I began to question whether she has been getting the right lens.... Regardless, I am going to make a change.... They don't make the lenses there - they just send in the order to a place that makes them fitted for the frames, then sends them back. The eye doctor usually checks the lenses at the next visit, anyway. If you are concerned about it affecting reading, maybe a behavioral optometrist would be useful?
|
|
|
Post by dw on Sept 23, 2016 9:52:23 GMT -5
Astigmatism can make vision blurry beyond corrective lenses, and sometimes contact lenses are more helpful. Astigmatism does not cause the reading problems caused by dyslexia, nor other reading problems problems, for example, problems with sounding out words, de-coding, comprehension, etc.
|
|
|
Post by fc11 on Sept 23, 2016 11:51:03 GMT -5
dw, I understand it does not address dyslexia type of problems. But for this kid, I think she has no problem with reading or comprehension...but just she reads very slow...hence that got me thinking.
bros, that's my assumption...but I am not sure whether they really look at the astigmatism....
|
|
|
Post by healthy11 on Sept 23, 2016 12:17:31 GMT -5
I'm forgetting...does your daughter have an IEP, and does it identify Reading Fluency/Slow Processing issues? I don't have personal experience with them, but a few years ago a few Millermom members discussed how colored overlays or glasses with colored lenses appear to help some kids with reading issues. www.Irlen.com
|
|
|
Post by fc11 on Sept 25, 2016 22:57:39 GMT -5
Hi healthy,
No. This child does not have an IEP. She has a 504 due to ADHD. She is in Honor/AP classes, however, what concerns me is that she reads very slow. We had a neuropsych eval recently and it showed her reading at a very slow pace...Hence I am looking at whether I got her the correct pair of glasses.... thanks for all the suggestions/comments regarding glasses...finally brought her to Sears as our insurance is eyemed.
I am looking for another eval to help me to find more...but will start another thread... Thanks everyone...
|
|
|
Post by mykids on Sept 26, 2016 10:12:31 GMT -5
Both my son and I have an astigmatism. We have both gotten glasses through, Walmart, Costco, Stanton Optical & other Optometrist. My son sees an Ophthalmologist due to an earlier eye injury. I see an Optometrist. The only place we have ever had trouble with eye glasses ordered is through my Optometrist. Stanton Optical is the only place we have been that does the lenses in house, everyone else sends them out.
I’m wondering if this low reading fluency is a new issue? Did previous evals showed very slow reading pace or low reading fluency? My son has a IEP. His reading fluency is low, has ADD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Anxiety, Fine Motor issues etc... He is also in Honor/AP classes. He uses audio books along with the written book.
|
|