Rebuttal: Glasses for Preschoolers Often Unnecessary

Photo: Mark Probst

Just last week we explored new research regarding the cognitive benefits to children who wear corrective eyewear. Traditionally most eye doctors do not prescribe for small amounts of hyperopia (farsightedness) because they will grow out of it on their own. Click here to learn more.

Well, another published clinical research study says, "Not so fast!" Eye specialists at Vanderbilt University reviewed the records of over 100,000 Tennessee preschoolers who received vision screening. 3,600 were referred to the eye doctor. 890 of these referred youngsters were found to have no eye problems yet 20% of them received a prescription for glasses anyway.

The prescribing trend varied with the qualifications of the health provider:

• Optometrists prescribed glasses for 35% of their patients


• General ophthalmologists prescribed glasses 12% of the time, and


• Pediatric ophthalmologists (the acknowledged experts) recommended eyewear for children only 2% of the time

Given that the costs for the exam and any spectacle prescription averaged $250 per child, the authors contend that universal comprehensive eye exam programs for preschoolers are unnecessary and possibly wasteful. Parents, pediatricians and existing school screenings do an adequate job in identifying the children in need.

Those same funds could be better used for teachers' salaries or child obesity prevention programs.

The big argument concerns the small number of children who may 'fall through the cracks' in the current system. Funny thing about cracks, they tend to appear in whatever system is developed. No system is perfect no matter how much money you throw at it. Expect to hear much more about this debate!

Related Topics:

• Do Preschoolers Need Glasses?
• WebMD Video: Vision Therapy and Children

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