My 4 year old has 20/40 vision in one eye and 20/25 in the other. This was just!
Question:
My 4 year old has 20/40 vision in one eye and 20/25 in the other. This was just a screening at his checkup.?
If these results are accurate when he has a more detailed test, will he need glasses?
Please let me know your thoughts as I'm pretty concerned about this. Thanks!
Answers:
The difference in the measured vision of the two eyes means that you should have your son examined by an eye doctor. Some causes for the difference have already been mentioned. Screening techniques can give inaccurate results, but the possibility of a condition that should be addressed needs to be explored. Lazy eye (amblyopia) could exist and require some form of patching in an attempt to improve the vision in the 20/40 eye.
Another possibility is an error in the way the eyes focus. Near or far sighted conditions as well as astigmatism can cause blurred vision. If your son has one of these errors AND his vision is correctable to equal levels at the time of the exam, it does not automatically mean that he must wear glasses. In this condition he would not be at risk for amblyopia, so postponing glasses until he starts to school is an option that YOU may choose. Not wearing glasses in this case will not make his eyes change faster or slower, or cause him to lose vision. For improved performance, once he is in school, he will probably wear corrective lenses.
Finally, the reduced vision may be the result of something more serious. To identify the cause of the reduced vision, please have your son's eyes examined.