All About Kids' Eye-sight

[MyBaby]

Just to share some of my experience with atropine. My DD’s (now in P5) been on atropine for the past 2 yrs, with half yearly review.


Her eye specialist started DD on atropine cos bad history of myopia on my side as well as due to a sudden spike in her myopia.

She puts one drop of atropine in each eye every night and she needs to wear spectacles with special lens - transition plus progressive.

During her first review, her myopia actually decreased and on her second review, it went down further. So naturally, we were pleased. During her recent review, however, it went back up to the same degree as before starting on atropine.

Her doctor’s suggested that this could be due to changes in lifestyle (we acknowledged that there is an increase in near work) and also growth spurt. DH pointed out that at least with atropine, DD managed to maintain her myopia at the same level over 2 yrs.

So we are still continuing with atropine and with the half yearly review. Of course, at the back of my mind, we do worry about long-term effect.

[sall]

Children on atropine must wear transition lens and also progressive lens. The eyes will be sensitive to sun, so transition lens can help cut off some glare, and also they may have some problems reading at close range for abt 2 days after the drops are applied, so progressive lens helps. The doctor also said progressive lens are effective in myopia control. I just paid $480 for a new pair of specs.(multi-coated, high-index, transition lens, progressive lens)

[MyBaby]

Hi sall, $480 is a very good price! Does it include the frame? Or is the price just for the lens?


Since the introduction of atropine, I had to change DD's spectacles three times. The first time was $800 (lens and frame, deg around 150 each eye), the second time was $680 (because we chose a cheap frame, cheapest lens, and we quoted the opthalmologist's name, degree 75 for each eye ). I've just paid $650 (lens only, degree aropund 150 each eye) for her new pair. No frame as she wanted to recycle one of my specs frame.

Can let me know the name of the opitcal shop? If not convenient to 'publicise', just pm me?

A tip for parents whose kids are on atropine/just started on atropine: I make it a point to inform DD's teachers that she's on atropine. 2 reasons:

1. Bright lights, especially outdoors, tend to cause DD to squint more. We had unkind comments from DD's PE teacher with regards to this. So after that incident, I always drop an email to inform her form teacher (cc subject teachers) that DD's on atropine.

2. Some kids on atropine might have difficulty seeing the white board/projector screen in the classroom depending on where the child seat in the class. I usually let DD's teacher assign the seats, then check with DD whether the assigned seat is ok. So far, there has been only one occasion where I had to email her form teacher to request for a change in seat when she was placed on the far right of the class.

sall:

Children on atropine must wear transition lens and also progressive lens. The eyes will be sensitive to sun, so transition lens can help cut off some glare, and also they may have some problems reading at close range for abt 2 days after the drops are applied, so progressive lens helps. The doctor also said progressive lens are effective in myopia control. I just paid $480 for a new pair of specs.(multi-coated, high-index, transition lens, progressive lens)

[sall]

I got the specs from the shop named' Frame and Lens' at Tiong Bahru Plaza. It included a new frame. I find the price very reasonable n service is gd and reliable. there is another branch at Bugis Junction.

You can ask the doctor to write a letter to inform the trs that your child is on atropine and request to sit in front and in centre. For PE, can request to let child put on a cap.
But at p5, she may be too shy to put on a cap. Mine only wear the cap until p3. then refused to wear anymore. :roll:

[barney8]

hi Mybaby, i am surprised to note that your DD degree is only 150 for each eye and she is on atropine. I tot that is for high degree or when the degree shoot up?

[MyBaby]

Hi sall, tks for sharing the contact. Tiong Bahru Plaza is a convenient location for me. Will check it out.


Tks too for the tip on wearing a cap - but my DD is the shy type and will absolutely refuse to do anything that will single her out - so definitely no way...

sall:

I got the specs from the shop named' Frame and Lens' at Tiong Bahru Plaza. It included a new frame. I find the price very reasonable n service is gd and reliable. there is another branch at Bugis Junction.
You can ask the doctor to write a letter to inform the trs that your child is on atropine and request to sit in front and in centre. For PE, can request to let child put on a cap.
But at p5, she may be too shy to put on a cap. Mine only wear the cap until p3. then refused to wear anymore. :roll:

[MyBaby]

She was 25 deg on one eye and 75 degree on the other eye in middle of her P2 year. When she went for her review at the end of P2, her degree shot up to 175 and 200 respectively. So with a change of +150 for one eye, and +125 for the other eye within a half a year time frame, her opthalmologist decided to start her on atropine, coupled with my family history of bad myopia.

barney8:

hi Mybaby, i am surprised to note that your DD degree is only 150 for each eye and she is on atropine. I tot that is for high degree or when the degree shoot up?

[barney8]

MyBaby:

She was 25 deg on one eye and 75 degree on the other eye in middle of her P2 year. When she went for her review at the end of P2, her degree shot up to 175 and 200 respectively. So with a change of +150 for one eye, and +125 for the other eye within a half a year time frame, her opthalmologist decided to start her on atropine, coupled with my family history of bad myopia.

barney8:

hi Mybaby, i am surprised to note that your DD degree is only 150 for each eye and she is on atropine. I tot that is for high degree or when the degree shoot up?

Mybaby, did your DD need to get spectacles when her degree was 25 and 75?

[MyBaby]

barney8:

Mybaby, did your DD need to get spectacles when her degree was 25 and 75?

Yes, we got spectacles for her as her opthalmologist's opinion was that DD should not strain her eyes. Moreover, DD loves to read.

[Herbie]

My ds is in sec 1 this year and he has colour vision deficiency. And he has to take chemistry in sec, does anyone know how sch assist these kids in sch? Tx