Glasses for Garrett??

That has a nice ring to it.  Glasses for Garrett. Glasses for Garrett.  I think know that's what Garrett has been thinking ever since his sister, Olivia, came home with her cute purple glasses.

We brushed it off because we hadn't noticed any problems with his eyes and he'd never been diagnosed with an astigmatism - which was most of Olivia's issue.

We were able to hold off until a few weeks ago they did vision screening at school.  Garrett came home with a 'FAIL' on the vision screening and the color vision testing.

Here we go again . . . I book his appointment with Dr. Philippe.  Yesterday, after 3 weeks of Garrett talking about how he couldn't see things well - we went for his appointment.

I briefed the tech about how 'excited' Garrett was to get glasses since his sister and everyone else in the house has them.  She nodded and said she understood.  The first picture she flashed up was a HUGE airplane. 

Garrett's answer - "Looks like a car to me"

Several more screens up and stumbling and guessing on letters.  Several notes made when she did the color vision test.  Garrett was very inquisitive about all the equipment in the room (future engineer).  The tech knew that a movie about the eye and how it worked would be perfect while we wait those few extra minutes for Dr. Phillipe.  The kids were mesmerized watching it and it was very thorough and informative.

When the doctor came in, Garrett almost leaped off the chair (which was high up in the air) to greet him and tell him how much he needed glasses.  Dr. Philippe was so gracious and kept saying, "We don't know that yet. You're doing great".  Through several screens of "I don't see anything"  "I think that's an X". 

Then the doctor turned to me and said, "We're going to dilate his eyes and take him OUT of the equation".  So we dilate his eyes and wait 30 minutes for the next level of the exam.  While we're waiting, Garrett tries on these glasses:

After over an hour there, we go into the 3rd exam room and Dr. Philippe puts on glasses where you can put in the lenses manually (instead of those big things on the wall) - he has Garrett read some charts, a few right but not that many.  I begin to think - maybe he does have a problem . . .

Until . . . the brilliant and patient doctor throws his hands up to Garrett and says, "Well if these glasses don't work, then you don't need them, congratulations!!!" - Garrett looks confused, holds onto the glasses and says squinting, "wait they are working" - He begins to read the chart, flips to the next smaller line, reads the chart, and the next and the next - perfectly!!  "These glasses really work!!", he exclaims.  The doctor congratulates him and then says something like, "These glasses are for older kids - You don't need glasses yet - maybe in a few years when your eyes grow".  He then walks over to me with the lenses and puts them over my eyes and whispers, "Plano" - meaning no correction.

GOTCHA Garrett !!!

Garrett seems confused for a few minutes until I explain that he is now RARE in our house because he's the only one who doesn't need glasses.  Garrett likes being rare and rare things, so he accepts that he will not need them.

This momma is still stunned that my rule following Garrett would go to such great lengths to get glasses.  The doctor reassured me that he sees it all the time, it's no big deal and to bring him back next year for a re-check.

Thank you for patient and understanding doctors like Dr. Philippe!  If you do need an excellent eye doctor here in Charlotte, I would whole-heartedly recommend Dr. Philippe at Piedmont Eye Care.