Reading glasses vs magnifying glasses in teens

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Mar 13, 2005

That depends on what they have glasses for. If they are truely farsighted they they should be having their glasses replaced. By not doing so you are hurting their vision.

If they are reading glasses of the type people such as myself and others hitting our 40's who have trouble reading med vials, small print in medical reference material and the like thats basicly what my eye doctor recommended.

If you dont need glasses for distance, I dont thanks to LASIK surgery, and just for reading things up close just go to the drug store, a Walleyworld type store and get the lowest power reading glasses. He basicly said why pay me $100 or more for something that you can get for $10-20 a pair.

rj:cool:

begalli · Mar 13, 2005

If they're kids, they don't have 40 year old eyes syndrome, like me.

They should have their glasses replaced.

hmcna · Mar 13, 2005

If they're kids, they don't have 40 year old eyes syndrome, like me.
They should have their glasses replaced.

I agree.... but how do i convince TPTB of that.....

these kids are between 12 and 17.

happthearts · Mar 13, 2005

Recently, where I've worked for 2 + yrs, we've admitted some kids.... (residential treatment center, kids are there for 6 months to 18 months)
Some of these kids had prescribed glasses for close work/reading but lost or broke them prior to coming to our place.
When I mention that they need to go to the eye Dr to get new glasses, for reading... I was told that they should just go to the dollar store, and get magnifiers.
Is this an acceptable nursing practise?
If yes..... OK what's the rationale?
If no, what documentation or argument can i use to try to get the nursing dept to change their mind?

I worked in Optics for many years in California and No this is not acceptable Children have eye glasses prescribed for a reason .Some because the have strabismus or other problems of the eye .Those glasses are set for there eyes and there pupil distance. From12-17 There face and pupil distance is still to big for adult frames.You can't get a reader and just think this will take care of there problems unless you know that they only have spere lenes in the frame and 99 % of the time they don't

When they go to the dollar store or just get readers that pupil distance is not set for there eyes Causing the eyes to pull .Readers are set at a pupil distance of any where from 56-60 this is set for adult eyes only .If the child has problems with reading. They need UV as well as a light skin tone tint to keep from transposing words that they read.

You are asking for school problems if you don't replace them, plus child will be complaining of head ache and eye strain

Anyone who suggest readers for a child not knowing the child's eye problem is totally working out of there scope of practice .Most of the children I fitted in the many years of fitting children ,always seemed to have secondary problems with the eye. When dealing with the kids its so important to be able to see well.When kids don't see well .They do not communicate well have school problems and act out more. To make up for not seeing well They try to be the clown to hide the fact they can't see or withdraw .

I Have worked in kids treatment as well so I know this first hand. I have took the frame and lens to the optical shop had them adjusted and had frames replaceds and brought them back.The frames were not always the best fit.But at least the child could see proper.So I take it they staff feel these children are an elopement risk and this is there reasoning.Give the glasses to Mom or Dad and tell him/her to take the glasses back to the store and get the lenes put back into new frames .Take the frames to the store to put the lenes in the new frame Change out temples.

I would be more prone to contact the company on line that is on the side of the (temple / ear piece that goes over the ear.) You will find the company name listed there and type of frame Then look at the nose bridge to get the size. It would look something like this 50-14 On a small frame you might see something ,like that on the bridge of the nose. and re-order that frame. If you explain to the company most frames could be picked up for under 30 dollars on-line.

If they bought at Lens Crafter or Pearl vision ,a big change store (some times the frame states where its from) .They can order parts to fix the frame.We always used to keep the kids parts right on hand.

Sorry I get very upset when people who have not a clue about the eyes think its OK for kids To not be able to see well. That's like me giveing meds without a script or a DR order and not knowing what your other medicail problems might be. :angryfire

rjflyn, ASN, RN · Mar 14, 2005

Want to know my honest opinion. Profit. I think someone is just trying to save a buck. They probably get X amount of money per pupil. Any money they save below that amount is profit. Figures.

rj:angryfire

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 14, 2005

If they have true sight issues (myopia, diplopia, astigmatism, et cetera), they need new prescription glasses. If they simply have troubles with reading fine prints, a pair of magnifiers from the 99-cent store will surely suffice.

hmcna · Mar 14, 2005

Anyone who suggest readers for a child not knowing the child's eye problem is totally working out of there scope of practice .Most of the children I fitted in the many years of fitting children ,always seemed to have secondary problems with the eye. When dealing with the kids its so important to be able to see well.When kids don't see well .They do not communicate well have school problems and act out more. To make up for not seeing well They try to be the clown to hide the fact they can't see or withdraw .
Sorry I get very upset when people who have not a clue about the eyes think its OK for kids To not be able to see well. That's like me giveing meds without a script or a DR order and not knowing what your other medicail problems might be. :angryfire

Don't be sorry, i totally agree.... if i did not feel this way, i'd NOT be coming here asking for help...

Someone else hit it on the head.... about profit.

We get a Medicaid per diem rate for each kid. per month

We get the same amt no matter what....

if they have tons of medical problems, or if they have none.

And their medicaid card does not work at the eye dr store, or the dentist, or at other dr offices or for prescriptions.

So if a kid comes in.... and is on no meds, and has no problems we get something like 500 to the good....

but then another kid comes in, and has tons of tooth problems, needs root canals etc.... well, the 500 from kid #1 gets spent on kid 2 as well as kid 2's $500.

And, you'd think they way a few of those nurses I work with, control it... that it was their money.

:angryfire

happthearts · Mar 14, 2005

Don't be sorry, i totally agree.... if i did not feel this way, i'd NOT be coming here asking for help...
Someone else hit it on the head.... about profit.
We get a Medicaid per diem rate for each kid. per month
We get the same amt no matter what....
if they have tons of medical problems, or if they have none.
And their medicaid card does not work at the eye dr store, or the dentist, or at other dr offices or for prescriptions.
So if a kid comes in.... and is on no meds, and has no problems we get something like 500 to the good....
but then another kid comes in, and has tons of tooth problems, needs root canals etc.... well, the 500 from kid #1 gets spent on kid 2 as well as kid 2's $500.
And, you'd think they way a few of those nurses I work with, control it... that it was their money.
:angryfire

To be honest all the years .I worked in Optics with kids who had myopia, the kids always had astigmatism at least a little bit in one eye exception was the major high myopic ones like minues -7 and above (has to do with the shape of the eye.) . I think in all those years I was in school and doing optics on the side .

Kids always with Hyperopia had problems with fit of the glasses usually the weight of the frame and the weight of lens ,because it was the lens was heavy so you really need a proper fit. Usually these kids also have other issues of the eye like being wall-eyed etc. Hyperopia children some time half to move the pupil distance on one eye so the eyes will draw to the center of the lens. This is called base in prism .They also some time would have the problem of astigmatism which really adds problems into the mix that's why you can't just buy them over the counter.

There old lens's from there frame are better than fitting them with the wrong script . unless there lens are so badly scratched .I would first replace the frame if money is an issue.

Can you get chip insurance to kick in for the kids

Or ask for a new doc in town to donate his time for a new script for these kids every once in awhile . I would not take this lying down ,If I was there I would be glad to donate my time your cause.

Maybe you could ask a Optical store If they could help you out .I know when I worked Lens crafters I used to go out in the field and fit the nursing homes in the area. For those who couldn't make it in.They also have a lot of parts to fix frames as well.

Good luck

hmcna · Mar 14, 2005

To be honest all the years .I worked in Optics with kids who had myopia, the kids always had astigmatism at least a little bit in one eye exception was the major high myopic ones like minues -7 and above (has to do with the shape of the eye.) . I think in all those years I was in school and doing optics on the side .
Kids always with Hyperopia had problems with fit of the glasses usually the weight of the frame and the weight of lens ,because it was the lens was heavy so you really need a proper fit. Usually these kids also have other issues of the eye like being wall-eyed etc. Hyperopia children some time half to move the pupil distance on one eye so the eyes will draw to the center of the lens. This is called base in prism .They also some time would have the problem of astigmatism which really adds problems into the mix that's why you can't just buy them over the counter.
There old lens's from there frame are better than fitting them with the wrong script . unless there lens are so badly scratched .I would first replace the frame if money is an issue.
Can you get chip insurance to kick in for the kids
Or ask for a new doc in town to donate his time for a new script for these kids every once in awhile . I would not take this lying down ,If I was there I would be glad to donate my time your cause.
Maybe you could ask a Optical store If they could help you out .I know when I worked Lens crafters I used to go out in the field and fit the nursing homes in the area. For those who couldn't make it in.They also have a lot of parts to fix frames as well.
Good luck

IF I had the lenses, or part of the glasses.... i could probably get them fixed.

Because our Empire Vision, will work hard at that type of thing for us...

What is "chip insurance"

Can you, happthearts, or anyone else....

find me something on the web that says pretty much what you are saying?

ie something educational, on a reputable site....

I'm NOT saying that you guys are not reputable, or that you guys are not educational...... i just want something to refer my boss to.... :coollook:

and i can't send her here..... ya know? :chuckle

happthearts · Mar 14, 2005

IF I had the lenses, or part of the glasses.... i could probably get them fixed.
Because our Empire Vision, will work hard at that type of thing for us...
What is "chip insurance"
Can you, happthearts, or anyone else....
find me something on the web that says pretty much what you are saying?
ie something educational, on a reputable site....
I'm NOT saying that you guys are not reputable, or that you guys are not educational...... i just want something to refer my boss to....
and i can't send her here..... ya know? :chuckle

Chip insurance site .http://www.cms.hhs.gov/schip/

If You ask any Optician ,they will tell you what I have said is true.If had the lenses, or part of the glasses. or lets say a lost screw or broken temple these things can be fixed to a point Lenes can be fit into a frame of the same kind .

This is just the basics on what a Optician knows .http://www.gahec.org/aheckids/optic.htmI went to American collage of Optics In Los Angelus calif. Also worked for Optiline.com company.

Hope this helps