Of course your child needs glasses he's squinting, isn't he..

If your child is straining to see the chalkboard, don't assume glasses are the answer, unfortunately, too many eye doctors do. A 2004 study by vanderbilt university professor and pediatric ophthalmologist sean p. Donahue found kids were more likely to be prescribed unnecessary glasses if they saw an optometrist or general ophthalmologist than if they went to a pediatric ophthalmologist. Donahue estimates almost one in five kids who wear glasses don't need them. Worse superfluous glasses may cause headaches or even legitimate vision problems.
A pediatric ophthalmologist is attuned to how kids' eyes develop, says david granet, M.D , director of pediatric ophthalmology at uc san diego. You have to understand those changes or you can do the wrong thing. Rather than taking your child to your eye doctor he says, let the pediatrician examine him during annual checkups, and refer you to a specialists if needed, to locate specialists in your area , click here [ scroll down to the map ] . If your child ultimately needs glasses , avoid mass retailers and use a shop specializing in kids' glasses since fitting their frames can be tricky .