Are Children's Eyes Harmed By Not Getting Glasses?
MAR 20, 2014
Question:
My niece has been told that her daughter (8 years old) needs glasses, but she refuses to get them. Is there long term harm from not getting children glasses early?
Answer:
There are many reasons a child may need eyeglasses. The most important is normal visual development. If normal two-eye vision does not develop during early childhood, a condition called amblyopia can stop a child's eye from seeing — permanently. This can occur if the eye is seeing a blurry image that's not corrected by glasses. In addition, eyeglasses can assist with alignment of some forms of crossed eyes. I would urge your niece to either get the spectacles or get a second opinion with an ophthalmologist if she questions the diagnosis/need for glasses.