I feel there is a very big problem when it comes to eye health. You are mentioning that the best thing would be a checkup in children from a very early age, even as young as 3 or 6 months, and see, this is something that is generally not done.
There is a great inclination to talk about vaccines at those ages, or about nutrition, about the importance of breastfeeding, but not about ophthalmologic assessment. And I understand that it is not easy for a general practitioner to assess that part, but that is what specialists are there for.
I even think that the problem comes from the basic medical training, in which although the most common diseases are studied, they do not go further in this aspect, and above all in prevention from an early age.
I think the problem that many people go very late to an optometrist also has to do with the fact that the body's adaptation process allows the person to continue seeing relatively well, and they will only go for consultation when the situation is serious. This is already an assumption.
Thank you for this topic @nattybongo
Your assumptions are very right and on point, the eye always tries to adapt even when things ain’t going well, thus why in hyperope the eye will keep trying until the person can’t bare the asthenopia anymore and eventually see the optometrist or ophthalmologist.
Hopefully in the years ahead as we all continue to learn more everyday things would get better for us and for our patients as ophthalmologist assessment come to be done earlier in life.
Thanks for your time Doc