Anybody know anything about kids with bifocals?

[Rudy]

I thought this would be a good place to ask because accommodation is such a hot issue with pistol shooters and the knowledge base is large:
My 11 year old son has been diagnosed to need bifocals. This is his first pair of glasses. We've learned that it doesn't necessarily have to be permanent as many kids with bifocals only need them for a year or two. We've also learned that there is no permanent harm in using them. The reason for the bifocals is because his eyes are not accommodating due to weak eye muscles. The doctor gave us a set of eye exercises for the boy to use. Overall he's slightly myopic.
I was quite taken aback by this because I had never heard of it in such a young person before.
Have you encountered this in young shooters? I'd like to learn more about it so that if indeed the exercises are promising, I want to make best use of them. I'd also like to try the exercises myself because I'm age 45 and am having a bit more trouble with accommodation myself lately.
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[Donald Matzeder]

I got my first pair of glasses in kindergarden and my first bifocals in the fourth grade. Did the exercises but my problems were to severe it fix that way. Shooting was not effected negatively and now I use progressive lenses that allow focus an any distance. Keep him working the muscles and in a worst case situation, at least he is myoptic which is much easier to correct with lazer surgery.



: I thought this would be a good place to ask because accommodation is such a hot issue with pistol shooters and the knowledge base is large:
: My 11 year old son has been diagnosed to need bifocals. This is his first pair of glasses. We've learned that it doesn't necessarily have to be permanent as many kids with bifocals only need them for a year or two. We've also learned that there is no permanent harm in using them. The reason for the bifocals is because his eyes are not accommodating due to weak eye muscles. The doctor gave us a set of eye exercises for the boy to use. Overall he's slightly myopic.
: I was quite taken aback by this because I had never heard of it in such a young person before.
: Have you encountered this in young shooters? I'd like to learn more about it so that if indeed the exercises are promising, I want to make best use of them. I'd also like to try the exercises myself because I'm age 45 and am having a bit more trouble with accommodation myself lately.

matzeder-at-direcpc.com.43129.43128

[Stan Pace]

: My 11 year old son has been diagnosed to need bifocals. This is his first pair of glasses.
They were a little younger when we found out they were having trouble reading. A few months in the bifocals helped tremendously. After that, they began wearing single power glasses and, later, contact lenses.
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[garyn]

The exercises are a drag, but make him keep at it, even if you have to sit there with him. Take it from someone who has trifocals, if he can get back to single prescription life will be much nicer.
re shooting. You need to watch how he aims. If he has to look out the bottom prescription of the glasses to see the front sight, then he needs a separate pair of glasses for shooting. Cranking up the head to see out of the bottom prescription will just lead to bad form and a sore neck.
That is how I realized I needed shooting glasses...I could not focus on my front sights.
The lens in the eye apparently looses its flexibility, and thus ability to change focus. Muscle exercise won't stop this, but it might delay corrective lens.
Oh to have young eyes again...
Gary

: I thought this would be a good place to ask because accommodation is such a hot issue with pistol shooters and the knowledge base is large:
: My 11 year old son has been diagnosed to need bifocals. This is his first pair of glasses. We've learned that it doesn't necessarily have to be permanent as many kids with bifocals only need them for a year or two. We've also learned that there is no permanent harm in using them. The reason for the bifocals is because his eyes are not accommodating due to weak eye muscles. The doctor gave us a set of eye exercises for the boy to use. Overall he's slightly myopic.
: I was quite taken aback by this because I had never heard of it in such a young person before.
: Have you encountered this in young shooters? I'd like to learn more about it so that if indeed the exercises are promising, I want to make best use of them. I'd also like to try the exercises myself because I'm age 45 and am having a bit more trouble with accommodation myself lately.


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[Joe Matusic, MD]

I am a pediatrician. I have more than a little concern over what has been posted regarding this issue. If your child has seen a pediatric ophthalmologist (initials behind name should be MD or DO, NOT OD), then trust what you have been told. If you have seen a optomotrist and have been given bifocals or have been given muscle strength exercises. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Ophthalmology organizations has released statements against muscle exercises and "vision" therapy touting it as pure fraud. Check with your pediatrician before buying the glasses or doing sham therapy. In 13 years of practice, i can only recall patients being given bifocals who has several vision problems and most of those were extremely premature at birth.
Joe.Matusic-at-Camc.org.43235.43128