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Post Your Prescription

Soundmanpt 01 Sep 2010, 17:52

Vain000

Wait until you get your glasses and wear them for a few days, then you will really thank me, which you don't really need to do. Just last night I was visiting a young lady that works at a warehouse type store with and optical department. She recently had an eye exam and was given a new rx of -.25 -.50 in both eyes. She resisted wearing her glasses, but last night she was wearing them. I asked what brought that on? She said she was starting to notice that in the afternoons she was getting headaches. Her manager told her she would find that if she wore her glasses she wouldn't have that problem. So for the last 2 weeks she has been wearing them, each day more and more and now she is wearing them full time and now doesn't want to be without them.

I'm a little surprised that it is going to take that long to make up your glasses. Normally it should take less than a week. But in the end you will be glad you got them.

vain000 01 Sep 2010, 14:47

Soundmanpt,

Thanks again for all your advice. To answer your question, my gf did get progressives instead of bifocals. As for myself, yesterday I went ahead and found some frames and purchased my glasses. Now I get to wait 2-3 weeks for them to actually be picked up! I have to admit, I am pretty excited to see what the difference is going to be!

Andrew 01 Sep 2010, 12:13

A couple of days ago, Cactus Jack wrote the following:

I can't answer why, but it seems that under correcting is more common in the UK than elsewhere. The only things I can think of is that optometrists in the UK are trained to be very stingy with minus correction in the belief that it will slow down myopia or that he felt that with your reading workload, under correction would help. Perhaps other members can offer more or better reasons.

Up until yesterday, that had not been my own experience. However, by tightening the trial frame onto the face so that it is far more secure than any pair of glasses would ever be worn, and then only correcting to 6/7.5, my eyesight magically improved by about half a diopter in each eye. I did not order a new pair of glasses as I could not decide on the frame I liked but the whole thing has left me in a quandary. I could go elsewhere and get a second opinion, BUT would not then qualify for the 50% price reduction for glasses which I would get where I went yesterday. Given that my prescription seems to indicate high-index varifocals, the reduction would be worth about Ł300. Suggestions?

Soundmanpt 01 Sep 2010, 10:54

diva

Here in the US they are finally starting to get laws like your country, but they are doing it state by state. So each state the law is different, I know pretty crazy. And of course some states has no law against it at all. You are right it should be everywhere. Before you ask I never touch my cell or anything else like it while driving. Sadly I have friends that do.

Bye the way I have been watching for you over on "lenschat" where have you been?

diva 01 Sep 2010, 03:46

Oh my god.

Here, if you are caught texting and driving, or talking on your cellphone without bluetooth (wireless), there is an instant fine of around $200.

I can't believe this is not the norm in other countries?

How dangerous, and for the texter / caller, how irresponsible. There are a number of deaths and accidents linked to this behaviour which has prompted law changes.

Soundmanpt 01 Sep 2010, 00:53

Tim

Many would agree with you, but if that is there logic I don't think it works as planned. If you correct someone to see the 20/15 line or better, there vision is till going to change at the same rate.They will become accoustomed to seeing that clearly for a while. The difference is now they will not be happy when there vision reaches 20/20 or 20/25.

Bottom line is I see nothing harmful in correcting people to 20/15 all the time anyway. Oddly I know several people that wear contacts and they are corrected to 20/15. But I can't think of anyone I know that was corrected to 20/15 for glasses.

Tim 31 Aug 2010, 23:46

This undercorrection issue by (particularly British) opticians is a recurrent theme in these threads. While the "ethical" reason may be an attempt to slow down the progression of myopia, I suspect the true reason is the knowledge that the customer will be back sooner for a retest and another pair of glasses, thus generating more profit more quickly for the optician.

Soundmanpt 31 Aug 2010, 15:54

SoCal

Well assuming you go back to the same doctor or even a different doctor I would tell him/her just what you said in here that over the past year you felt like you were a bit under corrected. Mention that you can really tell a difference with night driving that you can't see as well as you should. If nothing else ask to be corrected to be able to see the 20/15 line and that should do the trick for you.

SoCal 31 Aug 2010, 15:18

I have an eye exam this coming Thursday and I'm a little anxious about the exam. Last time I was there, the eye doc did not want to give me that extra bump to make my vision super crisp. I ended up walking out of the office with a -2 in each eye. Over the past year, I noticed that my vision was not entirely up to snuff and I feel that my night/day and indoor vision has gotten a tad worse; not too bad. How do I convey what I am seeing to the doc to ensure I end up leaving the office seeing the best possible correction.

Cactus Jack 30 Aug 2010, 17:02

Melyssa,

I don't have to give anyone ideas about driving while using their cell phones and texting. We are very severely outnumbered in that department. It is apparently the "IN" thing. I sometimes wonder if they will be able to continue while riding to the hospital in an ambulance.

The last time I nearly got clobbered was by someone who was so busy talking that they missed a stop sign on a side street and barged into a busy major street. Maybe they had forgotten to put on their glasses and couldn't see it or the cars on the street, but they could see their cell phone well enough to use it. If I hadn't noticed the driver of the car approaching the intersection without even looking or hesitating, I would have been "T-Boned".

I slowed substantially and narrowly missed participating in a nasty accident. I don't think the presence of my van was even noticed and the driver blissfully went on their way, chatting away. I guess I just don't understand what is important.

Notice that I carefully avoided mentioning the gender of the conversationalist. I don't think it makes any difference.

new glasses wearer,

-0.50 under correction will affect your vision beyond 2 to 3 meters. You may be able to avoid under correction next time by telling the examiner that you like your vision to be very sharp and clear for reading distant boards or slides in lecture halls.

Unfortunately, in your visual environment, it may be not be to your benefit to be under corrected. Depending on your visual workload, it may actually be more beneficial to get full correction and a low to moderate reading add in bifocals or if you have to do a lot of work on both a computer and reading, trifocals are not out of the question. Age, in this instance, has nothing to do with it. These would be what are called functional bifocals to help you do your work more efficiently and with less fatigue. Not for presbyopia. About 90% of the knowledge you will receive will be through your eyes and the more mental effort you can devote to absorbing and understanding that knowledge the better, without having to expend mental energy to process blurry images.

You can easily order low cost single vision or bifocal glasses on line - we'll help you, if you want or need it.

May I ask your field of study?

new glasses wearer 30 Aug 2010, 15:48

cactus jack, you are right, it is my choice as to whether I wear them full time etc and your explanations about how good/bad my vision is without them confirms to me that its best to wear them most of the time.

Talking about undercorrection, I remember watching the optomtetrist scribble down his notes on his sheet and he actually put left eye as -2.25 and right eye as -2.00 but on my sheet he gave me it was -.175 and -1.50 , so he did undercorrect me, why do they undercorrect? I could read a bit below the 6/6 line but reckon i could have definitely seen more with the extra bit.

i cant say ive had blurry dreams myself but i have heard of that, it just goes to show how powerful our minds are.

i am 23, im going to be a student again, already done my first degree going back to do a research masters in october.

i went for the eye test because i was starting to get quite anxious about going back to university and having to see the powerpoint presentations in lectures and because my friends from my first degree were all as bad as me with their eyesight, we would always sit at the front, but this time round, il be on my own until i make friends and couldnt face having to go throuh the whole elaborate process of trying to fake good vision.

Melyssa 30 Aug 2010, 14:49

New glasses wearer,

Your RX was the same as my first one at age 8. Of course, I did not drive back then. :) But I used my glasses just for watching TV and movies, and to see the blackboard in school.

Melyssa 30 Aug 2010, 14:48

"Particularly, when they are driving and between actual cell phone conversations." Cactus Jack, please don't give anyone any ideas. I see enough of those I-D-10-T's on the roads, whether their vision is good or like a sports referee.

Soundmanpt 30 Aug 2010, 00:10

Vain000

You are correct. If I were you I would go ahead and order glasses per the prescription given to you. If your still not sure, you should ask if they offer a return policy for a certain amount of time. Many retailers will allow 30 - 60 days to try out your new glasses and if you feel they are not helping you can return them for a full refund. I really think you will find after wearing them a few days that they do what you are hoping for. I am sure your gf loves her glasses, and she will even love them more and more if she is doing that much reading. Did she get progressives or lined bifocals? Progressives are a bit harder to get used to but with her very mild rx it should not be too hard. Progressives are nice if she does much on computers because it includes a mid strength that works well for that.

marie b 29 Aug 2010, 22:08

Cactus Jack, Thank you for your response. The contact lens he currently has is a Cooper Vision Biofinity Toric. He does not know the specific rx for it because it is a trial pair from the doctor. His previous contact lens rx (and contacts!) were from about eight years ago, believe it or not. No, he wasn't using the same pair, but has been using some that were still in their packages! When checking for contacts at online stores, I saw that the prices were well over $125 less for a one year supply than what he was getting from his doctor, and that is taking into consideration the $50 rebate offered by the doctor as well! I don't know that the information I am providing here is of any additional assistance. But I will say that I try to encourage him to give his eyes a rest from time to time and wear his glasses, which I think make him incredibly irrestible! Those, however, are over eight years old, too, and rather out of date. Hoping he'll update them soon~ Thank you.

vain000 29 Aug 2010, 19:42

Thanks again Soundmanpt. It sounds like you suggest I should just get this prescription and forgo a second test where I could better mention the reasons I was there. Is this a correct assumption? If this prescription will indeed help both close and far, then it sounds like that is what I want. The whole + and - lens thing is what threw me off.

As for my girlfriend, yes, I do think she was surprised. I think she was more surprised that she needed distance correction however. But after she got her glasses, she has been very impressed with the difference. As for what she does, she is in grad school, and her program requires her to read extensive amounts.

Cactus Jack 29 Aug 2010, 18:22

Particularly, when they are driving and between actual cell phone conversations. It is rough to have to switch between distance for the road and reading the little-bitty text. Bifocals make it easier.

Soundmanpt 29 Aug 2010, 18:12

Vain000

By the way was your girlfriend surprised to find that her first glasses needed to be bifocals? Recently I have found more and more young people, mostly women, needing weak bifocals. I think it can be blamed on all the small hand held devices and heavy texting. Young ladies love to text.

Soundmanpt 29 Aug 2010, 18:07

Vain000

Actually your kind of right, you and your girlfriend do have similar vision. You both have been given very weak prescriptions but I think you both will find in only a short time that you both will see better with your respective glasses. In your case, you barely have any sph correction, but you do have the beginnings of astigmatism correction that will make a difference for close vision and distance vision. After you wear your glasses a few days to get used to them I think you will notice quickly the difference without them. I would say you should probably wear them full time anyway if you want clear vision all the time. Your girlfriends glasses also have only a slight bit of sph correction, but like you she has the same amount of astigmatism correction as you have. Putting her into bifocals i'm sure will make a difference with reading or any other close work she may do. That also is about the weakest add you can get put into bifocals. It sounds like she has no problem wearing her glasses full time and you should too. You both will be able to see quite well if you take off your glasses, but in a very short time you both would find headaches likely. You said your work puts you in front of a computer all day, what does your gf do work wise?

Most likely you both will need increases in the next 12 months as your eyes relax more. So wearing them now is not a bad idea at all.

Any other questions you may have feel free to ask.

Cactus jack 29 Aug 2010, 17:25

new glasses wearer,

The sphere Rx (1st number) means that everything beyond about 60 cm (23 inches) will be fuzzy and the cylinder and axis (2nd and 3rd numbers) mean that reading small text at any distance will be a little fuzzy without correction. In most situations that Rx would indicated full time wear. It is possible that the optometrist thought that because you had avoided glasses for so long you would not wear them full time anyway.

Your corrected vision is the way you are supposed to be able to see. However, when you wear them is strictly up to you. Remember, you do not need any permissions to wear them and you wear them for your benefit, no one else. You are already wondering why you put it off so long and what you have been missing. I think most knowledgeable members here would suggest full time wear.

The glasses will not make your vision worse, but it will seem that they have. The reason for this is that vision actually occurs in the brain. The eyes are merely biological cameras. The brain is fully capable of using image processing techniques to partially correct fuzzy images if it knows what the images are supposed to look like. However, it takes a lot of work and processing power to correct images. Once your brain discovers that expending all that energy to do image processing is not longer necessary with your glasses, it will decide that it really likes it when you wear them and will stop trying to correct almost everything it gets. To you, your vision will seem worse that it was before you got glasses. If you stop wearing your glasses for a few days, it will reluctantly go back to work, but it will likely complain bitterly.

As proof of the above, have you ever had a blurry dream or heard of blurry hallucinations? Both are produced by the brain without any input from the eyes.

Please let us know how you get on. Also, it is possible that the optometrist actually under corrected you because these are your first glasses. Don't get excited if you have a increase with your next exam.

May I ask your age and occupation?

Welcome to the group.

vain000 29 Aug 2010, 17:17

Soundmanpt and Andrew, thanks so much for the responses!

To answer your question, honestly I was only mentioning that I didn't have a chance to explain myself at the opticians to make a point that I wasn't too impressed with the service I received.

The reason I did go though was because my girlfriend very recently got her eyes checked and was prescribed glasses. I always thought our vision was pretty similar, with hers very slightly worse than mine. When she got her glasses, she was reading and pointing out things that I could not see (for distance). Combine that with the fact that I have noticed eye strain while reading/working on the computer, and this inspired me to get my eyes checked. I went to the same optometrist my girlfriend did and got the prescription I mentioned in my previous post. My girlfriend's prescription is totally different than mine. She actually has progressive lenses, -.25 sph, -.50 cyl in one eye and -.50 sph, -.50 cyl in the other. Add +1.0. The doctor said it had something to do with her eyes not adjusting quickly between distance and close work.

I was then really curious to find out why my prescription was a positive number (+0.25 sph), and why hers were negative. Everything I had been reading on the internet was suggesting that + lenses were for close work, and negative numbers were for distance. And while, yes, I am getting some pretty heavy eyestrain while working in close, I absolutely want to see better in the distance as well. I tried her glasses on, and in the center of her lens I could see incredibly clear.

That got me wondering if my prescription was going to do what I wanted for me. I want to solve my eyestrain issues, but I also want to improve my distance vision as well. I spend most of the day on the computer or reading. I am also a photographer however, and distance vision is very important to me as well. Not to mention being able to better see the board in class.

Now, don't get me wrong. I fully understand my vision is not bad at all. The optometrist said I had 20/25 in one eye and "slightly worse than that" in the other. I've done some tests at home (with exact 20 foot measurements and exact size eye charts) and I am pretty darn sure I am 20/30 in my right eye and that I just got lucky on my guesses at the doctors. The time of day seems to influence this as well though. My eyes seem to get worse the later in the day it is. I'm sure there are millions of people who would love to trade their vision for mine. That being said, I am a bit of a perfectionist, and I know my vision used to be better than it is now. My girlfriend has better vision than me now, and she loves her glasses, even though they aren't exactly the strongest prescription in the world either. So, I want to improve my vision. That is why I went to the optometrist in the first place.

Sorry for the long-winded post, and thanks again for responding. Any feedback on what I said here is greatly appreciated as well.

new glasses wearer 29 Aug 2010, 16:29

hello all

I got my eyes tested after putting it off for about 5 years, Ive always known my vision isnt up to scratch but have tried to convince myself it wasnt that bad

I went to tesco opticians in the UK and got given this

Left eye = -1.75, -.25 X 70

Right eye = -1.50 -.50 X 90

The optometrist said that i shouldnt wear these full time, just wear them for driving etc, but ive had them now for a few days and I cant believe how crisp everything is, why would the optometrist say that i dont have to wear them all the time? He was almost quite anti glasses in his whole approach

I actually find wearing them for reading also makes it easier, writing is darker and less smudgy if that makes sense

Should i just ignore what he said and wear them as much as i want or will wearing them for reading etc make my eyesight worse?

Soundmanpt 28 Aug 2010, 13:06

Good point Andrew. What did prompt you to go for an eye exam in the first place?

Andrew 28 Aug 2010, 11:29

Vain OO - the answer probably lies in the answer to the question you were not asked; why were you at the optician's? It is probably the activity which prompted you to make the appointment for which you would find the glasses the most beneficial.

Soundmanpt 28 Aug 2010, 00:22

Vain000

You are correct in that it is indeed a very light rx. You only have the smallest of rx for sph in your right eye, not something to worry about. But you do have some astigmatism (cyl) in both eyes that could be a problem for you depending what kind of work you do. If your job is spending many hours each day staring into a computer glasses would ease the eye strain you are getting. Same if your doing anything that your using your eyes for be it distance or close up. I think your doctor is telling you that you really don't need them for full time wear, but depending how you use your eyes they may make your eyes feel more rested at the end of a work day. It might be a good idea to go on-line and order a pair from "zennioptical.com" or "glassesunlimited,com" the cost is very cheap and then you can see if they benefit you or not. If you like how they work you can always go to a local vision store and purchase something else. Hope that helps.

vain000 28 Aug 2010, 00:00

I just got a prescription for my first pair of eyeglasses. The prescription sounds extremely weak, and I am wondering if its even worth getting. Any opinions?

It's:

R +0.25 Sph, -0.50 Cyl axis 008

L Plo Sph, -0.50 Cyl axis 172

The other thing is, I was told they were for "visually intensive" tasks. I don't even know what that means. Does that mean close and far vision? I was under the assumption that + lenses would be for close up vision only. The whole thing is pretty confusing, and I felt like I was totally rushed through the process. I didn't even really get to explain why I was at the optometrist in the first place. I am tempted to go somewhere else and get retested.

Thanks in advance!

Cactus Jack 27 Aug 2010, 21:56

narie b,

The second paragraph in my last post should read ..."could you provide his current contact lens Rx?"

In contact lenses, if the cylinder is -0.50 or less, it is normal to add 1/2 of the cylinder to the sphere correction and prescribe sphere only contacts.

Toric lenses are mostly compromises and they are hard to fit and be stable on the cornea. The cylinder correction is available only in -0.50 increments starting at -0.75 through -2.25 and the axis is in 10 degree increments. Your friend might try -1.75, -1.25 x 110 in what ever brand, base curve and diameter he presently wears and alternatively -1.75, -1.75 x 110 and see which one he likes the best. With a little luck, he might get close to 20/25.

For really good vision in these situations it is hard to beat glasses.

Cactus Jack 27 Aug 2010, 21:36

marie b,

The distance from the front surface of the cornea to the rear surface of a lens is called Vertex Distance. For glasses (and phropters) it is about 12 mm and for contact lenses it is 0 (zero). Normally, when you convert a glasses Rx to contact lens Rx, you must make an adjustment for the Vertex Distance difference. However, if the Rx is less than + or - 5.00 the difference is so small that no adjustment is necessary.

In your second post, you said that he had been wearing contacts, could I his current complete Rx for contacts and the brand?

marie b 27 Aug 2010, 21:26

I have one more question....and yes, I know this site is more for eyeglasses than contacts but there's such a wealth of knowledge here....anyway, as I looked up the various types of contacts at the online stores, I noted that the cylinder amounts are usually -.75, -1.25, and then it jumps to -1.75 and -2.25. There is no -.5 and there is no -1.50, at least not for the brand of contacts he currently uses, nor for most of the others. Hmmm.....any thoughts?

marie b 27 Aug 2010, 21:00

Hi,

I have a question regarding a glasses rx, and whether the contact lens rx would be the same. Here is the rx glasses;

-1.75, -1.50, x112

-1.25, -.50, x79

Would the rx for contacts be the same? Is there a difference due the contacts being closer to the eye, or does that not apply since the rx is not that high? Thanks for your assistance, as my friend asked if I'd order contacts for him but I just needed to confirm first. mb

Soundmanpt 26 Aug 2010, 00:02

Oops! I meant to say "without question the best for sports"

Soundmanpt 26 Aug 2010, 00:00

Seeing the dictionary description of "vain" I must agree that I was wrong in using that word to people in here. I would never use any of those descriptive words to any of the ladies in here.

I totally agree that it is everyone's choice to choose glasses, contacts are nothing at all. I also agree that contacts are without best for playing sports. That being said the only comment I have is that I don't think someone should choose not wearing glasses because they are afraid of what others may think of them.

Katy, thank you for posting the definition of "vain" it is a word I will not be using in the future and am sorry for my past useage.

Clare 25 Aug 2010, 16:01

And - I don't think so, I think my prescription's good for a while yet ... at least I hope so! I'm still going to hang out for as long as possible, they may have to lay on transport to get me there ;)

MinusDude 25 Aug 2010, 12:17

I go to a chain but the optometrist is very patient. Each time I have an appointment I say how much it drives me crazy if the prescription isn't just exactly right. He actually thanked me for mentioning that and was extremely patient. He mentioned that some people are very picky about matching up the prescription and others aren't bothered by prescriptions that are as much as .5 off.

Julian 25 Aug 2010, 07:53

In my experience independents are often cheaper than chains as well.

sandy 25 Aug 2010, 02:53

SoCal- I have found that high street chains( mainly specsavers) tend to rush you through your eyetest so ive stopped going to said place, probably because of the sheer volume of appointments they pack into one day, so maybe if you feel your indecisiveness is getting in the way, go to an independent spot where they may have more time in between appointments.

I can relate to that feeling of being embarrased that I cant read the eyechart, I hate it year after year, they know I cant read the big letter e so why ask me!!! I dont like the way, you are just sat there not being able to see why they do all sorts of tests on your eyes and then only slowly are you able to see right at the end.

what is the best way to get through an eye exam without getting that panicky feeling especially during the one/two, red/green bit, as that bit makes me feel quite nervous.

And 24 Aug 2010, 18:28

Clare, are you likely to need a new prescription do you think ?

Jennifer 24 Aug 2010, 17:46

I've had doctors in the past who saw me struggling to read a line, but didn't feel it was necessary to increase my prescription. That is one thing that used to irritate me about the eye exam. I always wondered why this particular doctor didn't want me to see something crystal clear. If I could make out a couple of the letter on the line, he let me stay with the lens. I hated that! I'm happy to say that I've found an excellent doctor who is not afraid to give me an increase so that I can see the best possible. She listens to me and can relate to what I say because she wears glasses too! I now only see her. I will not go to another doctor. When her practice moved to another city, I went to her new practice, even if it meant a longer drive.

I hate the puff in the eye!!!!! Can't stand it and need to learn how to relax during that part of the exam. LOL

SoCal 24 Aug 2010, 17:22

Sandy & Claire,

I seriously thought I was the only person in the world who felt the pressure while having a test done. For some reason the feedback that I get always makes me feel like I have chosen the wrong lens. Ugh, needless to say, I am not looking forward to the exam. And the red/green test, forget about it . . . pure torture!

Clare 24 Aug 2010, 16:07

Sandy - I dread it! I'm not sure why exactly but it involves fear of my prescription changing, and I also feel a bit embarrassed about not being able to read some of the letters - maybe from one optician a long time ago saying "ok this isn't going to be good ...". How great does that make anyone feel! And I hate the puff of air in the eye. I just don't feel in control, and don't like that!

I had a call a week ago to say my 2 year test is due. To be honest I so don't want to go I'm ignoring it, I had a contacts check up in January and will have another next January so it's not a big health issue, I just don't want to go!

sandy 24 Aug 2010, 15:59

It is interesting to read that other people find getting an eye exam a somewhat difficult experience,

I have always felt pressurised to make choices, well i guess you have to , but i find that the optometrist always pushes me " go on try and read the line, red or green, one or two" over and over again, especially the red green bit, they want an answer and i end up jst saying any colour which then prompts more one or two questions, it drives me up the wall!

Whenever the exam starts and they want me to read off the chart, i start squinting, but then get told not to, i feel like whatever i do , im doing it wrong!!!

what are other peoples experiences?

Clare 24 Aug 2010, 15:30

SoCal - not sure what your Rx is but, given what you say about your fear of exams, why don't you tell the optician that you are having problems seeing even at short distances. Surely if you do that they're hardly likely to reduce it?

ps - I hate eye exams too because I find them scary!

SoCal 24 Aug 2010, 15:03

I was sitting in on a presentation yesterday and chose a seat in the back of the room. I figured that the room was small enough that I wouldn't have a problem seeing the projection with my contacts in. Well, I was mistaken and I found myself squinting followed my some eye pain and a headache. Believe me, I couldn't wait for the darn thing to end. Anyway, could it be possible that I need an rx change? I have the hardest time at eye exams and I always feel like I am not ending up with the vision I would like. Ugh, the pressure of choosing which lens is better, "one or two", sends me into panic mode every year. What should I do? I have an exam scheduled for early Sept. with a different doc but I am worried that my indecisiveness will lead me to a weaker and worse rx. Any advise would be helpful as I am going crazy with the headaches and the sore eyes.

Carlos 21 Aug 2010, 19:39

Hi All

Just came back from my optician and I was amazed with her findings and suggestions, these are the following senarios:

1.full correction including add L.E +7.00 R.EYE + 4.50 and correction of - 3.50 left and right to wear fulltime and she thinks this will slow down my need for + glasses.

2. Wear +3.50 add+ 2.50 left eye +2.00 add+2.50 cyl -.75 fulltime wear and review in 3 mths . cost of specs with varifocals € 250 . contacts with - glasses over € 100.

Any suggestions

Cactus Jack 19 Aug 2010, 18:37

Peter C,

That is a pretty mild Rx for her age, but I suspect she can function pretty well without them unless she is driving, watching TV, reading, or using the computer. That sounds pretty much like full time, but she needs to make that decision and she should do what she feels comfortable doing. If you are patient, she will probably elect to wear them most of the time.

From here on out, the distance part will probably be very stable, but the add may creep up to +2.50 or +3.00 depending on how much close work she likes to do. When it reaches about +2.50 (ideal for reading at 16 inches or 40 cm) it will also stabilize unless she likes to focus closer. At that point the add is mathematically related to the working distance.

Peter C 19 Aug 2010, 17:22

My wife had just had a test and her prescription has gone from

L: sph -0.50 cyl -0.75 axis 95 R: sph -0.25 cyl -0.75 axis 70 Add +1.0

L: sph -0.75 cyl -1.0 axis 95 R: sph -0.25 cyl -0.75 axis 70 Add +1.75

She is 52 and had no myopia until she got a first weak prescription at 47. Should she be a fulltime wearer and is her prescription likely to increase? I have just seen her new glasses and I am surprised how strong they look. I am a real GWG fan so I am quite pleased by this.

Ryan O'C 19 Aug 2010, 10:50

My twin sis, Ryanne, did get an increase as she suspected. She's now -18 in both eyes with plenty of astigmatism. The doctor has taken her completely off contacts, after her wearing them for about 10 years.

Curt, my bro also got an increast to -17.5 in one eye and -18 in the other. I'm sure he is going to surpass me before long. He also got his first trifocals, which he hates!

Puffin 19 Aug 2010, 06:32

Basically about minus 2 in the worst eye, a little less if there is significant astigmatism eg .75 or more, if there are other issues like double vision or headaches, or a large difference between the eyes then more likely. If the person has obviously had their myopia and coped with it for a long while just possibly a bit over minus 2 or possibly advised to introduce full time wear gradually over a period of a few weeks. Some of this is "rules of thumb" and some the general opinion of the optician and the age and situation of the patient.

Generally speaking the younger the eyes are the easier & quicker it is to adapt to significant correction.

I think it likely that your situation would suggest full time wear.

Shazheen 18 Aug 2010, 19:06

Hi Puffin

Thanks for replying to my question. I wonder exactly what makes an optician recommend full time wear. Do you know?

I don't wear my glasses in the office and have never been told to wear my glasses for more than driving. Mad really because even in the office I sometimes don't recognise people at a distance! My fault I guess.

Puffin 17 Aug 2010, 13:47

Shazheen:

it depends on your age, if you're over 14/15 there is very little chance that the weaker eye will "turn off" completely because the brain is ignoring it. As you get younger than that, the chances are higher. By 14 most people's visual systems are well developed enough not for that to happen. Getting the brain to get such an eye back into use can be troublesome.

It can happen that you might develop double vision and require some sort of prism correction as well as that for myopia.

Whether your vision is equally corrected or not, properly converged stereoscopic vision is superior. The brain is a wonderful thing and can adapt to monovision, and some other sorts of visual disturbances, but it is generally accepted that it is best avoided unless there is a good reason.

Most opticians would recommend full time wear with that prescription, especially if there is astigmatism present.

Shazheen 17 Aug 2010, 12:55

Hi everyone

I've seen lots of questions about wearing glasses fulltime here and this is mine. I have glasses of -1.5 and -2.75. The -1.5 I know is quite weak but my other eye seems quite blind so I must be using one eye to see most of the time.

Is it doing my eyes any harm that one is doing all the work?

Like lenses 10 Aug 2010, 19:47

Melyssa

Microscope eyes ,eh?

Melyssa 10 Aug 2010, 12:29

This reminds me of when I was in 10th grade and forgot to take my glasses with to school the Tuesday before Thanksgiving Day. (I did not start fulltime wear until after 11th grade.) While it was difficult to see the blackboard that day, biology class never looked better.

Clare 10 Aug 2010, 11:53

kk - not sure why you're putting yourself through this nor what you might be trying to prove!

It's entirely your choice when and for what you wear glasses, and the fact that you found it annoying without them proves that it's better to wear them. Interestingly a colleague whom I guess to be about -2 came to work today - no glasses. She was squinting alot and on one occasion declared herself to be 'blind' but I didn't like to ask why no glasses. Funnily enough though, in a social situation after work she takes them off anyway, personally I'd have thought she'd be more likely to put them on. See how people's needs are different?

So, do what you want. I wear contacts at work and am -3 and -2.75 yet a few years back when I couldn't wear contacts for going on a month (and my prescription was a little less) I was surprised at how much I did wear them at work - most of the time except at my PC. I'm known here for being a reluctant glasses wearer so my advise to you might seem strange to some, but don't be guided by what others say you should do, do whatever's best for you!

kk 10 Aug 2010, 10:48

I am officially pathetic. Went to work without glasses, got to about lunchtime and had to put them on- blur was annoying me and found it strangely disconcerting when someone talked to me from a distance and their facial expressions weren't clear. Given I have such a weak prescription, is this because I am used to wearing them all the time? Will it get easier if I wear them less. I got a couple of comments that I was not wearing glasses this morning but made some excuses.

Rachel 10 Aug 2010, 10:00

Hey Soundmanpt,

Still here. And still wearing glasses pretty much full-time. I've got a pair of RX sunglasses too, which have been great. I must confess I don't always wear my specs on evenings out and I have had the odd "day off", largely because my eyes can still function OK-ish without them (I'm -1.5 in each eye). Weirdly, I'm wearing them less now than I did in the first three weeks (I was probably overcome by the novelty of clear sight!).

No real problems with glasses-wearing to speak off. Feel totally confident with my appearance wearing them (have even changed my Facebook pic to one of me wearing specs). Around three or four times a day I need to wipe smudges off the lenses, but this is a minor inconvenience.

I'm not reliant on my glasses at all, which I thought I would have been after two months (even my boyfriend, a full-time wearer, thinks it's strange I'm not dependent upon them).

I can confirm that the whole if-you-wear-glasses-your-eyes-get-worse theory is a total myth.

Gino 07 Aug 2010, 15:53

Xplore, difficult to tell her prescriptionon the basis of the thickness at the edges alone. But se's probably -5.00, my best guess.

Yasmin 07 Aug 2010, 15:10

To give up contacts for good is a very dreadful thought.

There are definitely things that I would hate to do with glasses, like dancing classes or dancing performances (I am not a professional dancer, I just do it for fun), or swimming... or whatever. It would be hard to just dont have the option for contacts. A friend of mine had that problem and I really felt sorry for her.

But I'm thinking about to go full-time in glasses in my next job (in a different city) - encouraged by eye scene! Of course I will keep my contacts for spare time activities.

Three days glasses and two days contacts during a week didnt work out for me and I switched back to full time contacts because wearing glasses stressed me too much. And I did not liked the fact that this unnecessary stress affected my work.

But at my new job I just could appear in glasses with the idea in mind that nobody knows me without and hopefully I will finally get used to them.

Xplore 07 Aug 2010, 14:21

I have decided to try full time wear and go with it - Just spent a really uncomfortable time at the gym not able to focus on the tv screen attached to the tread mill.

Looking around while there realised how many people there are wearing glasses, also really surprised that someone who I work with wears glasses and contacs, today she had glasses on, they made her eyes look smaller than normal and where about 6mm thich at the edges, any ideas as to her prescription?

I plan on starting the full time triasl from tomorrow - wish me luck!

Soundmanpt 07 Aug 2010, 07:14

Rachel

Haven't seen any posts from you since July 13th. You were getting ready to shop for rx sunglasses. It has been about 2 months since you got your glasses, anything new to report? Before the only problem you were having was figuring out how to twist your head to kiss your bf because he also wears glasses and you were banging glasses. So have you found anything else that wearing glasses is a problem?

Soundmanpt 07 Aug 2010, 06:08

Clare

In answer to what I did, well pretty much everything that the doctor didn't do I did at different times. Getting background info filled out, checking rxs on patient's glasses, assisting on picking out frames, doing many adjustments on glasses, fitting new ones. I was lucky because I didn't get too involved with the contacts dept. It was shocking how many came out of the doctors office with their first rx and went straight to contacts even with an rx that they barely needed for driving at night. I wanted so badly to say, "you should just get glasses and wear them as needed", but you are trained to give the patient whatever they want. I think my favorite part was fitting glasses to an attractive young lady. That was the best job I ever had. Sadly it didn't pay enough to cover my bills and I worked in the printing field due to better pay. Now that I am retired I am considering going back and working part time again soon. I have many friends at various optical stores that tell me they would hire me. We will see.

Clare 06 Aug 2010, 11:34

kk - I'm not exactly an authority on this, just experience really. When I was -2.25 and -2.75 the optician said that most people with that prescription would wear them all the time. In the office when you're sitting at your PC you probably don't need them - I'm a little bit more than you and at home I just sit fairly close to the screen when I don't have my contacts in. But walking around the office I'm sure you'd find it an improvement to wear them, as for going to and from the office however you get there. I know when I've needed to take my contacts out in the office because they've been bugging me, it's been fine at my desk but very blurry beyond it so I can't see why you wouldn't want to wear them everywhere but your desk.

I'm not a comfortable glasses wearer but I'd say never mind what your colleague thinks, do what you prefer. One of my colleagues wears glasses maybe -2 in the office but takes them off when they leave. That I find very strange but it just goes to show that people do what they like best - and so should you!

JR 06 Aug 2010, 06:39

Sorry, GOC = Glasses Over Contacts. So a person who normally does not wear glasses can by wearing contacts.

So I wear a plus contact lens to be able to wear stong minus glasses.

See the thread on the eye scene site.

Millhouse 06 Aug 2010, 06:03

Rayray-

I tried it and the sim looked a good image of what I see with my rx of -7.50/ -6.50.

I had a look at a -1.25 /-1.00 also to see what how it appears to a male friend of mine who will not wear his specs unless driving! Now I know why he often doesnt spot me in the pub!

Vanity in all its glory.

Rayray 06 Aug 2010, 04:54

The simulations are always somewhat inaccurate because everyone (even with the same rx) 'sees' somewhat differently. That simulator is relatively accurate compared to most for my -8.5 / -8.25 -0.75 cyl rx. The pictures are a good representation of what i see at distance. The snellen chart is actually a bit 'clear' as the shape of the large letters is still visible. I cannot differentiate even the vague square shape of the 20/400 line big E - i am simply aware of a very vague dark blob on the white screen.

Xplore 06 Aug 2010, 00:28

kk,

I am starting to think the same, about wearing full time, being a bit of a fraud. I am also a bit vain about wearing my glasses in public too much I need them mostly for work but find it a bit of a pain having to take them on and off all of the time, then moving to a different office and not being able to see something clearly.

On the back of that am thinking about going full time but relative to some folks here have a weak prescription so feel a bit of a fraud.

How good is your vision without your glasses? Do you wear full time at work and around the house? What have others said? How easy did you find it to go full time?

kk 05 Aug 2010, 22:57

JR. What is GOC?

Clare. So its OK to wear them for more than driving but not all the time? Maybe when I am watching TV and at the cinema or theatre? I probably do not need them for work as I am in an office job and I am sitting close to my computer. Will try without and keep them in my handbag for when we have presentations.

I do not think an optician has ever told me when I need them. Only at the last eye test when they obviously think I should not be wearing them all the time as they said I shouldn't wear them for reading.

Daniel 05 Aug 2010, 21:46

It has been vanity preventing me from wearing glasses more all these years too... Eventually everybody who wear contacts will have to wear glasses more often than just a few hours a week. I just have a hard time imagining having to wear glasses all the time, everyday, and no contacts at all... How would you feel it you just had to give up contacts for good?

Yasmin 05 Aug 2010, 19:50

Daniel,

I will post my answer it into choosing frames.

Xplore,

in my case it is the simple but frightening vanity. I just feel prettier without them.

But as I find out by reading here on eye scene, many people seem to have this vanity thing at least when they begin to go full-time.

I don't know if I ever get used to it, as I still have the opportunity to wear contacts.

It home, I absolutely have no problem, as well.

Puffin 05 Aug 2010, 16:32

I think the original question is best answered in a particular way. Not how blurry something looks in the distance, as most things will become so blurry as to be indistinguishable (even compared to the most highly contrasting background) that comparing to a bit more blurry doesn't help with imagining what can be seen.

Instead think of how close you have to bring things in order to see or identify things, or conversely how far away your useful vision reaches. For instance, at minus 20 you may be able to read normal print - probably with your nose near or pressed against the page, and I doubt you'd want to try it for long assuming you have correction available which can let you read just about like everyone else. However with minus 40 this is basically pointless (unless, as I said elsewhere, you happen not to have a nose).

Similarly telling people apart - assuming they are similarly dressed and of similar height and size, minus 20 I would put about 1 foot to 18 inches. Minus 40 would be about half that.

For counting fingers minus 20 is about 4 feet away, minus 40 about 2 feet away. I imagine at this point you will be wanting to see things a bit more than within arms reach so the glasses will go back on.

Cactus Jack 05 Aug 2010, 15:47

QUERY,

Here is a link to a pretty good vision simulator. The site is in German. Alter=Age Range, Sph=Sphere, Cyl=Cylinder, and Berechnen=Go!

http://www.optiker.at/simulator/

The site only goes up to +/- 15 and over 15. The reason that it only goes this far is that vision gets so blurry that there is little point in debating just how blurry, incredibly blurry is. When something is so blurry that even large objects are colored blobs, If you go higher, the blobs just change size and that is even hard to compare. Compare -5, -10, and -15 and see what you think.

At some point Eye Care Professionals quit trying to assign a number to visual acuity such as 20/1000 (which means that the patient can see at 20 feet what a person with normal vision can see at 1000 feet) and ask the patient to count held up fingers. The actual Rx onlys become important during the refraction process when the examiner has refracted th patient below about 20/200 with the goal of as near 20/20 as possible. Very few high myopes can reach this level of acuity because of retinal problems and distortion caused by severe elongation of the eyeball. May I ask your age, if you wer vision correction, if you do, the Rx and where you live?

Clare 05 Aug 2010, 13:21

soundmanpt- you mentioned that you worked for an eye doctor. You have alot of knowledge, what was the job that you did there?

Clare 05 Aug 2010, 13:19

kk - I disagree with your colleague. Admittedly at -2.50 you don't *need* glasses to read but I guess alot of people don't take them off to read something. And of course it's possible to get around, for example, the office without them. But for 20/20 vision you certainly need them so I think his comments were unnecessary. I have a friend who's -2.50 and he wears glasses all the time if not wearing contacts.

05 Aug 2010, 10:22

cactus jack,

i will surely try that,but now i am a student and i cant afford that much

can you explain by words replies for my previous post?

Cactus Jack 05 Aug 2010, 10:16

QUERY,

Rather than ask someone who is very myopic to describe their vision without glasses, why don't you experience it first hand. In this instance, the experience is worth about a million words.

Fortunately, it can be done at surprisingly low cost by doing a variation on GOC. All you need to do is order some +20 Proclear contacts from Global Lens and a pair of +20 or as high as possible plus glasses from an on line retailer. Assuming your Rx is not very high in either direction, you can experience the vision of a person who needs to wear about -25 or so glasses and then by putting on the high plus glasses with the contacts, you can experience the vision of a person needing much higher minus glasses. The exact amount doesn't really matter at these levels of blurriness.

QUERY 05 Aug 2010, 09:36

i am posting to this website for the first time.actually , i have a special attraction for worse eyesight and strong glasses.

any real high myope posts here ,mabe above minus 20?

i would love to how will be their vision without glasses?

WHAT WILL BE THE DIFFERENCE IN VISION WITHOUT GLASSES FOR A MIN 20 AND MIN 40 PERSON?

Xplore 05 Aug 2010, 08:37

Yasmin

What is it that you don't like about wearing your glasses?

I am similar in that I wear them around the house but don't like wearing them outside, although I might give it a try?

Daniel 04 Aug 2010, 15:07

Hey Jaz... How does your spare glasses look like? How many pairs do you own?

Yasmin 04 Aug 2010, 14:57

pr0-0gressives,

I wear contacts most of the time but if I cant do that for any reason I will use my backup glasses, even though I dont like myself to be seen in glasses. I can not imagine to function without. At home I sometimes try to go without but as soon as I want to watch tv, go to the kitchen or surf in the internet..., I need them. When I enjoy the sun on my balcony I will be without.

Soundmanpt,

I tried the optiker.@simulator. I tried first with -7 and -0.5 cylinder but the simulation is much much worse than I really notice my vision. The simulation at -4 without cylinder comes close to what I see. But that simulation is not better than the program I used for my room. It does not overlay the two eyes, either.

I am also very curious to find out how -15 people see their uncorrected world.

JR 04 Aug 2010, 13:00

Sounds like you co worker is jealous of you.

Tell him about GOC.

kk 04 Aug 2010, 12:46

Thanks for your reply soundmanpt. I think maybe -1.75 when I started to wear them most of the time. I started to think maybe I was missing things, such as people on the other side of the road. It was a little embarrassing, well very, when my work colleague said I only needed to wear glasses for driving as I wear them all the time at work. It was in front of some senior people, and he then went on to say that people thought it was cool to wear glasses. I felt like I was being portrayed as someone wearing them because I liked the way they looked. Tried not wearing them for a few hours. Mostly ok as inside my house but had to wear them to watch Tv as it seemed too blurry without.

Xplore 04 Aug 2010, 12:08

My prescription is R +1.25 / -0.50 / 135 and L +1.00 / -0.25 / 180.

On Cactus Jacks suggestion I am going to try full time wear for a couple of weeks - Currently just close up and computer stuff but I am having problems seeing the tv screens on the running machines at the gym.

I would welcome any advice and tips for full time wear? How did others start? I am quite vain and will need to resist the temptation to just put my glasses in my pocket.

Thanks for the advice - anyone?

Soundmanpt 04 Aug 2010, 11:14

Everyone sees a bit differently. Some feel they need to wear correction at -.75 full time others much higher. Where I worked the doctor recommended full time wear at around -1.50, but even less if cyl. (astigmatism) was involved. I think you certainly need them for more than driving. One thing for sure is you are in no way a fraud. Actually I hate that term being used in when someone can or should go to full time wear. If someone chooses to wear glasses with only -.50 full time that person is not a fraud, they just like wearing glasses or like seeing perfect at all times. Nothing wrong with that.

By wearing your glasses or contacts you enjoy great vision all the time, if you only wear them at certain times many things would be blurry that you are happy seeing clear now.

By the way just curious what rx were you when you went full time and how long ago?

kk 04 Aug 2010, 10:45

I'm new here, basically looking for answers to my questions! I have worn glasses for about 9 years. Since I went to university at the age of 18 I have worn them, or contact lenses, most of the time. Lately I've wondered if that is normal at my prescription, which is-2.50. I ask because someone asked me at work during a conversation about eyesight. One guy said, oh you barely need glasses at all then, just to drive. I was kind of embarrassed to admit they are on most of the time. My optician also said at the last eye test (glasses were broken at the time so I had not worn them to the test) I know you don't wear glasses for reading. But I do if its during the work day. If I am reading in bed I wouldn't wear them then. Now I think perhaps it would be better just to wear them for driving only. Can anyone advise? I feel a bit of a fraud wearing them now.

03 Aug 2010, 22:38

thanks yasmin,for showing how do you view your room without glasses.

if there is any high myopes here like above minus or plus 15 here,i would lie to request them to post such photos

Soundmanpt 03 Aug 2010, 21:22

Yasmin

Something that has been posted here before may help some. "optiker.@simulator/index.htm" It is written in German.but if you fill in the blanks with your age and then your "sph" and "cyl" click on "brechen" or whatever it says and it is something like what your uncorrected vision looks like. Most tell me that they feel their vision is not as bad as it tends to indicate others say it is right on. At any rate it is kinda fun to play with. Something I do, anyone that orders glasses thru me I will make copies of this to show friends how the world looks without their glasses, everyone seems to like it.

pr0-0gressives 03 Aug 2010, 18:31

Thank you for posting this, Yasmin. It does give a feel for what it's like to be very nearsighted without your glasses better than words. I know I wouldn't want to go without correction if that was the way I saw. On the other hand, I used to work with someone who was very nearsighted but refused to get a backup pair of glasses, and would come to work bare-eyed if she lost/tore a contact lens. She unconsciously squinted hard all the time, even when someone was only two feet away, and leaned very close to the monitor; and I once saw her have to feel on a desk top for a large tag attached to the key to the ladies' room. Even so she insisted that she could see without her contacts. I guess since she could see large objects she figured she could get by without glasses.

Have you ever had to be without your glasses for any length of time?

Yasmin 03 Aug 2010, 14:49

What I see without glasses is hard to describe in words. With my right eye I see clear at 12 cm / 4.7 inch. With my left eye at 15 cm / 5.9 inch.

After that its quite blurry. I made some photos. My room with glasses and without.

http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/ad325/yasmin-angel/room1.jpg

http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/ad325/yasmin-angel/room2b.jpg

This is a quite good approximation of what I do see. Of course it is a bit different because I see an overlay of the better left eye with my preferred right eye.

And here is a view at my computer from 80 cm / 31.5 inch. Guess what I am looking at ;-)!

http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/ad325/yasmin-angel/computer2b.jpg

Does somebody know a graphics program which can simulate the myopic view better?

And 02 Aug 2010, 14:38

Yasmin, your script is very similar to my gf's. How would you describe what you see without your glasses ?

Yasmin 02 Aug 2010, 13:12

not transcription but prescription, sorry *rofl*

Yasmin 02 Aug 2010, 13:08

My new transcription is almost the same like two years ago. Yay!

R: -7.50, -0.25, 179°

L: -5.75, -0.75, 7°

In my two years old glasses I have R: -7 and L: -6. I remember that already then, I was a little bit undercorected (what was my desire). The left eye has a significant astigmatism but I cant tolerate the cyclinder. So I chose more minus instead.

Seems that my Rx is finally (hopefully) stable. Maby it is because I did my home computerwork with my old weaker glasses. My contacts are -6.5 and -5.5, which is also a bit undercorrected but sufficient.

I already chose a new frame as a expected that I would need a new prescription. Mayby I will get it with my old prescription instead.

I will see what happends when I get pregnant. I noticed that my eyes got worse (which were already stable before) when I took the pill for the first time. Hormones definately influence the vision/the growth of the eye. Strange. Why?

Melyssa 30 Jul 2010, 12:58

Soundmanpt,

It's okay to get off topic there. Oswalt pitches tonight, and I am so glad that Ed Wade is even a dumber GM than Ruben Amaro Jr., that the Phillies did not have to give up too much for Roy II. (BTW, the Amaros once lived about 2 miles from me long, long ago.)

You're right about the size of my drop-temples as far as progressives go, but I may be more inclined to redo a pair not in my top 10 favorites (or 20). Of course, if that $11 million that Houston gave the Phillies would have gone to me, ...

Melyssa 30 Jul 2010, 12:54

Curt,

Thanks for the info, but I'm a little uneasy about ordering frames and/or lenses online, never knowing if they would fit my big head properly. When I got my bleudame frames this year, I asked them to give me all of the measurements of them, which meant not ordering a pair I had some interest in.

Soundmanpt 29 Jul 2010, 16:03

Melyssa

I was only saying just get one pair made that way to see if you even like it, I think you would. But hey the good news is that if you did decide to convert all of your hot, sexy drop temples over at least they are the correct size to hold progressives. That way it would only be a small fortune for lenses. I heard today it looks like your getting Roy Oswald from Houston. He wanted to come here but Houston was catching flack from teams in our division about staying the same division so they caved. I thought your pitching was in good shape already. We are the ones that need help. Since Brad Penny and Kyle Louse went out the pitchers that have taken there places have won only 1 game. Today was more of the same.

Sorry I got wayyyy off topic.

Curt 29 Jul 2010, 13:21

Melyssa: Bifocals from Zenni Optical start at $25.00 plus shipping...

Melyssa 29 Jul 2010, 12:43

Soundmanpt,

Well, let's see, pardon the pun. A complete pair of glasses ranges from $50 to $120, but I prefer the less expensive varieties. Getting single-vision lenses in current frames runs $40. Bifocals would be closer to $100-$300 per pair. Now if my husband or myself would make as much money at our work as, say, your average Phillie or Cardinal, I'd have 35 pairs of big, bold, and beautiful glasses each with progressive lenses. :)

Soundmanpt 29 Jul 2010, 06:52

Melyssa

It took me a bit to compose myself, I was all excited about you wearing bifocals, then you just had to burst the bubble didn't you? Can I ask a crazy question,we all know I can, why not get at least one pair made as progressives? It would seem a lot easier than what you do now with one on top of the other? What's one more pair of glasses to you? You already leave the house each day with what about 4 different pairs with you.

Besides if you did that we can all go back to drooling at the thought of you in bifocals.

Melyssa 28 Jul 2010, 12:23

Like Lenses,

Hate to "heat" you up, but I do not wear bifocals. I use half-readers with a pair of my regular glasses when I read in poor light. With a real large frame, I slip the readers inside, and with a smaller frame (still bigger than just about anything sold in this century), I wear the readers in front of them.

Cactus Jack 28 Jul 2010, 10:46

Daniel,

The post on this thread confused me. The first and third post appeared to be parts of on-going conversations, but the second post was that of a newbie. Anyway, come on in and join the fun.

Daniel 28 Jul 2010, 10:23

I didnt want to create confussion by making continous posts. All were posted by me. As I said I just found this website and I felt like letting my voice be heard. By no means I wanted to create disturbances.

Like lenses 27 Jul 2010, 22:17

Melyssa

I didn't realize that you were in bifocals . Very cool!

Cactus Jack 27 Jul 2010, 20:59

ehpc,

Thank you.

All,

I periodically try to post that I am not an Eye Care Professional and don't pretend to be. I am an amateur in the original meaning of the word as one who engages in an activity out of love of knowledge and understanding, rather than for payment. My background is Computers and Electronics. As part of my education, I studied Physics and as part of Physics, Optics. My knowledge about Vision and Optics comes from years of study and analysis of the subjects after being very dissatisfied with offered answers and solutions, that just didn't make sense, about my own vision problems, from Eye Care Professionals.

Occasionally, I am asked questions and I try to offer answers and suggestions based on my technical knowledge and my own experience without being judgmental. Most of my posts are an effort to foster understanding of the optical and biological principles involved with vision. .

Some members have found my explanations and suggestions useful and I plan to try to continue to offer them as long as I can or until I am told to stop.

Cactus Jack 27 Jul 2010, 20:00

Radioman,

You are right. My post was not very friendly and I apologize.

"New" Daniel, welcome to the group. As it happens there were 3 posts from "Daniel" within about 5 minutes. Two posts, about 4 minutes apart, appeared to be from the same Daniel, but the post in between them appeared to be from a new potential member. My only reason for suggesting a different Nickname is to avoid confusion.

I sincerely hope you will become an active contributor to the group.

ehpc 27 Jul 2010, 19:57

Doubtless CJ can speak for himself! And, of course, professionals are superior to amateurs!

ehpc 27 Jul 2010, 19:55

CJ isn't practising his trade. He is an amateur, not a professional.

Radioman 27 Jul 2010, 18:49

Daniel- Do not give any thought to changing your name here on ES.Cactus Jack is just an old fuddy-duddy trying to practice his trade here on-line.There is a "Dan" here and thats his nickname or screen name. So what C.J.?

Cactus Jack 27 Jul 2010, 17:35

I believe we may have two Daniels posting almost simultaneously on three different threads. If so, I suggest that the new "Daniel" choose a different nickname so we do not get the two confused.

Daniel 27 Jul 2010, 15:17

Hey you all! I am new to this most interesting website. My prescription is -7.5 in both eyes. It has been such a unique experience to find out that there is other people out there who likes and are interested in glasses. Wow...

Melyssa 27 Jul 2010, 12:33

Karynnina,

Yes, it's true, I have 33 pairs of glasses in my regular prescription, and I wear each set of eyewear once a week.

Melyssa 27 Jul 2010, 12:31

25 Jul 2010, 14:15 poster:

I have had an eye exam every year now since 2006, as I am age-eligible for that. Beforehand, I had eye exams every two years. It just so happened that my distance vision stabilized in 1992, but I had my first add (+1.50) in 2004, and it's +2.50 now.

Karynnina 26 Jul 2010, 14:07

Melyssa,

You have 33 pairs of glasses? Now it's my turn to be jealous, lol. I'd settle for 7, just to have a pair per day.

I've worn glasses since I was 6 and 1/2 years young, but I don't know what the rx was then. The -8 & -8.25 rx lasted almost 2 decades, as evidenced by my pink frames, which I've had that long.

Karynnina

25 Jul 2010, 14:15

Melyssa: Wow, 18 years seems like quite a long spell without a prescription change! How long has it been since your last eye exam?

Melyssa 24 Jul 2010, 07:59

Karynnina,

I'm jealous of your drop in prescription. :) I've been locked in at -9.00 for about 18 years now. Actually, there is some good to it, as I don't have to worry about changing prescriptions in 33 pairs of big, bold, and beautiful plastic-frame glasses every year or two.

Aubrac 24 Jul 2010, 07:41

Karynnina

I have worn bi-focal contacts for quite a few years and still don't quite understand how they work! Unlike progressives and bi-focal glasses, you don't have to look through the lower part of the lens but can look directly at a page.

The add part goes around the lens so there is no 'top half/bottom half' as with bi-focals. I only know they work as I have tried straight -5.00 contacts and it is difficult to read with them.

I assume I still have reasonable power of accommodation which means I can still wear non-add -5.00 glasses, and it maybe makes wearing bi-focal contacts easier for me.

As I said I have been able to read, except quite small print, with my glasses, but find the other pair (maybe they are -4.50) still ok for distance but absolutely ok for reading everything.

It just goes to show that despite the best opthalmic testing, and even with people with identical prescriptions, visual acuity can vary between individuals.

24 Jul 2010, 01:19

any one here glasses above or equal min 40.

ehpc 23 Jul 2010, 14:36

The pink plastic frame sounds cool :) Pete

Karynnina 23 Jul 2010, 13:27

Aubrac,

I have kept all of my glasses, except those that broke, since I first got them. I use a pretty pink plastic frame as a backup, but in single vision. As for that old clear frame in -8.00, my vision isn't exactly as good as it is with the soon-to-be-former pair.

How do you manage to get by with bifocal contacts, as I would figure they would shift around, yet you can read without an add with glasses?

Karynnina

Aubrac 23 Jul 2010, 04:13

Have been -5.00 +2.00 add for contacts for years but have always found my straight -5.00 glasses ok for reading except very small print.

Just the last few days have found problems at the computer using my glasses and found in the desk drawer a pair of used glasses I bought ages ago on Ebay and don't know their prescription.

Funny thing is, I can read, use computer, etc, perfectly with these and so assume there is less minus, however, I can see distance as clearly if not more so than with my other glasses. Had an eye test a few weeks that confirmed my -5.00 scrip and so am a little bemused as to how I can read/distance vison perfectly with these glasses.

Aubrac 23 Jul 2010, 00:27

Karynnina

Sorry - the last post was from me

23 Jul 2010, 00:26

Karynnina

I understand now and it is rather unusual that there was a drop both in the sphere and cylinder correction. If there was over-correction you might have handled it for distance by looking through the middle part of the lens.

Anyway at a young 44 a +2.25 add is quite usual and it will be interesting to see how the new prescription works out.

By the way, do you still have your old -8.00 glasses, if so how do you find your vision wearing them now, do they seem too strong or can you see better/worse than with the -5.00?

Karynnina 21 Jul 2010, 13:17

Aubrac & Fred,

Sorry for any confusion. My rx changed for the lesser at first in 2008, and I got a pair of brown plastic rectangular frames with progressive lenses. Last year there was no rx change.

I've had an add for 4 years now, with a pair of the old -8 & -8.25 having progressives as well, which I was able to handle right off the bat. I never had traditional bifocals.

My cylinder number was -3 & -3.50 before, but I don't recall the 3rd numbers.

The plan is to use next Tuesday's date with my husband to choose new glasses (and go 6-7 other places too). :)

Karynnina

Aubrac 21 Jul 2010, 05:11

Karynnina

You said you can see well with your current (-8) glasses but have you had your new prescription filled yet and tried them?

It seems like a very big drop and is the equivalent of a reading add of +5.25. The cylinder correction for astigmatism may not have been so high as your latest prescription and resulted in additional sphere correction.

Do your current glasses have an add for reading, or has this just been added?

Will be interesting to see what your full old prescription was and how well you can see with the new one.

fred 20 Jul 2010, 14:21

@ Karynnina

Quite some difference (if not to say drop) still, between now and only two years ago! How was the astigmatism correction of your previous -8 prescription?

Karynnina 20 Jul 2010, 13:20

My new rx at the ripe young age of 44.75:

O.D. -5.00 -2.00 175

O.S. -5.25 -2.50 170

ADD +2.25

This is down .25 diopters from last year. Two years ago, my rx was at -8.00, -8.25. The optometrist said that I had been over-corrected for a while. I do see well with my current eyeglasses, but it's still odd that such a decrease could occur.

Karynnina

Dave 20 Jul 2010, 00:03

Curious Boyfriend,

From your 22 Jun 2010, 10:48 post. Here is a vertex correction chart for converting glasses to contacts. http://www.biocurve.com/fitting.html

It looks like your GF would be:

R -6.5

L -6.25

ehpc 18 Jul 2010, 10:44

Bold is always good kay :) Bold people, bold glasses........................:) FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BOLD!!! And it really does too - the truest saying ever uttered...............

kay 18 Jul 2010, 00:47

thanks for your help i might avoid the bold then?, i will let you know how i get on, im moving home this week so dont have much time to shop :( i want to spend a long time choosing b4 i decide so i know i like them, there are lots of buy1 get1 free offers at the moment so if i do decide on bold i could get 1 of each style just incase ..lol

Soundmanpt 16 Jul 2010, 16:17

Kay

I agree with Aubrac that you should consider going with a thin plastic frame, rimless or semi-rimless as your first glasses. It is true that the fashion is more with the bolder frames, but some times your eyes will find the bolder dark frame a distraction. That being said I have gotten dark bold glasses for many first time wearers and they have not had problems getting used to them. If your going to be shy about wearing them then the bold may not be a good choice.

I'm not sure I helped you are made you more confused???

Aubrac 16 Jul 2010, 01:09

kay

Maybe I should borrow her glasses 'dor' computer use!!

Aubrac 16 Jul 2010, 01:07

kay

Your plus prescription is the same as my wife's and she finds them useful dor clear distance vision and essential for reading.

Is your prescription just the plus or is there any cylinder correction e.g. -0.50 axis 40, written after the +1.50?

Plus glasses always take a little getting used but will give you better more comfortable vision. For your first pair that will be worn a lot of the time, may I suggest you look at slim frames or semi-rimless, as many people who wear glasses regularly for the first time can find a thick frame quite noticeable.

Let us know how you get on.

kay 15 Jul 2010, 13:27

thankyou for the replies, i will hopefully look for a pair next week, i really like black but they are quite bold on me, i cant help but think i look like the girl out of scooby doo, and weirdly enough my partner mentioned i looked like the scooby doo girl when i tried some on the other day....thanks for the help and info, i will try and go full time then if it will help my distance vision, i will be spending a lot of time at home over the summer so plenty of time to get used to them i guess...thanks

15 Jul 2010, 09:00

Kay when you get your glasses be sure to let us know what you picked out and how you see with them. Several years ago an ex-gf got plus glasses while we were dating. She liked actually liked the idea of wearing glasses, we were in college and it was cool because most of her gfs had glasses as well. I remember she said reading was great but distance was not too good for a period of time. For I think the first 2 weeks, maybe longer, she would take them off to drive because she didn't feel she could see well enough. Soon after though she stopped taking them off and said now things were blurry without them.

Soundmanpt 15 Jul 2010, 08:39

Kay

As stated by Cactus Jack, if you have not yet done so, you should find a frame that you really like yourself in and order your glasses. From the minute you pick up your glasses when there ready, leave the store wearing them and continue to wear them all the time. You will notice that your close vision with them will be much better, but like Cactus Jack said your distant vision will be blurry until your eyes relax. But each day the blur should be less and less. After a time you will find your distant vision better with your glasses on than off. This will be good for a while, but after about 6 months or so you will most likely need stronger glasses, this is very common. If you are happy with your frames I would suggest just having the lenses changed. This will save a good deal of money. Of course it is up to you if you want something different for appearance then get a totally new pair.

Are you okay with the idea of becoming a full time glasses wearer? For most people the fear is worse than the actual event. The first few days you will get many comments and then no more, you will be old news.

Cactus Jack 14 Jul 2010, 17:04

Kay,

No, not silly, but believe it or not, you are being typical. Typical of what? You are typical of a person who is a Latent Hyperope. Unfortunately, the optician did not explain what Hyperopia is or what is Latent Hyperopia.

First of all, I really doubt you have damaged anything. A non-medical term for hyperopia is far or long sightedness. What that means, from a practical standpoint, is that distant things are easier to see clearly than close things. People who are myopic (short or nearsighted) can often see things clearly that are close, but distant things are blurry. Both are caused by a mismatch between the power of the lenses in your eye and the length of your eyeball. Hyperopes, like yourself, are lucky in one sense because up to a certain point, you can use your built in auto-focus mechanism (ciliary muscles and crystaline lenses) to correct your hyperopia. Myopes can't do it and have to wear glasses or contact lenses to see distant things clearly. Sometimes, when the hyperopia is low, hyperopes have enough range to correct their hyperopia without being aware that they are doing it (latent or hidden hypeopia). This works until presbyopia begins to rear its head.

Presbyopia literally means "old eyes" and it actually starts at birth. Most babies are very farsighted (hyperopic) at birth. But fortunately, your crystaline lenses have the consistency of gelatin dessert (Jell-O) and most children can effortlessly focus very close. As we get older, the crystaline lenses become gradually stiffer and harder to focus. At some point, your ciliary muscles just can't squeeze your crystaline lenses enough to focus close or in your case, overcome your hyperopia. The solution is either + glasses or + contact lenses to help your eyes focus both for distance and close up. Where and when you can no longer focus properly depends on the amount of your hyperopia and your age. There is a myth that presbyopia occurs only after 40, but that is not true, it can occur at any age and it typically happens earlier than 40 for hyperopes.

You really should get glasses and start wearing them as soon as possible. The reason is that your ciliary muscles and crystaline lenses have grown so accustomed to compensating for your hyperopia that it may take several months for them to relax fully for distance vision and the longer you wait, the longer it will take for them to relax. Also, the longer you wait, the sooner you may need bifocals.

Initially, distant objects will seem blurry, but as your ciliary muscles and crystaline lenses relax, that will clear up. Also, after they relax, (perhaps a couple of months) you should expect to need a stronger prescription. That is the nature of latent hyperopia. You may be tempted to get contact lenses, but you should probably wait until your Rx stabilizes fully (6 months or so).

May I suggest looking back through the threads about hyperopia and presbyopia to learn more about what is going on. Thousands of people have experienced exactly what you are experiencing and some have posted some very funny stories about their experiences of needing glasses after years of bragging to their friends and relatives about their "perfect" vision only to discover it was not as "perfect" as they thought.

kay 14 Jul 2010, 14:38

im 27, i noticed my eyesight getting worse over the last 10 yrs, i had a light reading pescription about 10 years ago but only wore them a couple of times, well after telling my partner about my blurrly left eye he shipped me down to the opticians, i got a + pescription +1.75 left and +1.50 right, but my vision is blurry for distance as well as close, she told me i damaged (something?) becasue i didnt bother wearing the last pescription thats why its blurry close and distance, she said i could get contacts if i wanted and to wear them for any work, but i dont understand eye tests/glasses, what shud i wear these for? can you wear + glasses for distance, im confused? i havent got any glasses yet as i feel a it embarrased to wear them...am i being silly?

Julian 14 Jul 2010, 00:04

Soundmanpt & Rachel: In the UK the ECP is *required* to give you a hard copy of your prescription; so all you need to do to get prescription shades is take that to the supplier of choice - or else copy the Rx to an online supplier.

Soundmanpt 13 Jul 2010, 21:36

Rachel

Do you need to book an appointment just to have prescription sunglasses made? Here in the US you only need to walk in. If you have a hard copy of your rx it will help, if you do not and you go to a different store than where you bought your glasses at then they will call that store for your rx. Remember you can save many dollars by shopping on-line. The down side is of course you can't try them on first.

Rachel 13 Jul 2010, 11:51

We're having a great summer here in the UK and funnily enough I have been considering getting some prescription shades - have booked an appointment with the opticians this weekend to get a pair made up

Soundmanpt 12 Jul 2010, 23:01

Rachel

The "no name" poster is correct. It might be a good investment for those sunny days. Not a good idea to use your old non-prescription sunglasses anymore. You can get a very nice pair made up from zenni for about $13.00 plus shipping.

12 Jul 2010, 13:53

Rachel: How is the summer weather where you live? Have you given any thought to ordering yourself a nice (but inexpensive) pair of prescription sunglasses from one of the online retailers?

Rachel 12 Jul 2010, 07:50

Hi Soundmanpt,

Nice to hear from you - here's an update.

Having worn my glasses pretty much full-time over the last five weeks, you're right - I don't think about having them on at all - it's got to the point where I think I look more like "me" when I'm wearing my glasses. Without them, I look in the mirror and feel like a stranger is looking back at me! I never expected they'd become part of my looks so soon!

I've even changed my Facebook profile pic to one of me wearing glasses.

Despite this, my eyesight hasn't deteriorated at all (for some reason, I thought wearing glasses would make it worse!) Yes, things are blurry when I take them off, but it's no blurrier than it was before. Because of this, I have gone the occasional day and night out bare-eyed because I can still function OK without them (give or take the odd street sign). In fact, more people notice when I'm not wearing them than when I do!

Most of the people I know have seen me sporting them, which has made the whole process easier. The other day, I heard a colleague describing me on the phone to somebody as "Rachel, the one with brown hair who wears glasses." That felt a bit weird.

My fiance and girlfriends hardly mention the fact I wear glasses - in fact, when I step outside without them, he urges me to put them on. And yes, I definitely should have got a pair sooner!

Cactus Jack 12 Jul 2010, 05:59

Guest,

The examiner probably found that you have a small amount of what is called adult strabismus (esophoria) and prescribed a small amount of Base Out prism. That amount is usually done by moving the optical centers inward a small distance. Ideally, you should find them a bit more comfortable than your previous Rx, but essentially than small amount of prism is nothing to get very concerned about.

You will probably not notice much obvious direct effect. 2 BO in each eye only means that each eye is allowed to turn inward a bit more than 1 angular degree.

Please let us know how you get on with your new glasses.

guest 12 Jul 2010, 02:21

I had an eye test the other day and was prescribed prisms 2 base out in both eyes. The prescription reads RE -2.0sph,-1.0cyl x 178, LE -2.0sph,-1.0cyl x 28. My questions are what do the prisms do? why do I need them when I've never had them before and will they make much difference. Do I have to get some special lens ordered or do they just move the optical centres inwards? By the way my age is 53.

thanks.

Soundmanpt 11 Jul 2010, 10:48

Rachel

Well it has been more than a month since you got your glasses.It probably seems like you've been wearing them much longer than that now. By now I assume everyone you know has seen you wearing your glasses? You most likely don't even think about having them on anymore? The glasses case stays at home? It is great that you seem to enjoy wearing them besides the added benefit of clear vision these days. Has your fiance and best gf got used to you being a full time wearer? So it sounds like your only regret is not getting glasses sooner?

Curious Boyfriend 01 Jul 2010, 16:55

And,

Yes, she has an annual contact check, but she hasn't had new glasses for a while.

And 30 Jun 2010, 14:59

Curious Boyfriend, My gf is similar to yours in that she doesn't like wearing glasses but would be unable to function without her contacts. Her frames are also small. She has to have an eyetest annually + a contact check. Doesn't your gf too ?

Melyssa 30 Jun 2010, 13:10

Rachel,

You can read about my RX numbers in the "Going Without Glasses" thread in my response to Laura. One more reason to wear glasses (if you don't wear contacts) on your wedding day is to see all of your invitees, especially if they look happy (or in the case of many of my relatives, relieved -- LOL).

Jim 30 Jun 2010, 05:16

Hi Rachel,

Wow that was a quick reply. Well I think that is brilliant that you are keeping your glasses on all the time and enjoying wearing them. I should imagine you look lovely in them. Well done! Minus 1.50 in each eye although a lowish prescription is certainly going to make a difference to the clarity of your vision. That is what my wife Glennys enjoys so much, even though she needs a lot more correction than you do at the moment. Please don't worry though, because it is almost certain that your myopia will not progress too far if you are in your 20s. Just enjoy wearing your glasses and look forwards to choosing new ones each year if you can possibly afford them.

Rachel 30 Jun 2010, 04:58

Hi Jim,

I'm actually -1.50 in each eye, which I now know is a low prescription. Am wearing them full-time because I like them tho :)

Jim 30 Jun 2010, 04:21

Rachel. I've looked all the way down the page but i cannot find where you have actually posted your current prescription. I presume it's your first pair of glasses and once you are out of your teens (as I presume you are) your eyes do not usually chage too much. Perhaps you will just achieve your brother's rx of around -3.00. If you do, you will probably want to wear full-time anyway, out of necessity. However, next year you will probably get away without wearing your glasses if you really want to. Even so, consider the wishes of your fiance!!

Rachel 30 Jun 2010, 03:59

Jim and Melyssa - we'll see! I've been wearing my specs for two-and-a-half-weeks full-time and can still get by OK without them. Whether or not that will be the case in one year - who knows??

Jim 29 Jun 2010, 22:56

Rachel,

It sounds as though you look pretty ravishing in your glasses and its nice you feel happy and confident wearing them all the time. If your fiance is planning to wear his glasses on the "big" day just go for it and wear yours as well!! He may be indicating that he would like you to do anyway! When I married my wife she was around -7.50 and of course insisted on wearing her hard contacts lenses that she had persevered so hard to get used to. When we left the reception to go on our honeymoon and I was driving the car and she suddenly said that she had forgotten to pack her glasses and had left them on a shelf in the bathroom at home! I offered to go back for them but she assured me should would manage O.K. I was disappointed because I had been looking forwards to going down to breakfast with her at our honeymoon hotel with her wearing her glasses, as her routine was always to put her contacts in after breakfast. Instead I had the pleasure of watching her grope around in the bedroom getting dressed and undressed etc each morning and evening as in the morning she left it as long as possible to put her contacts in and took them out as soon as possible when we went up to bed, as they were "killing" her eyes as she used to call it.Now thankfully she has ditched her contacts completely (which made her myopia increase quite dramatically) and now wears glasses fulltime with an rx of -12.50 and -11.00. She still increases by about -0.50 a year. So Rachel, beware of contacts!! Happy glasses wearing on you wedding day.

Melyssa 25 Jun 2010, 12:46

Rachel,

My mother (may she rest in peace), maid of honor, and bridesmaids all told me how wonderful I looked in my white cat's-eyes while preparing for the big event. That was a way for me to honor my late grandmother and aunts who all wore white cat's-eyes at one time or another during my lifetime (and probably before). As for the clear frames, the guests didn't say anything because everyone knows me to wear glasses all the time. Also, my husband wore his metal frames, as he has a -8.25 RX. All of our wedding pictures show us in our eyewear.

Obsessed 25 Jun 2010, 07:22

Charles:

your prescription sounds mind-blowing!!!

kk 24 Jun 2010, 10:50

charles

what is your exact precription?

can you mail to me some of your photos,

my mail id is anjana022@gmail.com,

i have a lot to ask u.

with regards

anjana

Flaine 24 Jun 2010, 08:31

Arbrac

hey i stay at tottenham court road near piccadilly

Aubrac 24 Jun 2010, 07:32

Went for my regular check-up at the 20/20 Optical Store in Tottenham Court Road.

Prescription rather boringly the same -5.00 add +2.00 as for many years now.

They had an interesting new machine on trial for a week. It takes 3d pictures of the eye and does slices through the retina to show any malformation or problems. Unfortunately had my lenses out at this stage and no glasses so couldn't see too clearly all the pictures it produced.

Very nice Polish assistany wearing transparent red frames with about +3.00 lenses.

ehpc 24 Jun 2010, 06:36

Hey........you are most definitely understanding what a wonderful thing it is to be GWG, Rachel - GWGs are the elie of women, especially when it comes to sex appeal..........................:) Pete

Rachel 24 Jun 2010, 03:07

Melyssa - what kind of comments did you get when wearing glasses on your wedding day? My fiance (still haven't got used to typing that word) plans to wear his glasses - they're a brown frame, not unlike that man who got married to the Swedish princess last weekend.

And Clare - I didn't have any astigmatism in my prescription, but the side-effects I mentioned were very minor and disappeared within a few days.

Soundmanpt's definition of 'dependency' is 100% accurate in my experience - I can still see without them (a bit fuzzy though), but it feels much more natural and right to wear my glasses. When I don't wear them or take them off for a few minutes, my eyes are almost screaming out for me to put them back on. It's a comfort thing, if anything else.

Now, I don't notice I've got them on until I look in the mirror or catch my reflection.

Besides, I really like the way I look wearing them. I feel they've given me an entirely new identity, more smarter-looking, more professional, more stylish (and judging by the comments I've been getting from workmates and friends) more sexier too. It's like getting a radical new hairstyle.

Kissing's fine too. It's all about tilting heads differently.

Charles 23 Jun 2010, 22:36

Yes, unfortunately I am over - 30.00.

kk 23 Jun 2010, 11:39

is there any one posting here with presceiption with or above minus 30

Soundmanpt 23 Jun 2010, 10:26

Rachel - Glad I could be of some help. Anytime you have a question about your glasses or your eyes please ask, if I don't have the answer there are many others in here that can help. It seems as though you have now wore your glasses for every situation now and even decided to leave your glasses case at home.You have done great in the last week and a half going from no glasses to full time wear So I think you can say you are officially a full time glasses wearer. Yes you are quickly becoming dependent. By the way for you becoming dependent doesn't mean you can longer see without your glasses. It just means your eyes and you will be more comfortable wearing them. As you have noticed, now when you take them off things are more blurred than before you got glasses. Even in this short time, have you noticed that by the end of the day you don't even think about having them on?

Oh and about your wedding coming up next year,you should have several options. Contacts are an option, but remember besides an exam there is a fitting fee. You will be looking at around $150.00 for that without the cost of the contacts, most insurances don't cover contacts. Option two is far less costly, simply don't wear your glasses, as I said above even being dependent you certainly should not have any trouble seeing plenty well to walk down the aisle. For picture taking again just take them off. You can wear them in-between times. Another option as Melyssa said, by the time of your marriage you will have been wearing glasses for more than a year and a half and everyone would now be much more used to seeing you with your glasses, so keep them on throughout. Does your fiance plan on wearing glasses? If he does then you should as well. As you say you have a good while to decide. By the way have you two worked out that kissing thing with glasses yet?

Phil 23 Jun 2010, 09:10

A bride in specs is a wonderful, but all too rare, sight. I can remember going to 2 weddings, of a cousin and a neighbour's daughter, when I was about 11. Both brides wore specs and I can still recall thinking how gorgeous they looked!

Melyssa 22 Jun 2010, 12:45

Rachel,

When I got married, unlike you, I had no choice but to wear my -9.00 glasses, otherwise I would have gone around saying, "I see nothing! Nuh-h-thingk! :) I wore my white cat's-eyes while getting ready with my entourage, before switching to a clear plastic unisex frame for the pictures, ceremony, and reception. (I saved drop-temples for the honeymoon night.) Granted, I have no choice as I could never wear contacts. Whether you choose to wear glasses or contacts is up to you, but if your plan is to wear glasses the vast majority of the time, you may as well go with them at the wedding.

Clare 22 Jun 2010, 11:55

Rachel - do you also have astigmatism in your prescription? Some of the things you've said, like the headaches and disorientation/stepping off kerbs, are classic symptoms.

Curious Boyfriend 22 Jun 2010, 10:48

Ohh and that is her contact prescription, I dont think that her glasses are where they need to be. They probably need to be like -7, right?

Curious Boyfriend 22 Jun 2010, 10:47

Thanks for the advise everyone!!

I will tell her how good she looks in her glasses! I just more of a medium size, she has a very small frame currently.

Aubrac-

Her prescription is:

R -6.0

L -5.75

Jersey Girl 22 Jun 2010, 04:47

Soundmanpt,

Regarding Traci; so far she is a part time wearer. We were at the mall and went in to order coffee at Dunkin Donuts and she borrowed my glasses to see the menu board. Even though they were strong for her and "pull on her eyes" she was able to see the board with my glasses. I guess it was easier than going into her back-pack to find her glasses. When we sat down she did find her glasses which were one of my old -1.75 pairs and she sees perfectly with them; just as well as I see with my -3.25 glasses. We were comparing what we each could read in the distance. At this point, the -1.75 power is really too weak for my eyes.

Since she sees very well with the -1.75 glasses she does not want to pay for an eye exam at this time.

Rachel 22 Jun 2010, 02:16

Thanks Soundmanpt - you've been a source of much great advice and help over the last week. In answer to your question, I told my family what the optician told me - wear the glasses for driving, TV, cinema and whenever you want the world to stop looking fuzzy. I wore them to the park and then kept them on all day long.

As I woke up yesterday and put on my specs first thing, my boyfriend commented, "so you're full-time now?". Then it dawned on me - yes, I am. This is something I never would have anticipated a week and a half ago!

When I talked about contacts for next year's wedding, he said, "there's no need for contacts yet - just wear your glasses. It'll be fine." Not sure I'll do that, but still...

There are a few minor, minor adjusting issues with these glasses, especially when walking around in them for a long period of time - it's slightly disorientating, stepping off curbs and walking up/down stairs feels a bit weird and trippy. Things seem much smaller and crisper in the distance. But I'm gradually getting adjusted to it all.

As for the dependency issue, I can still see without them (albeit slightly blurrier). But as Soundmanpt said, life is much easier with them on, so if that makes me "dependent", then so be it.

I'm also gradually getting used to my new image - I'm even beginning to like the Facebook photos. It's like a 're-branding Rachel' exercise!

Took your advice today, Soundmanpt, and left the case at home deliberately. Have a client meeting in an hour or so - will have to enter as bespectacled Rachel, which I have no problem with at all now (unlike last week)

Aubrac 22 Jun 2010, 01:57

Curious Boyfriend

What Soundmanpt said is quite right. Small frames with regular lenses and a strong scrip can give rise to the 'piggy-eye'look. A too large frame will also emphasise outer edge lens thickness and maybe somewhere around the middle is best.

Many optical shops have samples of hi-index lenses in different prescriptions so you can actually see what difference it makes, suggest to your girlfriend you both have a look at these.

What prescription is she? You may have posted it earlier but I could not find it.

Soundmanpt 21 Jun 2010, 17:42

Curious Boyfriend - It may take a little doing because i'm sure she feels less attractive wearing her glasses because she knows her lenses are thick especially if she didn't pay more for high index lenses. The first thing you need to do whenever she does wear them be sure to tell her how cute she looks and how you really like how she looks in her glasses. Maybe even suggest to her when your going out that she should wear her glasses. A good time for that is if your going to a sporting event that dirt may be blowing around. Dirt blowing is an enemy of contact lens wearers.

Another thing if your out shopping and passing an optical shop, suggest going in an looking at frames for fun.

You may find it hard to convince her about big frames though, because her lenses are kinda thick now and it sounds like she needs an increase besides. The opticians for sure will tell her that big frames aren't a good choice for her. She should for sure go with high index lenses. I'm sure she is very self conscience about her glasses and the lenses. As I always say be happy for small steps. I think you would be happy if you could get her to wear glasses and forget the contacts for now. Later maybe you can get her to go for bigger frames.

Curious Boyfriend 21 Jun 2010, 16:52

Tim- How do I do that when she never wants to wear her glasses anyways! How can I convince her to update her glasses? Thanks and I figured she needed a large increase. She told me that her eyes have gotten worse every year except for the last time she went. That was two years ago.

Soundmanpt 21 Jun 2010, 11:52

Rachel - No, you are in no way boring us with your progress in becoming a full time glasses wearer. Actually you are helping many that have glasses and probably should be wearing them full time, but refuse because of that fear of being seen for the first time with glasses in front of friends, family and co-workers. Your letting everyone know that it's not nearly as bad as they think it will be, even though your still struggling at different times yourself.

You wore your glasses all morning until you got to the station where your family was waiting to pick you up and at the last minute quickly put your glasses in your bag. That same day, not sure what made you come out, but you suddenly told everyone you had gotten glasses earlier in the week. From what you say no one seemed shocked, but was only interested in seeing them. Then once again that same evening you was facing another hurdle, going to the pub with your hometown friends. You decided that they just could not see you wearing glasses and left them behind. As you indicated that was a bad idea. Your eyes have gotten more used to the extra help that now it is much harder to see things, people and cross the room without them. The extra strain lead to a nice headache. I am sure the next time you go home and meet your friends at the pub, you will be wearing glasses.

You didn't say, except for going to the park and being able to see leaves and blades of grass with your glasses on, did you mostly keep them on the rest of your time their?

Now back home you got up and went to work wearing your glasses but found that you had left your glasses case at home. By the way you are correct, never should you remove your glasses and just throw them into your bag, you will not only risk breaking them but also cause scratches against keys and the like. I think it is time that you leave your glasses case at home from now on anyway. It seems rather clear your getting much more comfortable wearing your glasses full time anyway. Remember getting dependent on glasses doesn't mean you can't see without them, only that it is much easier with them. You can and will be able to see without your glasses just not as well. You've come a long way in a week, and you are starting to get more dependent on them day by day.

Rachel 21 Jun 2010, 01:04

Really hope i'm not boring anybody with these stories! So, I went home this weekend. Woke up Saturday morning, put on my specs, had Facebook horror, then wore them for the journey home. As my train reached my hometown station (where my folks were picking me up), my heart was pounding and I whipped them off. However, later that afternoon, I said something like "I got glasses this week". They said "show us then!" and I put them on. None of them were particularly shocked and they commented on the frames. My brother has been wearing glasses since he was 17 (he's now 25), is a full-time wearer and has risen from a first-time prescription of -1.25 to -3. In the evening, I went out with my home friends to the local pub, where I foolishly decided not to wear them. Big mistake. I had a blinding headache all night, plus so much dizzyness I had to sit down. Is this a normal side-effect of adjusting to glasses or will I always feel like this when I go for a couple of hours without them?

Went to the park with my family yesterday and really appreciated wearing them - all the cliches about seeing every blade of grass and every leaf on trees are utterly true. Came home last night to my boyfriend who didn't mention a single thing about me wearing them - which I guess means he's accepted seeing me in them.

This morning I put them on first thing and then got to the train station before realising I'd accidentally left my glasses case at home. So, even if I wanted to, these glasses are stuck to my face for the rest of the day (can't put them in my bag in case they'll break). I enjoy wearing them but didn't expect they'd become such a big part of my life within the space of only one week.

Tim 20 Jun 2010, 21:53

Curious Boyfriend - from what you said in your 12.55 post, it sounds as if you are likely to be in luck soon! She clearly needs an increase, so all you have to do is persuade her to go for one of the larger frames that are now reappearing.

Curious Boyfriend 20 Jun 2010, 13:49

Puffin- Her mom has glasses but my gf already has a stronger prescription. And- yes she says she has like the worst eyes and she feels she doesnt get good vision with her glasses. Her glasses are very small but look strong on her. She has had them for a while now, I wish she would get some bigger and stronger glasses though!

And 20 Jun 2010, 13:40

Curious, did your gf talk about her prescription and have you seen her without her contacts ?

Puffin 20 Jun 2010, 13:19

Curiousboyfriend

If you are as far as seeing her parents or siblings, that should also give you some pointers as to where she is headed.

Curious Boyfriend 20 Jun 2010, 12:55

Thanks for the responce Andrew! No that is her contact presrciption. She said shes had glasses since third grade but only got stronger around the age of 13. She sometimes says she cant see as well even with her contacts.

Andrew 20 Jun 2010, 12:26

Yes, Curious Boyfriend, it's possible, but it depends as much as anything else on what your gf does over the next few years. If she leaves school and gets a job, it is less likely than if she continues to study for the next 7 or 8 years, but it would also depend on the job. Another factor may also be how long she has worn glasses, and how much (or little) her prescription is changing at the moment. The other comment I would make is that it is more likely that her glasses prescription will reach -10 than her contacts. Do you know what her glasses prescription is?

Curious Boyfriend 20 Jun 2010, 11:43

Hi all! I have been dating a girl and recently she wears contacts. Her prescription is really bad. R -5.75 and L -6.00. She is 17. How bad will her eyes get? Is it possible that she could reach the double digits?

Puffin 20 Jun 2010, 03:22

I've seen a couple of just over minus 50 pics on here, as you might expect, small myodisk bowls. Not seen any +50's either here or in real life.

KK 20 Jun 2010, 03:18

i have a doubt

is there persons with prescription as high as +/-50 or above.

is such power possible?

is there any one having glasses above +/-40 posts in eyescene?

Rachel 19 Jun 2010, 01:57

Hi there. Am typing this with a bit of a hangover, but the glasses seem to be helping with this. Anybody else get that?

I wore my glasses all day yesterday, from 7am to midnight, at work and on a night out too. I did feel a little self-conscious last night as I was the only female glasses-wearer in the whole pub. That made me feel odd. And Clare - it's strange, I don't dread other peoples comments - I actually enjoy the novelty of wearing them and welcome people talking about them. A few people asked if I was full-time. I lied and said, "not yet". I also met a couple of new people last night who probably assumed I'd been wearing them for years.

But... I've just been on Facebook and I'm tagged in dozens of photos from last night. I've just come out to all 256 of my friends as a glasses wearer! I've already had some comments. However, I really don't like the look of myself in photos wearing them! Whenever I leave the house in specs, I look in the mirror and think I look smart and sophisticated. But in these photos, I look older and it's less flaterring to my looks, I think. Is this something all new wearers go through?

Soundmanpt - the optician told me to return in two years time. But I reckon I'll pop in just before Christmas in order to get used to contacts before my wedding. Also, even though things are blurrier in the evening, I reckon I'm a long way from being dependent upon them as I can still function (albeit with a headache) without them. Will this change over the next few days/ weeks do you think?

Am off home now and offline until tomorrow evening. I'll report back on how my parents/brothers reaction to another glasses wearer in the family!

Clare 18 Jun 2010, 22:56

Rachel - I think what most new wearers - and habitual contacts wearers too - dread is people's comments when they see someone who doesn't usually wearing glasses. When it's happened to me I've just found it best to say nothing if the other person doesn't comment but it's not always that easy. How have you coped with that this week?

Soundmanpt 18 Jun 2010, 20:12

Rachel - Good for you! Boy what a difference from your first post where it was very ovious you were quite scared to wear your new glasses in public. That for the first 3 days only your bf and gf saw you wearing them. I think you are completely over any sign of being shy about wearing them now. It seems you are pretty much full time already and from what you said about things looking much more blurred than last week without them, you will be pretty dependent in no time. Quite funny that your biggest complaint is how to kiss your bf while wearing them. I didn't see that one coming! Melyssa and Hollie both had good ideas. As Melyssa suggested if you turn your head left and he turns his head right, that should work. Just won't work nose to nose. Hollie also is correct in pushing them up on top of your head. Actually I think it would be much more sexy if you would remove his glasses and he should get the idea and then remove your glasses, and let the kissing begin. Afterall you do kiss with your eyes closed don't you?

I am glad you enjoy wearing glasses, that makes it much easier to get used to them. Yes, do not even consider contacts until your next exam. When did they tell you to come back, 6 months or a year?

Keep us informed how it's going for you.

Remember do not use anything with alcahol to clean your glasses and nothing that has wood pulp, like tissues, paper towels etc. Only use a soft cloth.

Hollie 18 Jun 2010, 13:12

My ex wore glasses and if I ever had mine on and we were kissing (not very often- he preferred me in contacts) I used to push them onto my head so one of us wasn't wearing them! My husband to be has perfect eyesight so we don't have the issue!

Melyssa 18 Jun 2010, 12:49

Rachel,

My husband and I both wear glasses, and we had that situation early on of our glasses touching each other when we kissed. We always laughed and said, "We click!" But a slight tilt of one's noggin always solved the "problem," even though I wear large frames.

Phil 18 Jun 2010, 08:50

Rachel, Studies show that a clear majority of men prefer a girl in glasses to one without. And among more intelligent men the majority is bigger. So you are not imagining the increased attention. And as you have chosen such strikingly nice specs you might expect a greater than usual reaction. Have a great evening!

Stu 18 Jun 2010, 07:55

Rachel

My girlfriend started wearing glasses a bit like you, she was 29 and decided to go for an eye test when "computer headaches" started being really bad and watching TV without glasses became an increasing struggle also. One day she tried a friend’s glasses when driving and decided the difference was “worth” bearing glasses.

Her first prescription was L -0.75 and R-1.00 with very slight cylinder power add. Though she tried hard to limit the use of her glasses the first few months to driving only, she started wearing them more often (computer work, television) after about 6 months because of the vision comfort (fewer headaches, ability to see sharper with no effort).

Almost 4 years have passed and – having gone for an eye test every year because of experienced a slight blur – she is now L-2.50 R-2.50. She doesn’t wear her glasses more often than after 6 months, but admits it gets more and more difficult to go without them.

I encouraged her to but multiple frames and she has now 3 pairs that have her up-to-date prescription power, and 2 other pairs with 0.50 shortfall, but she switches between all frames subject to her outfit, mood of the day,…

Rachel 18 Jun 2010, 07:43

Sorry! Have just remembered - there is one thing I'm having difficulty adjusting to and that's kissing my boyfriend (a fellow specs wearer)! The glasses just clash against each other and we have to tilt our heads at a weird angle in order to snog! Any tips on getting round that one? x

Rachel 18 Jun 2010, 07:36

Thanks for the compliments on the glasses everybody.

I haven't had any difficulty whatsoever adjusting to wearing glasses. No sliding down the nose, nothing. It feels completely natural for me to be wearing them and I should have got a pair years ago.

I'm getting married next year so will get contacts for the big day, but I'm not even going to bother getting them for another six months or so - I'm enjoying being a glasses wearer too much.

One strange obsveration though - at lunchtime, I found at least two guys with glasses making passes at me! I don't know if bare-eyed guys do make passes at girls with glasses, but bespectacled ones definitely do! There was a bit of banter about my specs with the people in the sandwich shop too.

Have a work night out with colleagues tonight (to watch the football). Will report back tomorrow.

Soundmanpt 18 Jun 2010, 07:34

Jersey Girl - Good seeing you again. You were lucky now 2 times to have access to stronger glasses. First by using your ex-bf mother's glasses and now a school friend. When you go for your next exam and are prescribed -3.25 or a bit stronger, will you go on-line and just add an extra diopter to your new rx and get glasses that way? You are proof that if you have young eyes you can easily induce myopia, I know this is not your intent, but that is what your doing. With that much over correction i'm sure you could easily see the 20/10 line or better on an eye chart. Sadly it will only stay that sharp for a while until you will have to be happy at 20/20.

Your friend Traci, did she ever save enough to get an exam? You said she was happy with your old -1.75 glasses. Considering that her first rx was -1.25 several years ago that should be about right for her now. Has she worn glasses full time from the start?

Soundmanpt 18 Jun 2010, 07:03

Oops! I cut my name off. Oh well you know it's me.

Soundman 18 Jun 2010, 07:01

Rachel - Everything that you are experencing is very normal. The headaches when you take your glasses off is because your eyes are getting more and more adjusted to the extra help. Your vision seeming to be much worse than it was a week ago, If you look back to my post of June 16th I asked you if you noticed that feeling. Wearing your glasses has NOT made your eyes worse as I hear people say for too often. What is happening is before you were still getting by due to accommodation, so even though things were blurred you were still able to see more than you should have. Now the more and longer you wear your glasses your eyes are relaxing to their normal state. So now when you take your glasses off you are noticing more blur than a week ago.

It sounds like you are very comfortable wearing glasses now. You will soon find looking in the mirror and seeing yourself wearing glasses very natural. Also as each day goes by you will not even think about having them on.

As I predicted you were the center of attention for about a day and it was over. Soon they will be very used to seeing you wearing your glasses as natural. Curious that you took them off for that client meeting, people will have no trouble seeing your eyes through your lenses. You should find arriving this weekend wearing glasses easier than the work showing, you know they will be supportive. By the way you said that some of your co-workers found your glasses strong and a some found they could see quite well. If they don't currently wear glasses themselves you should suggest they get their eyes checked because they probably need glasses too.

Were you ever one those ladies that always wanted glasses, but didn't need them?

So far what has been, if any, the hardest part about adjusting to wearing glasses? The most common things are keeping your lenses clean, going out in the rain, fogging up on cold days and not having them slide down your nose.

By the way I think your choice of frames was very good, I like them. I'm sure you look great wearing them.

Dan 18 Jun 2010, 05:43

Rachel,

I have a slightly weaker prescription (-1.25) that I wear full time. I started wearing glasses when I was 18 which were very weak (-0.5). 3 years later I have only advanced to -1.25 but I would think I'll end up around -3.

Good for you for wearing them! I know I definitely notice a difference and my prescription is -.5 weaker than yours. I can't stand not being able to see--although I do wear contacts a lot.

Jersey Girl 18 Jun 2010, 05:14

Rachel,

I started wearing -1.75 glasses about three years ago, after trying on glasses of my former boyfriend's mother. I used to squint to see but since I started wearing glasses I see very clearly with great intensity of vision and started wearing virtually full time. At my last exam I was prescribed -2.50 and -2.25, but I now use -3.25 glasses which give me more intensity of focus that I love.

You will probably advance your prescription as well in the next few years especially if you enjoy sharp intense vision.

Phil 18 Jun 2010, 02:48

Wow rachel. I bet you look stunning in them.

Spot On 18 Jun 2010, 02:34

Rachel Really good choice of glasses and no wonder you like wearing them - real eye turner. I think you will need them full time so your attitude is right and very commendable as you appreciate the value of clear sight

Rachel 18 Jun 2010, 01:58

Wow. Many thanks for the advice - all of you. As I said, I wore them in the office yesterday, but took them off for a client meeting (I was worried I wouldn't make the same eye contact with the glasses - weird, I know). I was then bare-eyed for part of my journey home, but by the time I got to the train station, I had a slight headache, so I put them back on. Then, bang, the headache disappeared - I guess my eyes were straining sans specs.

Is it normal to get headaches after a prolonged period of full-time glasses wear?

Went to the gym last night - initially bare-eyed, but the headaches started, so I wore my specs for the treadmill and rowing machine. It really helped, even if it was weird seeing myself in the mirror. Kept them on around the house last night, and took them off before bed. The blur was worse than ever - I couldn't even make out my facial details in a mirror that was 8 foot away! Am sure my eyes weren't this bad this time last week...

Have worn them since I woke up this morning and after a few make-up issues, here I am in the office. Nobody's said a thing. I like wearing them.

Phil - here are my glasses. They're expensive, so I'm determined to wear them!

http://www.visionexpress.com/glasses/all/female/half-rimmed/200%252B/104817/?page=1/9/sale-price/asc

Clare 17 Jun 2010, 12:28

Rachel - I had a prescription similar to yours at your age, although I'd glasses for a few years before which were weaker. Now in my late 30s I'm wearing -3 and -2.75 so those who suggest you may not get above -3 are probably not far off. As to when you'll wear them, I'm now a full time contacts wearer - I started wearing them when my rx was about -2.25 and have never been a full time glasses wearer. I'd recommend getting used to them and wearing them full time if you want to, I never wore glasses full time and would also be shy to because, for me at least, it would be strange for people because they never see me with glasses. Having said that, I wouldn't be helpless without glasses but as you've already said, reading at a distance and recognising people becomes more of a challenge over -2. I had no choice but to wear glasses a few years ago when I had an eye infection and was surprised at the compliments I got, you too I'm sure. The parents may be another challenge for you but I'm sure if you're confident enough it won't be an issue for too long. Good luck!

Aubrac 17 Jun 2010, 07:20

Rachel

We had a friend who at your age was always squinting to see signs, bus numbers etc. She was a great theatre goer and always used opera glasses throughout the performance. We were in the theatre stalls once and I asked her why she was using the opera glasses and she said to see the actors faces clearly!

Another friend suggested her constant squinting was giving her wrinkles around the eyes which prompted her to have an eye test. Her first scrip was -1.75 and she went FT about a year later. I think her RX settled at about -3.50 about eight years later.

I got my first glasses at 17 (about -1.75 I think) and was also embaressed to wear them at first, I used to think people were staring at me but soon realised it was only that I could actually see them clearly. Some people don't mind walking around in a blur, but for me to see everything crisply and clearly soon became a real must.

Phil 17 Jun 2010, 06:28

It's the latter Rachel, though if you wear glasses most of the time the blur may seem worse.

You could certainly survive sans specs: I'm -3.50 and until recently only wore my glasses part-time. Whether that is sensible is, of course, quite another matter. If your specs let you see well, why not wear them? I don't think it's good to let fear of embarrasment deter you from being able to see clearly. My problem was that I didn't start wearing my glasses on a full-time basis as soon as I needed to. As time passes it then becomes a "bit of a thing". The irony is that if you did wear them at work, and in front of family and friends, you would attract only fleeting attention for doing so; and most of the comments would be positive.

For myself I suspect that, although your rx may increase in the future, the chances are that it won't get abouve about -3. In which case you will always have the option of being a part-time wearer should you not conquer the demons!

Good luck. What frames did you choose?

Rachel 17 Jun 2010, 05:59

Also, Soundmanpt, you said: "if you like seeing clear and wear them full time you will be pretty dependent in a couple weeks maybe".

I've no problems with this, but by "dependent" do you mean I'll become a put-them-on-first-thing-in-the-morning-and-off-last-thing-at-night type wearer, unable to do simple tasks without wearing them? Or will I still have the same (blurry) eyesight I did this time last week?

Rachel 17 Jun 2010, 05:50

Am in the office now wearing my specs! I wasn't brave enough to put them on first thing, instead I just whipped them out around 11-ish. You're correct - people asked to try them on and it was 50/50 between people saying "they're really strong!" and people saying they need them. My eyes really missed them yesterday and it's much easier to type wearing them. Am planning to keep them rooted to my face for the rest of the day - I popped out for lunch wearing them and after the initial questions, don't feel self-conscious wearing them at all. And yes, I have noticed a slight blur when taking them off in the evenings, but that's how I used to view the world before last weekend, rather than a deterioration of my eyesight, right?

Need to come out to my family this weekend but seeing as my dad and brother have been full-time wearers for years, this shouldn't be a problem. At least, I think!

Like Lenses 16 Jun 2010, 22:54

Rachel

You have what is known as adult onset myopia. It is quite common with the use of computers.

Your next two or three exams will definately result in stronger glasses.and you will need to wear them full time. Your final prescription will be in the neighborhood of -4.50 to -5.00. You also may get a bit of astigmatism correction,as you eyes get used to the glasses.

Soundmanpt 16 Jun 2010, 19:49

Rachel - Kinda what I thought, you have needed correction for some time. Not being able to read signs and squinting to see the TV, and if you were a driver you would have even noticed sooner. Then like many others trying on someone else's glasses that are similar to what you need usually is the final push. I'm sure you were amazed walking out after picking up your glasses at how clear everything looked. After wearing your glasses all day Monday and Tuesday did you notice when you took your glasses off for bed things were much more blurry? That is because your eyes are starting to relax with your glasses. Sounds like your bf likes how you look in them and is very supportive, that helps. It is ovious that your gf must have perfect vision if she thinks yours are strong.

Your not alone in not wanting to wear them in front of people,I think most go through the same fears. I bet you kinda missed not having them on at work today? The reason I asked about what type of work you do is because of just what you said you do all day, stare into a computer. That is most likely what has caused the need for glasses in the first place. You should find wearing your glasses while on the computer very helpful. There is one thing I suggest, don't wear your glasses if your doing a lot of reading like a book etc or if your sewing. You should be able to see better without your glasses for those things.

You need to get up in the morning and bravely put your glasses and go to work keeping them on. Yes you will be a center of attention for maybe a day and that will be it. And like your gf the ladies will want to try them, you may even get the same comment as your gf are some may even say "Wow I can see better".

Yoiu have only been wearing them a couple of days, so no your not dependent yet, but if you like seeing clear and wear them full time you will be pretty dependent in a couple weeks maybe.

Rachel 16 Jun 2010, 13:38

Thanks for the advice, Soundmanpt. I work for a recruitment firm and most of my working day is spent in front of a computer screen. For a couple of years now I’ve been squinting to see the timetable screen at the train station, plus watching TV has been an increasing struggle. Also, my boyfriend is a full-time glasses wearer (-2 something) and the clear vision I get through his specs (along with the problems above) finally prompted me to get an eye exam (in fact, I have occasionally worn my boyf’s spare pair to watch TV).

And I didn’t have a dilated eye exam, no. And I don’t drive – although I was told, under all circumstances, not to go without them for driving.

I picked my specs up at the weekend, and have had two days off work on Monday and Tuesday. And… it’s been incredibly liberating. I’ve taken to full-time wear around the house and in my local area (walking around the supermarket was a revelation). I did feel self-conscious wearing them initially (I even felt shy in front of the check-out girl!) and catching my bespectacled reflection in shop windows has been a bit weird.

My boyfriend has been indifferent/ happy about me wearing them – in fact, when we went to the pub on Saturday night, I stepped out bare-eyed and he suggested I wear them (which I duly did). However, I went to work today and bottled wearing them. I was just too scared of the inevitable comments (although I did wear them on the tube/train journey home, where nobody can see me). Apart from my boyfriend, only my best friend has seem me in them (she came round last night and made comments along the lines of “are your eyes really that bad? These are really strong!”

The last five days as a glasses wearer has definitely been exciting. But… I’m sitting here now typing without them on, I feel slightly dizzy/nauseous and my eyes really miss them. It’s no problem, as they really suit me and I intend to wear them more often (even for work, eventually), but do you think I’m dependent upon them already? And after how many days wear will I become dependent upon them?

Soundmanpt 16 Jun 2010, 12:07

Rachel - To better answer some of your questions, you need to tell us a few things. Getting your first glasses with an rx of -1.50 would indicate that you actually needed correction for awhile. What caused you to go for an eye exam? What type of work do you do? Have you in the last couple of years changed to a job that makes you use your eyes a lot more? Were you given a dialated eye exam?

I would think that your glasses will not be strong enough in the next 6 months to a year and you will need an increase. That increase could be anywhere from -.50 to maybe -1.00 depending how stressed your eyes are. It is hard to say what glasses you will be wearing in 5 years, I doubt that it will be more than -3.00 or -3.50.

It seems you already have found that you see much better with them on than off, your rx is certainly strong enough that full time wear is acceptable. Driving must be much better now?

Being a first time wearer what has been the reactions of friends, family and work partners been like seeing you with glasses suddenly? How hard was it to get started wearing them in front of people?

Rachel 16 Jun 2010, 08:54

Hi there,

I've just been prescribed my first pair of glasses (-1.5 in each eye) at the age of 27 and I have a few questions! 1) What's the likelihood my myopia will increase over the next 5 years? 2) How much will it increase by the time I'm, say, 32? 3) Should I be wearing these -1.5 glasses full-time? (I've been wearing them more than I expected to already...)

Rick 14 Jun 2010, 19:11

You expected more add, but you've got a bit less minus which will have the same effect. So it may be better than you think.

Rick J 14 Jun 2010, 14:48

I went for eye exam new Rx -3.75 & -3.0 -275 30 add+175. Old Rx 5 years old - 4 & -3.5 -250 30 add +175. Kinda strange no change in the add. Thought I needed a increace in the add. Can this be right?

Andrew 06 Jun 2010, 12:37

Lee,

Yes, you do get more distortion around the edges of the lenses with high index, but as you spend most of the time looking through the centre of the lens, it is not normally an issue.

Chris 05 Jun 2010, 06:52

You can certainly get high index lenses with correction for astigmatism. My cyl is -4.50 and (although the choice is restricted with this level of cyl) I have never had a problem getting them.

Lee 05 Jun 2010, 01:55

Aubrac, that is good to know but strange i was told i had high astigmatism, when it seems pretty mild.

Aubrac 05 Jun 2010, 00:54

Lee

I have high index rimless glasses with -5.00 lenses plus some cylinder correction. They are less than yours but even so are only 4mm at the thickest point.

You have a low cylinder correction and this shouldn't make much difference.

Lee 04 Jun 2010, 12:08

Andrew, i was told hi index would create more distortion around the lens edge. It may be they didn't want me to get the rimless i wanted. I always get pushed to little plastic frames as they are 'stronger' and hide edge thickness. Which may be true but on me they do not look good!

Andrew 04 Jun 2010, 11:54

Lee,

Absolute rubbish! My Rx is higher than yours in both Sph and Cyl, and I wear high-index glasses. It may be the outlet you are trying to buy them from; try a different retail outlet.

Lee 04 Jun 2010, 11:38

This my rx: -6.25, -1.00x 10 and -6.75, -0.50x90. I've been told due high astig i can't wear hi index, is that right?

NICKWEYMOUTH 04 Jun 2010, 06:15

agread puffin

Lee 03 Jun 2010, 23:20

Can you get a monocal anywhere nowadays? Could be fun to wear?

03 Jun 2010, 20:11

You think!

Puffin 03 Jun 2010, 16:27

I think the Wei-impressions are wearing a little thin now. Not that they weren't amusing at the start.

Melyssa 03 Jun 2010, 12:50

I truly believe that not one person on this site is annoyed by Wei's posts.

Mabye 1000 people, but not one.

Wei 03 Jun 2010, 10:44

Is all wei i think! Yes i think mysodisc. Very good. Plus carrier bi-concave or plano fronting? Is many of lens. Monocle of wood?

still 03 Jun 2010, 09:54

The person named Wei was here for a while

a long time ago. This "Wei" is a caricature,

and just so we don't miss the point, is

using broken English, and much more often than

real-Wei ever published in one day.

OK, "Wei", very funny! 8-DDD

Wei 03 Jun 2010, 08:37

Heather sorry not liking pince nez. I think you have maybe monocle instead?

Heather 03 Jun 2010, 08:25

Wei - Why don't you just shut up. I think you are just annoying everyone!

Wei 03 Jun 2010, 07:57

Heather i recommend pince nez for non slip. Frame wooden.

Heather 03 Jun 2010, 06:49

Emma - I have actually been wearing soft contacts. I tried all kinds of different contacts but I did not tolerate any of them. I was trying very hard as I did not want to be stuck with just glasses all the time but I was unsuccessful. Now I just have to wear glasses, there doesn't seem to be a way around it. I have relatively light frames and thin lenses but the glasses are still a nuisance, especially during sports.

Emma 03 Jun 2010, 06:29

Heather, honestly -5 is not a strong rx. As for the increase in rx well that's not totally surprising if you have been wearing hard contacts for years. They act as kind of "brace" on your eyes and temporarily stop myopic progression. If you stop wearing them your eyesight reaches it's true rx. I had this happen even after wearing glasses about 30-40% of the time of a few months after only wearing hard contacts before. After wearing contacts most of the time again the astigmatism reduced again but the minus power didn't. So I guess if went to only wearing glasses my rx would get a lot worse!!

If you've been wearing soft lenses it's more of a mystery though!

I would be really surprised if there isn't some type of contacts you could tolerate if only for a few hours playing sport every week. If it's real problem for you then you need to check out different optometrists that have a special interest in contacts. Failing that invest a frame that's designed for sports - for tennis you don't need ugly sports goggles though lol!!!!!!!!!

I wouldn't have thought your rx will get a lot worse now and definately not over -6. An rx under -6 is considered "moderate" myopia by optometrists by the way.

Wei 03 Jun 2010, 00:14

Indeed yes! Is many strong. Using bifocal helping slow myopic.

Astra 02 Jun 2010, 23:57

I doubt bifocal can stop myopic progression.

Wei 02 Jun 2010, 23:13

Heather have bifocal! Will stop myopic progression. And needing bifocal soon anyway i think

Heather 02 Jun 2010, 19:42

Soundmanpt - Thanks for the advice. That cleaner might be a good idea and worth a try.

I have not had children or a medication change when my prescription changed drastically. It is strange ... also the prescription change coincided with me not being able to wear contacts any more. Before I never wore glasses, just contacts (although I had backup glasses). And since I was around -2.00 I often did not wear any correction at home.

So after my prescription had increased to around -4 and I wasn't able to wear contacts any more, I had to switch from wearing contacts full time to wearing strong glasses full time, quite a change and hard to get accustomed to. It is one thing to start having to wear weak glasses and then gradually wearing them more frequently but quite a different story if you suddenly have to wear strong glasses full time and cannot even read any more without them. Now I feel really insecure without strong lenses in front of my eyes.

Soundmanpt 02 Jun 2010, 19:02

Heather

A couple more things that might help, they make a lenses cleaner that works pretty well on reducing the fogging of glasses. The reason your glasses fog is because not enough air is getting onto the inside of your glasses (between your eyes and lenses) Don't squish your glasses up too close to your eyes, this should help some as well. Maybe take several sweatbands with you and change several times to a dry one.

I'm sorry that you can't tolerate contacts anymore, that would have been the best answer. You are correct, it is odd that your eyes stablized for 10 years and then started changing again. By any chance in that 3 years of change did you give birth to a child or 2? Often times child birth will cause vision to change a lot. The only other thing could be some kind of mediication change. If not these things I don't know.

Heather 02 Jun 2010, 18:04

Soundmanpt - I actually ended up getting a sweatband and a strap to hold the glasses in place. Since I got my new stronger glasses, I played tennis with them once (with strap and sweatband) and it was much better than with my old glasses which were heavier and with much thicker lenses. However it is still not great, the lenses tend to steam up and sweat is still dropping on them to some extent. I have to remove and clean them at regular intervals. I cannot really wear contacts any more. The moment I put them in my eyes they hurt quite a lot and they keep hurting for quite a while even after I have removed the contacts.

I actually did get semi-rimless glasses. These are the glasses I got: http://www.vision2you.co.uk/store/paul-smith-glasses/paul-smith/ps1017

Regarding my presctiption, the strange thing is that it was stable at around -2 for more than 10 years and then suddenly increased within about 3 years to -4.25 (R) and -5.00 (L). This is what seems strange to me and I just hope that the current rate of progression in my RX won't continue.

Wei 01 Jun 2010, 11:56

Is wear frame for non slipping in sporting. Answer frame wooden!

Soundmanpt 01 Jun 2010, 10:27

Heather

Sorry I went back and found that I missed that your older glasses are -4.00 / -4.25 and your new glasses are -4.25 / -5.00. You are right they are okay for a backup, as you say not perfect. You did not say why you can't wear contacts anymore. The brand you were using just started to hurt to wear? I understand the problems with wearing glasses for tennis, the slipping down and the sweat and fogging of the lenses would make it hard to see proper. My question is, can you not tolerate contacts for just the hour or two that you would be playing tennis? If you can't do this , then things that might help is to use a sweat band across your forehead, that will keep the sweating down alot, during your regular work day do you find yourself pushing your glasses up from time to time? If so you may want to get them adjusted so they don't slip down during tennis. Last idea is invest in a pair of very light weight glasses that are rimless or semi rimless, they will be lighter and you wont see the frame when playing tennis as much.

Just because you wear glasses, you should not have to stop playing a sport you enjoy. By the way as someone else said, your glasses are not all that strong. Your actually more in the moderate range. Going from -.75 when you were 18 to -5.00 is pretty normal. At 36 I would think you should stablize soon. At what age did you switch to contacts and what was the rx if you know or remember?

Heather 30 May 2010, 08:12

soundmanpt - I do a fair amount of computer work but not exclusively. By the way, I have not stated that my previous glasses are far too weak. They are fine for me to see, just not perfect.

soundmanpt 28 May 2010, 17:57

Heather

What type of sports do you play? If it is a contact sport it would be advisable to consider sport goggles, not attractive, but very functional. As others have suggested here, you should invest in a second pair of glasses for a backup. You would be in serious trouble if you were to lose or brake your current glasses. As you have stated you previous glasses are far too weak to be of any help. I'm sure you would like to get rx sunglasses as well? Do not be afraid of using on-line retailers for glasses, zenni optical is very cheap and good quality. You can get rx sunglasses for around $13.00 and even regular glasses for the same amount (including AR anti-reflective). It seems odd for you vision to change that much at 36, but everyone is different. What type of work do you do?

Heather 28 May 2010, 07:12

Maybe.

gwgs 28 May 2010, 03:19

An auction house in London maybe Heather? My office is VERY close to the one of the big auction houses - maybe we're neighbours!!

ehpc 27 May 2010, 21:25

Interesting :) In the United Kingdom I imagine.

Heather 27 May 2010, 19:03

ehpc - I work for an auction house.

ehpc 27 May 2010, 17:56

I wonder what you do professionally, Heather. You seem to spend a lot of time working on a comptuer, I remember.

Heather 27 May 2010, 16:05

ehpc - I don't need to wear weaker lenses for reader. I can read fine with my current prescription but I want to try to wear a weaker prescription for reading in an attempt to slow down my eyesight getting weaker.

ehpc 27 May 2010, 16:04

'rectangular'

ehpc 27 May 2010, 16:03

Glad you are wearing your VERY HOT black rectabgular plastic frames for reading, Heather :) Although I am surprised that someone as young as you needs weaker lenses for reading. I was OK doing everything with my normal lenses until I was about 50. (I am now 55). Pete

Heather 27 May 2010, 15:33

I think I will actually get proper prescription sunglasses even though it will be expensive. For reading I am mostly wearing my old (weaker) glasses which is okay.

Wei 27 May 2010, 14:37

Heather-buy sunglass clipping on!

Heather 27 May 2010, 14:30

r & Aubrac - Thanks for your advice. I had considered getting photochromic lenses. However, I really dislike the look of them as they immediately turn somewhat darker once you are in natural light, which I don't like. I like sunglasses when the sun is shining but not otherwise.

Jennifer 27 May 2010, 07:43

I found that transition lenses don't get dark enough to work as well as prescription sunglasses. Is there another newer material that works better and gets darker than transition lenses. I'm one that switches between clear glasses and dark glasses and find it very cumbersome. Therefore, wearing contacts on a sunny day when I know that I'll be going in and out of buildings (like outdoor shopping), contacts work the best with regular sunglasses. I just prop my sunglasses on top of my head when I go into a shop and put them back on when I go outdoors again.

r 27 May 2010, 04:14

Heather:

However, what I found with photochromic lenses when I tried them before is that most will not work as well as you would like in a car, primarily because the car windows block UV light. If you're done with the contacts, it's something to think about.

Aubrac 27 May 2010, 00:07

Heather

Try reactolite lenses then there is no need for prescription sunglasses. If a reading add is needed then progressives can be used thus combining three pairs of glasses into one.

No real need for the extra large handbag!

Heather 26 May 2010, 16:39

And - I only have one pair of glasses with my current prescription and another pair with my old prescription. I don't have prescription sunglasses since I was able to wear contacts until not too long ago.

And 26 May 2010, 14:51

Heather, do you just have one pair of glasses at the moment ?

Heather 26 May 2010, 13:53

I guess quite a bit of equipment is actually needed in a way (at least if you can't wear contacts): regular glasses, prescription sunglasses, prescription swimming goggles as well as potentially somewhat weaker glasses for reading! That's a lot of glasses :)!

Heather 26 May 2010, 08:22

Thanks everyone for your advice. I don't do much swimming any more but I used to. With the glasses it has become a bit of a hassle but you are right, I need to get prescription goggles.

Aubrac 26 May 2010, 03:39

Heather

You could also try ebay for prescription goggles, I bought some at almost the right prescription for only a few pounds. They only correct sphere and aren't usually available for cylinder/astigmatism correction.

ehpc 25 May 2010, 12:43

........including seaswimming etc.

ehpc 25 May 2010, 12:42

I find swimming without glasses at minus 7 no big deal.

Eye Tri 25 May 2010, 08:52

Heather,

If you do want to go swimming and still be able to see, you might look into prescription goggles by Hilco. If you goggle Hilco you will find there are several companies that sell them for a very reasonable price. I've been using them for a few years and they've worked well.

Rayray 25 May 2010, 08:31

Commenting on heathers post below i have also had an optometrist give me unnecessary cylinder which made my vision worse rather than better. I was prescribed -6.50 -1.50 75 cyl / -7 -0.50 50 cyl a few years back. When i got my eyes re-checked after the glasses didnt help me i got -7.00 -0.75 105 cyl and -7.50.

My sphere correction has increased since then but cylinder remained the same so i guess some testers are just less competent.

Heather 24 May 2010, 16:35

And - I definitely would not go swimming bare-eyed. I think I would be lost! I am not doing anything without glasses any more. Somehow I feel very unsafe without lenses in front of my eyes.

And 24 May 2010, 15:22

Heather, glad it's going ok. Have you had good comments from others, folk wanting to try them on etc. Do you think you would go swimming bare-eyed ?

Heather 24 May 2010, 13:41

I am coping very well with the stronger lenses now, especially since they are so light and thin. I am not feeling "disabled" any more but just enjoy the clear vision. Even sports has become better now. Having to wear the strong lenses is still a nuisance but at least they are light and quite comfortable.

Dan 20 May 2010, 18:41

Brian-16,

Don't worry, I'll keep you guys posted!

Heather 20 May 2010, 14:41

Astra - My second day with th stronger lenses has actually been quite good. I did computer work all day long and did not have any problem. I think yesterday I just had a bit of a problem with getting used to the stronger lenses.

Brian-16 20 May 2010, 04:39

Dan..Yes don't give up on bi-focals.When I first got them I made quick eye movements from near to far and vice-versa.While lounging around watching tv I would position my head so as to see the tv and have a book to read and pretty soon forgot all about the line.The height of the lenses was about 32 or 34mm and this helped.Smaller height could be a problem with the line.Keep us (me,too) updated on your experiences with bi's...

Aubrac 20 May 2010, 02:34

Did you previously have glasses? If so do you know their prescription and how long you have had them.

At 31 you are probably just catching up with hyperopia that you have always had and now need a little extra help with reading.

It is never really possible to forsee the future but it is often said that with FT wear, distance hyperopia does tend to stabilise more, although there may be some future increase in the reading add.

As Clare said you will certainly not be taken for a phoney wearer, as there will be a small amount of eye magnification and obvious distortion when seen through the back of the lenses. A person with 20/20 vision would not be able to see at all clearly with your glasses and would be unable to drive.

Astra 20 May 2010, 02:20

Heather,

I think for your age it is likely to have some presbyopia if you find it uncomfortable reading the computer screen for long time.

Dan 19 May 2010, 18:43

Brian-16,

I will definitely keep them around. Actually, I wear contacts a lot (yes I know...booo) but the prescription was -0.75 and -1.00. After my check up it is -1.25 and -1.25. It seems as though I am having more trouble staying focused on near work and I my vision distance vision is a bit blurry after doing a bit of close up work. Maybe I should consider reading glasses over contacts or try the bifocals again.

Heather 19 May 2010, 14:28

I think people who try on someone else's glasses always feel that they are very strong. When I had -2.00 everyone told me how strong they were but obviously -2.00 is not terribly strong.

What a day today ... I worked the whole day on the computer but I really feel that my eyes need to take a break after wearing these strong lenses all day today for the first time.

I really need to get used to them first. However, when I take off the glasses I feel even much more blind than before. I may even take a break and wear my old glasses from time to time. I don't remember having had such difficulty getting used to new lenses before but everything else about them is positive :).

Clare 19 May 2010, 11:25

GG - I don't think there's any chance that you'd be taken for a phony. There's no way that a myope or someone with a zero prescription would be able to see a thing through your glasses I'm sure. I always thought that when my prescription was less but my hyperopic aunt tried my glasses and she thought they were very strong, they probably weren't any more than -2 to but she couldn't see a thing through them!

GG 19 May 2010, 10:26

I have been due for an eye exam so I decided to finally go after a few embarrasing situations where I could not read something that I should have been able to. A friend of mine who is also farsighted suggested that I not put off getting an exam any longer since he could see me stuggling. So my new prescription is L/R +3.25, -.5, add +1.50. That is an increase of +.75 for distance and +.5 for near. My doctor said that I will need to wear correction full time if I wasn't already and that I could either get bifocal glasses or contacts and additional reading glasses. I decided to go with progressives. I did not get contacts as I would have to have the reading glasses too so I am now true full time gwg! I cant belive how great I am seeing now. I know that prescriptions should stabilize at some point but since I am only 31 will it continue to increase for a while or should this be about it? I dont think this is a strong prescription based on what I have seen others post but what would a person with perfect vision see through my glasses? I know that I cant see without them but I dont want to be taken as a phony glasses wearer.

Heather 19 May 2010, 04:51

Aubrac - Thanks. I definitely hope it will stabilise at least around -6.00. At the moment I cannot really imagine having to wear -6.00 lenses at some point, but then only a few years ago I only wore -2.00 glasses part-time, something that has become unthinkable now! If put on my old -2.00 glasses now, they seem pretty much useless.

I just got a new frame and lenses that are a lot thinner, so even -5.00 is okay. The new lenses feel very strong and intense though.

Aubrac 19 May 2010, 02:26

Heather

Myopia usually appears around the early teens, and you may have been slightly short-sighted then but not really noticed. I got glasses at 17 and they were -1.75 but gradually increased to -5.00 at age 40, they then stabilised and have remained the same since.

I had a friend who didn't get glasses until 28, although she probably needed them earlier, her first pair were -2.50 and went up to -4.50.

You should be prepared to peak at maybe -6.00 in the next few years although it impossible to speculate with any real accuracy.

Heather 18 May 2010, 14:36

As reported on another thread, I just got an updated prescription, which is stronger again ... :-(. I have now gone from -4.00 (right) / -4.50 (left) to -4.25 (right) / -5.00 (left).

Heather 15 May 2010, 19:07

Sorry, the previous post went out too fast.

I have been wearing glasses since age 18 and I am 36 now. I initially got a prescription of -0.75 in both eyes which quickly increases to -2.00 (right) and -2.50 (left). This prescription was stable for more than 10 years so I was quite relieved and thought that this would sort of be my "permanent" prescription and it was nice to be able not to wear any correction when I was at home. However, a few years ago I suddenly had two relatively large prescription changes within a year and I am now wearing -4.00 (right) and -4.50 (left) lenses. Is this sudden change in the prescription normal around my age? Also, is my prescription unusually high given that I got my first glasses relatively late?

Needless to say that the days when I was able to take my glasses off at home are gone now, since I am totally dependent on them, even for reading.

One strange thing was that I actually went to see another optician before I got my current prescription and he prescribed even stronger lenses (-4.50 -0.75 (right) and -4.75 -0.75 (left)). However, once I got the new lenses, I found it almost unbearable to wear them for more than a few hours, my eyes hurt and I got a headache. Moreover, I was almost unable to read with them on. So I decided to see another optician who gave me my current prescription. This large difference in the prescriptions seemed quite astonishing to me!

Heather 15 May 2010, 18:54

Brian-16 15 May 2010, 04:39

Dan...Okay on the bifocals.There was another guy who had tried bifocals on here (1.25) and said they did not make much difference except when reading some smaller print than normal.He was in college and had over -4.0 in his glasses.Can't remember his name.I wear tri-focals but have had them for several years.Will graduate college in a few days.Later on will get another eye exam.I would keep the bi-focals around in case you need them for something.I found wearing them as much as possible is the only way to get used to the reading add.

Dan 14 May 2010, 17:00

Brian-16,

Yep, that's me. I tried the bifocals for a while but found that they didn't make much of a difference. While I didn't have to change focus from near to far, it took a lot of getting used to. At this stage in my life I think I'll stick with the single vision glasses until I really need bifocals. As my distance prescription increases however I may need bifocals for close-up...we shall see.

Brian-16 14 May 2010, 15:22

Dan- Are you the "Dan" that got bi-focals a while back?

Dan 14 May 2010, 13:22

Had my annual check up and got a slightly stronger (but still weak) prescription.

Old:

OS -0.75 -0.50 x 90

OD -1.00 -0.50 x 90

New:

OD -1.00 -0.50 x 90

OS -1.00 -0.50 x 85

Cactus jack 08 May 2010, 19:46

luvspecs,

It takes +4.50 diopters to focus at 22 cm. If you add the +2.50 to compensate for the -2.50 over correction, that means that you have +7.00 diopter of total accommodation to read at 22 cm. When you read at 40 cm, you have +2.00 diopters in reserve.

You could theoretically wear -2.00 more overcorrection and still be able to read, but I suggest that you stay where you are or perhaps get some low cost glasses with -5.75 and -5.25 and consider wearing them when you don't have to read much. If nothing else, it may help you increase your accommodation amplitude over time and perhaps induce a bit more axial myopia or possibly some pseudo myopia. The key to being able to wear several pairs of glasses with increasing strength is to get them all with identical frames. Few non OOs would notice the Rx, but they will notice a change in frames.

luvspecs 08 May 2010, 16:23

cactus jack

i can read comfortably at about the width of an a4 sheet paper (about 22cm i think). It gets a little uncomfortable any closer than that. What would that suggest ?

Cactus Jack 08 May 2010, 16:07

luvspecs,

Age and genetic disposition are the two big factors in increasing your Rx. Don't get your hopes too high. Just enjoy your glasses while you can. You are accommodating for -2.50 overcorrection (+2.50) and to read at normal reading distance of 40 cm or 16 inches takes another +2.50 for a total of +5.00 diopters. The key question is how close can you read newsprint with your new glasses? That will give you an idea of how much accommodation you have.

luvspecs 08 May 2010, 15:18

Cactus Jack

I am 29. I was previously using glasses that had an extra -1.00 on top of my old rx, but this didn't seem to have any effect.

Cactus Jack 08 May 2010, 12:40

luvspecs,

Maybe. What is your age?

luvspecs 08 May 2010, 11:11

I have finally received my new glasses with -4.75 & -4.25(real rx is -2.25 & -1.75) lenses that I ordered from smartbuyglasses. I will not be using them again as it took nearly 2 months. I am really pleased with the glasses though and can see very well with them and I am also still able to read news paper print wich I thought may be tricky. Will this rx help me to get an increase at my next exam ?

Brian 26 Apr 2010, 13:34

Edmund, In comparison to yours.. My prescription is OS -6.00, OD -5.25 with 2 BI.. My lenses are about 3mm thick on the outside, just under 5mm thick on the inside. I do have a smaller frame with lenses polished and the thinner type lenses. Does anyone know of any websites that have pictures of glasses with Base-In Prisms?

Edmund 26 Apr 2010, 11:37

Brian,

My glasses are about 7 mm on the inside now and about 3 mm on the outside.

My RX is -3.00 cyl -1.25 add +2.25 BI 8 each eye.

If you want, you can email me at strongeyes74@gmail.com

Edmund

JR 26 Apr 2010, 11:17

Thanks.

Cactus Jack 26 Apr 2010, 10:21

JR,

3 BO is no very much, I suspect that the reason for the double vision was misplacement of the optical centers in the +11s. The higher the Rx the more critical it is to avoid problems. If you don't have double vision when you take off the +11s and their contacts, I doubt you will have any problems with your regular vision. Low values of BO prism have the same convergence effects as reading.

JR 26 Apr 2010, 10:11

Catus Jack

On my GOC project, many combos, I had a +11 glasses but needed 3BO due to double vision. If I wear these will I hurt my regular vision?

I have all the way to -24 without any issues, just on these high plus.

Thanks, JR

Cactus Jack 26 Apr 2010, 09:44

Brian,

Prism glasses are not as common as they once were. Most prism correction is Base Out for eyes turning inward in children, but today that is corrected by relatively minor surgery when still very young. The usual cause of the inward turning is uncorrected hyperopia or accommodation problems which trigger convergence.

Base In prism for outward turning is most frequently found in adults. If it becomes severe it can also be corrected by surgery. It is only in mild cases or in situation where surgery is too risky or simply not desired that prism is actually used.

The prescribing, making, and fitting of prism glasses is almost a lost art, particularly in the higher values. Few lens makers these days, know or understand Prentice's rule for positioning the optical center of the lens so that it coincides with the central axis of vision when prism is prescribed. This can cause real problems with higher Rx and higher prism corrections.

Brian 26 Apr 2010, 09:22

Edmund, What your doctor told you initially sounds like what my doctor told me that they didn't want to add too much prism too fast. I hope my prism correction never gets as strong as 8 BI in each eye like you. Are your new glasses pretty thick on the inner edges now? How strong is your full prescription? It amazes me the lack of information that is available online regarding Prism corrections in glasses. When I found out I was going to be getting them, I looked to try to find pictures of what Prism Corrections look like in lenses or additional information on what to expect and there really wasn't much information on the web. Maybe because not that many people have a prism in their glasses.

soundmanpt 24 Apr 2010, 08:38

To the "no name poster" please don't forget to put in your "es nickname" so we know who we are hearing from and posting to.

Cactus Jack 24 Apr 2010, 04:33

I have added a few words to my previous post to clarify.

As a rule of thumb, the thick outside edge of a lens with BO prism will be about 1 mm thicker per diopter than a lens of the same Rx without prism and the thin edge will be as thin as possible and still support the lens - usually about 1 or 2 mm. The thick edge of BI, BU, and BD prism will be a bit less than i mm thicker per diopter of prism because the distance from the optical center to the thick edge of the lens is usually less.

Note that the -2 lens with 6 BO is .395 which is pretty close to 10 mm thick. If we apply the above rule, 6 mm of the 10 would be caused by the prism and the remainder by the Rx itself. Sounds about right for CR 39.

23 Apr 2010, 22:09

Not bad at all. Be the way, glassesunlimited.com offers free Prism up to 3D in their regular pricing. I just ordered a pair and we will see. For $16 I don't have much to lose!

23 Apr 2010, 17:49

Mine are 6 bo and .395 thick. Lens is 2 inches across.

Minus 2.

Cactus Jack 23 Apr 2010, 15:14

There are many factors that can affect edge thickness: Overall Rx, lens size, index of refraction, distance from the optical center of the lens to the edge, and the amount of prism.

As a rule of thumb, the thick edge of the lens will be 1 mm thicker per diopter of prism and the thin edge will be as thin as possible and still support the lens usually about 1 or 2 mm.

23 Apr 2010, 15:07

To those who wear prisms, about how thick are your lenses with 4d of prism?

Edmund 23 Apr 2010, 13:06

Brian,

My prism started out 3 years ago at 2 BI in each eye, but they didn't want to add it fast, even though I could 'have more'. Last year I was at 4 BI and just the other day I am now at 8 BI. Took some getting used to the new prisms, but it seems to be working out so far.

Cactus Jack 22 Apr 2010, 16:02

Brian,

Yes, I wear 15 diopters of Base Out prism in each eye because my eyes try to turn inward. I have had muscle surgery, but it didn't solve the problem. I was warned that it might redevelop and it has. I have been offered surgery, but I'm too old to fool with that.

It is normal for doctors to approach prism with care because some people can't tolerate it.

You likely have a bit of exophoria or exotropia fancy words for the eyes wanting to turn outward. You may need a bit more prism as time progresses, but hopefully it will stop. If it gets out of hand, you may need to consider muscle surgery. It might be worthwhile if you are young. I suspect you need at least 5 diopters BI in each eye before it would be even slightly noticeable to others.

Brian 22 Apr 2010, 12:30

Cactus Jack and others, Thanks for your information. CJ, Do you wear glasses with a Prism Correction? As I said the prism correction in the glasses has been great. I haven't had any problems at all since I posted last. I probably won't go for another eye exam for another year so I really don't anticipate anything new with my vision anytime soon. I am a little concerned about the Prism getting a lot worse especially when my doctor said that the prism she put in my glasses now might just be a starting point, so who knows how much stronger it will get in the future, but if it stays in the range it is now, I will be happy. Seeing Jill's post it looks like hers has progressed some of the last 6 years so I guess I'll just have to wait and see if mine will follow suit at all.

HD 21 Apr 2010, 09:50

edmund

can you upload image of your glasses?

you can also send it to my mail - dsuk124@walla.com...

thank you,

Cactus Jack 21 Apr 2010, 09:00

guest,

The name comes from optical science. Prisms are used in optics for two purposes bending light rays and breaking up the light spectrum into the individual wave lengths of light so they can be seen individually. If you look at a simple prism from the side, it looks like a triangle with two long sides and a short side. The short side is called the base of the prism and the point is called the apex. When light rays stride one of the long sides, the rays are bent toward the base. If the eyes are pointed inward, base out prism is required to bend the visual axes so they are parallel.

BTW, both convex (plus) and concave (minus) lenses are optically an infinite number of infinitely thin prisms arranged in a circle. Plus lenses have the base at the center and the apex at the edge. Minus lenses have the base at the edge and the apex in the center.

Google 'Optical Prisms' for illustrations of how prisms bend light rays.

Julian 21 Apr 2010, 08:56

No, the base of a prism is its widest part. What you're talking about would be 'apex in' but, sorry, that isn't the terminology that's used.

guest 21 Apr 2010, 08:10

OK, thanks, I cant quite get my head around why its called "base out" when you actually move the optical centres inwards to achieve this prism effect, you'd expect that to be "base in" or am I misunderstanding it? From what I understand, if your eyes are converging slightly then it's base out prism that's required to make them focus straight ahead.

Cactus Jack 21 Apr 2010, 06:36

guest,

Not exactly. The Base Out (BO) prism would allow the opposing muscles to relax, but typically, if the eye muscles want to turn the eyes inward slightly, the effort of the opposing outside muscles does not tend to trigger the focus response.

However, in both cases the PD should be adjusted using Prentice's rule for prism to move the optical center of the lenses so that it coincides with the central axis of vision for best acuity. This rule is the same one that is used to adjust the distance PD for the reading segments in bifocals.

Edmund 21 Apr 2010, 06:11

I just got new glasses yesterday with BI 8 prism per eye. My prism has gone up in big jumps over the last 3 years.

My new RX is -3.00 cyl -1.25 add +2.25 BI 8 for both eyes.

guest 21 Apr 2010, 01:39

Is it exactly the same for base out prism to correct eyes that naturally turn in slightly?

thanks

Cactus Jack 19 Apr 2010, 06:46

Jill & Brian,

I thought I would offer an explanation of the effects you are experiencing by wearing Base In (BI) prism correction in your glasses.

Base in prism is used to optically correct the tendency of some peoples eyes to turn outward. In angular degrees, one Prism Diopter bends light rays by 0.57 degrees. In other words, a very tiny bit per diopter.

The small amount of outward turning is easily corrected by the system that controls the 6 muscles attached to each eye which provide left, right, up, down, and 2 oblique motions. The brain provides the signals to these muscles based on the images being supplied to the visual cortex by both eyes to cause the two images to track properly and fuse into one 3 D image. However, there is a small snag in the control system, it can sometimes be too helpful.

The muscle control system also interacts with the system in the brain that controls the ciliary (focusing) muscles in the eyes. When the eyes turn inward (converge) to keep close images fused, it triggers the ciliary muscles to squeeze the crystaline lenses to increase their plus power to keep close things in focus - part of your auto-focus system.

Normally, when viewing distant objects (more than 20 feet or 6 meters for our purposes) the eye positioning muscles and the ciliary muscles are relaxed and the eyes are ideally pointed straight ahead, parallel. In your situation, there is a small tendency for the eyes to point outward, which as I said above, is easily corrected by the inside muscles on your eyeballs. Unfortunately, the corrective action to converge your eyes slightly for parallel vision, also triggers the ciliary muscles to squeeze the crystaline lenses a tiny bit. This adds a tiny bit of plus power to your crystaline lenses which makes you a tiny bit more nearsighted. When you wear BI prism, the prism bends the light rays for you, your eye muscles do not have to expend any convergence effort, and the ciliary muscles are not activated. All this means that the Rx you were prescribed remains correct.

Hope this makes sense and helps.

Jill 19 Apr 2010, 05:43

Brian, I have a similar distance prescription that you have -5.50 and -5.25. I'm 35 years old and have been wearing a prism correction since I was 29. I started at 1D BI and now have 4D BI in each eye. I was a contact wearer until getting the prism correction and have been pretty much wearing glasses exclusively for the past 5 years. It was quite an adjustment at first. But once I got used to the glasses it was worthwhile the excellent vision that the prisms provided. I have High Index Lenses now with polished edges and a small frame and even with a BI of 4 in each eye they aren't super thick, so thats always an option for you if your prism increases which I hate to tell you it probably will. My doctor is hoping mine will stabilize in the 4 to 5 BI range in each eye and don't be surprised if you end up in that range in the future as well.

Brian 18 Apr 2010, 11:43

JB, Thanks for the info.. As I said aside from a mild headache the first day I got them, I have had no problems with the prism correction. Your right, the visual improvement is tremendous. What surprised me the most is how much more comfortable it is to use the computer and to read with the prism in my glasses. I am a bit concerned about my prism correction increasing in the future, because i've seen pictures of strong prism correction online and it can make glasses look a little ugly when they get real strong, so hopefully the correction in my glasses will not increase a great deal. I can notice the 2D base in when looking at my glasses. The inner part of my lenses is thicker, but I don't think anyone else would be able to spot it unless they were specifically looking for it.

sam12744 18 Apr 2010, 05:24

Emma,

Yes you can get prism in myodiscs;its just much less obvious than in conventional lenses.

JB 15 Apr 2010, 23:02

Brian....Like you i had to have prism correction 3 years ago, it started at 2b/in &down and 3 tests later it is 4 in & down Now cannot function without specs at all as i get a headache if i try to go without for more than about 15 minutes, that said, since i got the prisms i have enjoyed the crispest sight for years so the trade off was well worth it in my opinion

Emma 15 Apr 2010, 11:06

I wonder if you can get prism in myodiscs?

BRIAN 15 Apr 2010, 08:11

Reading through some old posts, I remember Daffy and Larissa posting about getting Base-In Prism Glasses. Larissa because she had to and Daffy because he wanted to "try" them out and ended up needing them. I was wondering if either of those two are still on the boards. I think I remember seeing somewhat recent posts from Daffy but can't remember for sure. If those two or others that have gotten base-in prism corrections are around I was wondering how much their Prism prescription have increased over the years. I was just curious to see how much their prism increased to know what to expect over the next few years with my prism correction. If I get chance, I'll try to post a picture of my glasses with the 2 Base-In Prism Correction in each eye. As I said, you can see some thickness on the insides of the lenses but its really not super noticeable to anyone who would not be looking for it. Thanks Guys.

Brian 13 Apr 2010, 13:22

I never got a chance until now to follow up on my post regarding getting the prism glasses. I did receive my glasses and aside from a mild headache the first day or so I got them, they have been great. Reading has been much easier with them. You guys were right, once you start wearing the glasses with the prism correction its very hard to go without them. I tried to mow the lawn the other day with my old glasses because I didn't want to scratch up my new glasses and that was almost impossible because my vision felt distorted and got dizzy. With the glasses now, my eyes feel remarkably relaxed. I don't get the double vision on the computer like I did before. The inside edges of my glasses are a bit thicker than they were before but not to make them look bad by any means. I stayed with a small frame to avoid thickness on both the inner and outer edges since my prescription is -6.00 in one eye and -5.25 in the other eye. My eye doctor did say its possible this prism correction may increase some in the future. She said she could have actually started me at a higher prism correction based on my need but wanted to slowly work me into getting used to wearing the glasses with prism in it. So hopefully it will not increase too much.

All4Eyes 31 Mar 2010, 00:22

Jesika: My first rx was R -4.50 L -4.00 (no astigmatism though). Similar to yours and my teachers didn't seem to notice or if they did just made a passing remark and let it go, no real concern. I knew I needed glasses for years, though.

dave 22 Mar 2010, 22:09

Andrew (the one who posted your Rx)

Do you drive, can you read the credits at movies, watch TV? Can you read the roll at the bottom of the CNN channel or equivalent news show?

Surely you must have realized you can't see what your friends can.

Andrew 22 Mar 2010, 12:30

I'm an old codger who has been here for years. I'm not the same as the other Andrew who just posted, so please don't have a go at him on the basis of what I may have posted in the past!

Cactus Jack 22 Mar 2010, 12:08

Andrew,

Your Rx is written in plus cylinder format. I have converted your Rx to minus cylinder format to better understand it. Both Rx result in optically identical glasses.

L -2.50, -1.00 x 120 Add +2.00

R -2.25, -0.50 x 65 Add +2.00

The first number is the sphere correction. You have low myopia that indicates that your eyes want to focus at about 16 to 17.5 inches (40 to 44 cm). Anything beyond that distance is blurry. This is caused by a mismatch between the optical power of your cornea and crystaline lens combined and the length of your eyeball.

This is complicated by astigmatism as indicated by the 2nd and 3rd number which is the cylinder and axis correction. Astigmatism is generally caused by uneven curvature of the cornea. Astigmatism makes it impossible for your eyes to focus properly at any distance without external correction. Astigmatism usually makes text blurry and hard to read.

The add means that you have started developing some presbyopia which will help you read while you are wearing your glasses. Presbyopia is not surprising at your age. At some point, depending on your working distance from your monitor, you might find either trifocals which provide an intermediate power, or computer glasses very helpful in your work.

Please let us know how you like your glasses when you get them.

andrew 22 Mar 2010, 09:06

Hi all, i'm new here, this is my first post!

I had a workstation asessment on my PC at work as my manager said I seem to sit with the monitor screen positioned much closer than most others. They said I should get my eyes checked out as I cant see the monitor properly at the normal distance.

I went for an eye test and it turns out I'm slightly short sighted, I came away with the following prescription

L-3.50+1.00x30 R-2.75+0.50x155 add +2.00 both eyes. They said I need glasses for the monitor distance but also I need some for far distance too.

I did wear glasses when I was at school but that was over 30 years ago, I stopped wearing them when I was about 16, I never realised until recently that I was having any problems.

Can anyone explain the prescription?

thanks, Andrew

Eyestein 20 Mar 2010, 04:52

Jesika

You won't have very thick lenses, so you will have a good variety of frames to choose from. It usually looks best if you choose a frame shape that contrasts with the shape of your face. Anyway, if this is your first prescription it certainly is a strong one. Can you see clearly no further than 25 cm?

Jesika 20 Mar 2010, 02:42

Dear all !

Sorry for the late reply.

That is my actual prescription.

But the Eye Doctor told me he is giving me a low prescription for the first time and going to give the full prescription later. He said otherwise my eyes will hard to get use to the full prescription.

I'm 22. Still i didn't order the glasses, Do i need to select a special frame for my glasses?

Eyestein 19 Mar 2010, 20:09

Cactus Jack, re Jesika

I was assuming that Jesika was quoting her friend's prescription because I couldn't imagine how she could work out her own with such precision. Perhaps this will be clarified if we hear from her again.

Cactus Jack 19 Mar 2010, 18:10

Jesika,

Please confirm that the Rx you listed was given you by an Eye Care Professional?

Eyestein & nnd,

LE -4.25 -1.50 x 90 , RE -4.0 -0.75 x 90 is a very precise Rx to have been arrived at by guess. Of course, she could have copied her friends Rx. On thing I find interesting is that she could have functioned in school needing that amount of correction. Reading a black/white board from almost any distance and reading a textbook with any degree of comfort would have been a challenge. The need should have been obvious to any teacher who was awake and even mildly observant.

nnd 19 Mar 2010, 17:39

Jesika, you can estimate your prescription by measuring the largest distance from which you can see clearly. Dividing 1 by the distance in meters will give you roughly your prescription.

For example, if you can see clearly from 50 centimeters (0.5m), your prescription would be -2 (1/0.5).

With the prescription you've mentioned, everything beyond 20cm would be blurry.

Eyestein 19 Mar 2010, 17:14

Jesika

Just because you can see well through your friend's glasses doesn't mean you need such a strong prescription. The accommodative power of your eyes can probably overcome about 2 dioptres of overcorrection. Therefore the prescription you need might only be about half of your friend's prescription.

minus 5 who luvs gwgs 19 Mar 2010, 08:58

Jesika if I may be so bold how old are you ??

Julian 19 Mar 2010, 07:25

Jesika: I reckon this is unusually strong *for a first prescription* but moderate as prescriptions go. Didn't you realize you were short-sighted and not seeing well? I'm sure you will enjoy the clear vision when you get your glasses. You don't say how old you are or what you do.

Jesika 19 Mar 2010, 05:34

post deleted - multiple usernames

Jesika 19 Mar 2010, 05:32

post deleted - multiple usernames

Heather 19 Mar 2010, 05:27

post deleted - multiple usernames

Roy 19 Mar 2010, 00:58

I would also strongly recommend Optical4less. I have a higher base-out prism than yours combined with base-up and base-down corrections. I have bought several pairs of glasses from Optica4less (including varifocals) and they have all been as good or better than any I have had from high street opticians and at a fraction of the price.

Cactus Jack 17 Mar 2010, 10:19

cj,

You might also investigate http://www.eyeglassfactoryoutlet.com/ in Florida. They say they will make prism glasses, but I have not tried them.

-14 17 Mar 2010, 08:08

Optical4less.com

cj 17 Mar 2010, 07:11

hi,

i was given a prescription with 5 prism base out, where i can buy eyeglasses with prism on the internet?

Tom 17 Mar 2010, 03:01

Cactus Jack, thank you for your explanations. I will go to the optician this Saturday, I actually got my prescription only yesterday! Will let you know what my first impressions are when I have the glasses. Cheers, Tom

Cactus Jack 16 Mar 2010, 17:07

Tom,

The lenses are actually a slice or section of a the side of a cylinder, but it is hard to see the cylinder in the lens itself, unless it is substantial. As Julian said, glasses Rx can be prescribed in either a + cylinder format or - cylinder format depending on the preferences of the prescriber and the type of phropter or trial lens set. In the US, Opthalmologists tend to use + cylinder and Optometrists tend to use - cylinder. No mater what type of phropter is used, the results are optically the same. There is a formula that will convert - cylinder to + and vice versa. Typically, lens makers almost always use - cylinder. If presented with a + cylinder Rx they just apply the formula, convert the Rx to - and make the lenses.

It is hard to see cylinder correction just by looking at a persons eyes through the glasses and strong plus lenses can cause unusual effects looking through the lens from a distance, but sometimes you can see some distortion in minus lenses, looking from the back. The easy way to tell if a lens has cylinder correction is to hold the glasses in front of you and rotate them while looking through the lens. If the shape of what you see changes as you rotate them, they have cylinder.

I think you will be surprised at the amount of apparent distortion caused/corrected by either your -0.75 or your wife's - 0.50. Remember, glasses actually neutralize or cancel out refractive errors that exist in the lens system of the eye and without correction, the images on your retinas are actually distorted and your brain has to work extra hard to correct it for you. Your glasses will do the correction for you so your brain doesn't have to do the extra work. However, for a few hours after you start wearing them, the world may look a little distorted to you until your brain learns that it doesn't have to correct the distortion. When I got my first glasses, many years ago, what I noticed was that ceiling corners of rooms didn't look square anymore. After a few hours they started looking like they should again.

One last thing to remember, vision actually occurs in the brain. The eyes are merely biological cameras. The brain is perfectly capable of generating very realistic images without any input from the eyes. Ever had a dream or heard of anyone having hallucinations?

I am surprised that you do not have your glasses yet. Your Rx is so simple that most large retailers stock lenses in your Rx and all they have to do is cut them to fit the frames. Takes about an hour. Also, if you decide to order some different frame styles, you can easily order online from someone like Zenni Optical. Their glasses start at US8.00 plus shipping.

Tom 16 Mar 2010, 15:27

Julian and Cactus Jack, thank you for your answers, I understand it somewhat better now.

What do lenses correcting astigmatism look like? My wife is very slightly nearsighted (Left -0.75 and Right -1.00, with additional -0.50 cylinder left) and the lenses of her glasses look really sharp, with no distortion of the eyes. However, the lenses in the readers of her parents give a totally different look to the eyes. I guess my prescription is what you'd call "weak", and there won't be much effect?

Julian 16 Mar 2010, 10:08

Tom: Cactus says quite correctly that you are very slightly farsighted but your main problem is astigmatism. The fact is that your prescription has far more minus cylinder (for astigmatism) than plus sphere (for hyperopia alias long or far sight). Because there are two ways of writing prescriptions (plus and minus cylinder conventions) it would be equally true to say that you are slightly nearsighted, still with astigmatism as the main problem. The alternative way of writing your prescription would be:

Sph -0.50 Cyl +0.75 Axis 180.

Don't get too confused by all this; it just makes the point that you have more cylinder than anything.

Cactus Jack 16 Mar 2010, 06:20

Tom,

You are very slightly farsighted, but your primary problem is astigmatism. Far or near sightedness is determined by the sphere portion of your Rx which corrects for mismatches between the length of your eyeball and the optical powers of your cornea and crystaline lenses combined. Which as I said above is almost nil.

Astigmatism is caused by uneven curvature of the cornea which is the front lens of the eye. Ideally, the cornea is a section of a perfect sphere, but sometimes the curve is steeper in one direction than it is in the direction 90 degrees away giving the cornea a slightly cylindrical shape, something like an American Football - though of course, not as pronounced. This uneven curvature causes the eye to actually focus at at least 2 different distances. The result is most noticeable when viewing text. The some of the lines (strokes) that make up the letters will be in focus and others will not depending on the direction or the stroke and the axis of your astigmatism. Unlike your mild farsightedness, your eye has no internal ability to compensate for this situation using the crystaline lenses. It must be corrected externally with glasses, contact lenses or surgery.

I think you will find that reading text or seeing small details at any distance will be significantly better with your glasses. Please let us know how you get on.

Tom 16 Mar 2010, 05:21

I am 35yrs of age, and just got my first prescription. Went to the eyedoctor because of eyesight trouble when driving at night.

My prescription is identical for both eyes and reads (Sph +0.25 Cyl -0.75 Ax 90°). Am I farsighted or nearsighted? Thank you for explaining this to me.

soundmanpt 15 Mar 2010, 12:50

Luvspecs

Yes, it is that simple provided your contacts don't have your astigmatism correction in them also. If they do your astigmatism will be off. Sounds like you have been doing a bit of experimenting. I wasn't aware of that before, that was why I questioned you. It sounds like they should work okay for you from what you say. Hope I helped.

luvspecs 15 Mar 2010, 11:46

forgot to mention I'm male and the glasses I have ordered have 1.67 index lenses.

luvspecs 15 Mar 2010, 11:44

I was previously wearing an extra -1.00 before. I can also see close up through my glasses when I have my contacts in (-2.50 & -2.25). I am 29 and work in administration. Today I have been wearing my contacts and glasses all day without any problems so fingers crossed I should be ok. By the way what would contacts & glasses combo actually work out to. Is it as simple as just adding the contact numbers to glasses? By the way thanks for the reply.

soundmanpt 15 Mar 2010, 09:54

Luvspecs

Please let us know how well that works for you. It seems like a rather huge increase to adjust to. Actually more than double. May I ask your age and if do a lot of close work? Close work may be difficult with your new glasses. Are you male or female? I doubt anyone except you will notice the stronger lenses. If you wanted to be sure they wouldn't notice you could have gotten hi-index lenses.

luvspecs 14 Mar 2010, 17:32

just had new prescription and was really hoping to get an increase in prescription so was a little disappointed with this new one. RE -2.25 -0.75 105, LE -1.75 -0.75 88. The old one was RE -2.50 -0.50 100, LE -2.00 -0.25 85. I had the same prescription for 4 years then was given this new one. I have not had the new prescription made up yet but have ordered glasses with RE-4.75 and LE -4.25 and kept everything else the same. Will peoples notice a big difference from my old lenses compared to the new ones ?

Brian 14 Mar 2010, 12:56

My glasses still are not ready yet. I'm hoping they'll be ready tomorrow so I could finally get them. I've been wearing my old glasses all the time since I found out I would be getting a prism in my new glasses to get used to the fact that I'll be wearing glasses all the time. My old glasses are basically the same prescription as my new glasses without the 2D base-in Prism correction in each eye. As soon as I get them I'll let you guys know how the adjustment to wearing the glasses with the prism correction is going.

Cactus Jack 13 Mar 2010, 22:37

Jack,

You didn't indicate why you are worried. It is highly unlikely that your glasses will ever be very thick or that you will ever be "dependent" on them. Your glasses will primarily be for comfort and effortless vision. Your Rx is so low that I would think twice before spending any money on higher index lenses. The lenses have to be thick enough and strong enough, buy law, to withstand a calibrated blow without shattering. That will be the controlling factor in how thick your lenses are rather than your Rx.

Do you know your gf's Rx and why she is worried?

Jack 13 Mar 2010, 21:47

I'm so worried of this because my gf also wearing glasses and she is totally depend on them. She also worried about her vision and had to wear thick glasses all the time

How ever thanks Cactus Jack for your info.

Jack 10 Mar 2010, 21:22

I'm a IT system Admin

from NJ

Cactus Jack 09 Mar 2010, 19:13

jack,

No, it is a very mild prescription. At your age, the sphere (first number) may increase slightly over the next few years depending to some extent on your occupation and how much close work you do. The cylinder and axis (second and third number) may change some, but the prescription even with small increases and changes is nothing to worry about.

What you might want to be excited about and looking forward to is getting your glasses and being able to see effortlessly and comfortably. After a few days of wear, you won't even notice that you are wearing them. If fact, what you may notice is when you are NOT wearing them.

Please let us know when you get them.

May I ask your occupation and where you live?

jack 09 Mar 2010, 17:32

Dear Cactus jack

Thanks for ur reply

i'm 26

I dont know why the doctor scared me

is this a strong script for first time wearer?

Aubrac 09 Mar 2010, 13:39

Brian

My wife who is hyperopic has added 3 degree base out prism to each eye. With this she wears her glasses a lot more now and seems far more comfortable with them for distance and reading.

Cactus jack 08 Mar 2010, 19:10

jack,

To answer your other questions.

YOu should not be worried. Depending on your age, your Rx may increase some over the next several years, but probably not very much.

Right now your main problem is astigmatism. The cause is unknown and there is no cure. So you will likely want to wear glasses to see clearly from here on out. It is not the end of the world. Millions wear glasses that are a lot stronger than yours and wearing them is not optional.

Cactus Jack 08 Mar 2010, 19:03

jack,

You did not mention your age, which is a factor in the answer.

Your Rx indicates that you are a very low myope (slightly nearsighted) with astigmatism. Your glasses will be very lightweight and thin. Except for the astigmatism you could probably get by just wearing your glasses to drive, watch TV, in class, or at the cinema. However, the astigmatism makes it impossible for you to see small print very clearly and your headaches were caused by your brain trying to focus your eyes and there is no way it can be done without wearing glasses.

When you wear them is up to you, but I suspect you will find wearing them very comfortable and you will likely want to wear them most of the time, because of the comfort.

You should try to wear them full time for the first two weeks to get used to wearing them and let others get used to you wearing glasses. After that you can wear them when you don't want to get headaches.

jack 08 Mar 2010, 17:31

I had a bad headache when watching TV.so I did my first eye test today!

Doctor checked my eyes and asked me to read the eye chart.

He was amazed when i couldnt able to read the 3rd line with my left eye.

He asked didnt i notice i cant see well until today.He asked how i got my driving license too?

He checked my eyes again and again with some machines. & gave me this Rx

R -.50 x -.50 x 90

L -.50 x -1.0 x 90

& told me to wear them full time.

What do u think about my Rx?

will i get strong lenses?

Do i have to wear them whole life?

does my left eye so weak?

I'm so worried. Please help me to find this

Thanks

MJ 08 Mar 2010, 10:44

Brian - I just recently got BI prism in my glasses as well. I have always had problems with reading (severe eyestrain, words would float around on the page, blurring, couldn't read for more than 5-10 min, etc.). The optometrist I have seen for my entire life kept throwing reading glasses my way. Never helped, just made the words bigger, but same symptoms. A few months ago I developed severe eyestrain all the time to the point where I couldn't drive, watch tv or anything without searing pain in my eyes. I went back with the new symptoms and was given yet another rx for reading glasses and was told to read more exciting books. Essentially, he thought i was crazy. I decided to move on to an ophthalmologist for another opinion. He diagnosed me with a convergence insufficiency and, like you, put prism lenses in the test frame. It was amazing how much clearer print got with each stronger lens. My first rx had 1.5 BI in each eye, had to go back a few weeks later and he increased it to 2.5 each eye. I absolutely love them. All symptoms have resolved and can now read for hours pain free. It took me a few minutes to adjust to the prism, but give it a few weeks for your eyes to fully accept the change. I don't wear glasses full time, only have a very mild astigmatism. However, I often find myself wearing them all the time because they make my eyes feel so happy. Now that my eyes are relaxed I can go a lot longer without them, but still need them for reading and close work. Good luck!

Brian 05 Mar 2010, 06:40

I will keep you posted.. As I said, I likely won't have the new glasses until the middle of next week sometime.. Thanks for the advice.

Brian-16 05 Mar 2010, 04:42

Brian- C.J. is correct in that it will be more comfortable.My rx is nearly 3 times yours but with 8BO prisms it it easier to cope.My prisms are just the opposite of yours.Let us know how you are getting on with glasses now instead of contacts.

Cactus Jack 04 Mar 2010, 21:00

Brian,

You will only notice more comfort. The inside edge of your lenses will be a bit thicker and the outer edges a bit thinner. It will probably take about 30 seconds to get used to them and others will notice you are wearing glasses instead of contacts. 2BI will only move your eyes outward a little over 1 angular degree which will be invisible to others even if they know what to look for.

Let us know what you think of them when you get them.

Brian 04 Mar 2010, 17:13

Well it looks like my days of wearing contacts are coming to an end. Not that I didn't know this was coming at one point. But I finally am getting a prism correction put in my glasses. After hinting it was needed for the last 10 years, my doctor finally put it in a trial frame and the difference was incredible. My distance prescription remained the same OD -5.25 x -0.25 x 130 OS -6.00 but I know have a 2(Base In)BI Prism in each eye. I got rimless frames with the polycarbonate lenses and transitions since I assume I won't be wearing contacts anymore. My glasses should be ready in about a week. Let me know if anyone has any thoughts or advice on getting used to a prism correction and what I might see different from a 2BI correction in each eye. Thanks..

Tom 23 Feb 2010, 05:43

Ok, i ended up getting prescription sunglasses in my "correct prescription" But they appear strange. The left eye is so sharp and clear but the right eye is blurry in comparision ( the right is only slightly better than without the glasses) What would be the reason for this? i dont think that the girl who did my eye test did it right? I spoke to the shop who did them and they said come back in 2 weeks, and they will retest.

All in all i am very happy with the left eye though, they felt a little strange at first but now feel perfect on the left side.

Brian-16 05 Feb 2010, 09:24

Dan...How are you getting along with your bi-focals especially in college ?

ehpc 04 Feb 2010, 20:55

Simply couldn't be a better 55 here......born with the energy of two people (really).........only a bit of appearance-ageing which is completely irrelevant -snow-white hair, what there is of it, age 47. I am also 8 pounds lighter than three weeks ago and plummeting. Living solely on fruit and vegetables until I lose a further 11 pounds and will then be spot-on my BMI weight.Just a minus 1 difference between normal glasses and a 'close vision' pair.

nostolgic 04 Feb 2010, 18:14

@Clare,

I'm with you on keeping the accommodation! I usu wear glasses but if you're contacts-only, that's fine if that's your bag. This is the 'prescription' thread, not one about specs, so it's OK not to like them here:-)

I have daily toric contacts in -3 stronger than my real script; they work so wonderfully. Vision is 110% in them a/c good accommodation and they correct my astigmatism - 20/10! I usu. don't talk about my significant astigmatism here, rounding to spherical equiv. to shorten my already long posts. Over-minusing makes my eyes feel very good.

If you normally wear strong contacts, you can't over-minus by too much. But to preserve your accommodation check the post I just left in 'induced myopia.' Basically hide a temporary pair of specs at your desk so the sum of your extra minus leaves you with just 1.5-2D of accommodation. When you first wear them at your computer, it will be in focus at 2/3 meter; as your ciliary muscles and lenses warm up, down to 1/3 meter. Much further away and your eyes won't converge enough inward to cause accommodation. Much closer and your head will pop off for putting your nose in your monitor! It took me 3 glasses orders for me to get it perfect (-4.75D - decent accommodation for a 42 yo - if I do the math my old eyes can hold +6.5 and more D of accommodation when warmed up to win over the close screen and minus glasses).

Since 'bifocal' and multifocal contacts basically suck, and, though monovision is good, it can only be used to get an extra +1.5 before it gets uncomfortable and therefore will only work 'til age 50 or so, it's especially important for you to preserve your natural accommodation if you wish to stay out of having to NEED glasses when you are going to read; much better to choose a few hours every week to put them on only in front of your computer to exercise your eyes and keep them young.

I wish I could say I am pretty good for 42. I still have thick hair and nice teeth but my knees and back are all shot to hell. Good luck staying young!

Clare 04 Feb 2010, 11:53

Like Lenses - not a nice thought. I'm still okay with reading fortunately but hope it'll stay that way! I have a friend, a couple of years older and more myopic than me, who does mono vision very successfully. I'm not keen to try it till it's absolutely necessary (ie a good 10 years!) but look to her as an example of what can be done.

Clare 04 Feb 2010, 11:49

Phil - not an issue for me, I'm pretty good for my late 30s ;) I agree with you, it's great so many professional women are embracing the specs, find the right pair and I could be tempted partly but it's not happened yet. How's your fulltime wear coming along?

Phil 04 Feb 2010, 01:18

Old Clare?!! Try 54! You are a slip of a lass. It's a pity you are so intent on avoiding glasses though. As Hollie's experiences demonstrate, minus correction is the norm for successful professional women. And glasses set such a great image both for work and fun. I think it's grat that so many beautiful girls now accept that wearing a nice pair of glasses, with attractive lenses, is something that enhances their appearance.

Like Lenses 03 Feb 2010, 23:19

Clare

At 39 you could find your accomadation change very rapidly.

There are a lot of problems with monovision contacts,yhe bigest being very poor ,to no binocular vision. Also with your astigmatism you may not be able to get them.

I think it would benefit you to try wearing a overcorrection,while you still can.

Melyssa 01 Feb 2010, 13:43

What's wrong with being 39? I'm age 39 years and just a few months -- 177. LOL

Clare 01 Feb 2010, 13:22

Thanks Phil, for making me feel old ;)

Actually I have excellent accommodation according to my optician so no varifocals for me just yet! But, as a contacts wearer, I guess it'll be more mono vision than bifocals when the time arises. I guess (and hope) though it'll be a few years yet ...

Phil 01 Feb 2010, 03:55

Clare, I didn't realise you were 39!! I was 39 when, at my eyetset, the optician remarked: I can see the first signs of presbyopia! I emerged with a slightly increased minus rx (almost excactly what yours is now) but still with single vision lenses. It was the same at the next test. But at the next one after that (when I was 43) she exclaimed "first-time varifocals": and I got my first add. I'm not sure why you are worrying: I have always found varifocals fine, except when I once got cheepo lenses. And I think that women look extraordinarily sexy when they dip their eyes to read in multifocal lenses!

Like Lenses 30 Jan 2010, 00:28

Clare

As Nostolgig stated if you wear the over correction no more than eight hours a day you will not induce myopia.

With the reasonable prices at Zinni you really should order a pair just to give it a try.

Clare 29 Jan 2010, 22:17

Like Lenses - I'm sure I'd like the crisp distance vision but am not sure I'd want an extra -1, that'd take me to nearly -4 which seems strong to me. I might be prepared to try if I knew it would delay presbyopia but wouldn't induce any more myopia.

nostolgic - I'm 39 and wear -3 and -2.75 contacts

nostolgic 28 Jan 2010, 16:08

Claire how old are you and what's your script?

I was just searching thru the full posts and couldn't find it before my girlfrienhd walked in the room. In a frantic scurry of missed mouseclicks I got the browser closed just before she would have caught me. I'm sure she thought I was surfing pr*n. D*mn.

Like Lenses 26 Jan 2010, 00:54

Clare

I think you would also enjoy the super sharp distant vision with an over correction.

With Zenni's prices you have little to lose.

Like Lenses 24 Jan 2010, 23:27

Clare

I think at your age it could benefit you to wear one to one,and a half diopters stronger to stave off the need for bifocals.

Dan 23 Jan 2010, 11:48

Nostolgic,

Thanks for the tip! I may have to give it a shot. Let's see how the bifocals work first.

Clare 22 Jan 2010, 21:36

Nostalgic - I wonder if this would be a good thing to do ahead of developing presbyopia. Maybe if I did this in my late 30s it might stave it off for a while longer! Although I don't want to induce any myopia.

nostolgic 22 Jan 2010, 17:35

@Dan,

Hope your bifocals work. Another think I noticed that helped sore eyes when I was studying a lot was an 'exercise' philosophy. Actually using extra minus (literally handicapping instead of helping like readers do). For example, get glasses ($7 on zennioptical.com) that are your prescription but taking the sphere -3 or -5 (for a young person) and first learning to see up close with them about 15 minutes at a time. When it's possible to read/see with them and keep things in focus (takes a few tries), use them to study for 1/2 hour at the end of the day. I might recommend Friday's last bout of studying - the first few times you might not feel so great afterwards (like the first time you go jogging).

Once your cilliary muscles get stronger, you can use it more predictably and for longer. Then normal closework (without the handicapping glasses) will be effortless. You may find that about an hour or two of studying (It's possible to work up to -6 glasses for reading, for a person in their 20s) 1x or 2x per week might let you do just fine with no glasses the rest of the week.

This is not for everybody of course. I can wear extra minus just fine but have a pretty thick skull when it comes to swallowing a temporarily different visual environment.

It's a tradeoff between glasses all the time and just part of the time. But like exersising it takes extra resilience. Also with minus glasses, you can see in the distance without removing them. Just keep it down to less than 8 hours a day - if you start pushing 10+ or fulltime, you could increase your myopia.

Dan 10 Jan 2010, 18:05

Thanks for your help Cactus!

I just ordered the bifocals with a +1.25 add. I'll let you know how they work once they arrive.

Cactus Jack 08 Jan 2010, 21:19

Dan,

I would suggest an add +1.25, but please understand that the choice is really yours. I have no way to know anything about your visual environment other than what you have said.

Dan 08 Jan 2010, 20:43

Thanks cactus! I have actually tried the OTC readers a bit and they do seem to help. So i should go with a +1.00 or +1.25 add for the bifocals?

Cactus Jack 08 Jan 2010, 08:18

Dan,

If you order bifocals, you may need to provide both distance and near PD. It us usually listed as a fraction such as 63/60 where the larger number is the distance PD and the smaller number is the near PD. The near PD is usually about 3 mm less than distance PD..

Cactus jack 08 Jan 2010, 08:05

Dan,

Before you order bifocals, try some low plus (+1.25 or +1.50) OTC readers over your glasses to see how you like that. Bifocals can be really handy in class when switching from the distant board or screen to your notes. You can try various OTC strengths, but don't get them so strong so that you need to get closer to what you are reading to focus. I would avoid progressives.

Dan 08 Jan 2010, 07:38

Cactus,

This past summer I was thinking of trying out some bifocals due to some discomfort when doing near work with my glasses and some trouble switching focus from near to far.

I had put it off but decided that I'm going to try it and see how they work. What would you recommend for an Add? My prescription is:

OD -1.00 -0.50 x 90

OS -0.75 -0.50 x 90

I'm a 20 year old college student who does a lot of near work. Thanks!

Dan 07 Jan 2010, 15:09

Thanks Cactus!

Cactus jack 07 Jan 2010, 06:58

Dan & tom.

Measuring your Pupillary Distance is easy. You will need a ruler calibrated in mm and a mirror such as in the typical bathroom with good lighting. Look in the mirror and measure the distance from the center of your nose to the center of each pupil individually. Do this three times and average the distance form the center of your nose to the center of each pupil. Add the two numbers together. The result will probably be between 55 and 70 mm depending on your head size. That is your PD.

Tom,

The Rx you listed was:

Right Eye (OD) Sphere +0.25 Cylinder (none) Axis (none)

Left Eye (OS) Sphere +0.75, Cylinder -0.50 Axis 10

I would suggest ordering two pair of glasses. One with the above Rx and if you want to try some low minus glasses order the following:

OD Sphere -0.75 (Leave Cylinder and Axis blank)

OS Sphere -0.25 Cylinder -0.50 Axis 10

Notice that I added -1.00 to algebraically to each sphere Rx (See, there is a use for algebra) but did not change the cylinder in any way. That is an important thing to remember if you decide to alter Rx on your own.

As I said before, I would order low cost glasses in both Rx and see how you like wearing them. Once you have a little experience, you can decide to order pricer frames and sunglasses if you want to.

Hope this helps and please do not hesitate to keep us informed.

Tom 07 Jan 2010, 02:49

What sort of changes would be required then for a small minus rx? i assume that my eyes would just accomodate for the prescription?

Dan 06 Jan 2010, 20:56

Cactus,

I'm thinking about ordering some glasses from Zenni Optical and was wondering if you could spell out how to compute Pupilary Distance. Thanks!

Cactus Jack 06 Jan 2010, 09:04

Tom,

Please don't do that without some expert help. It is a little more complex than just changing + to -, but not much. If you want to try some low minus sphere glasses, we can help.

Tom 06 Jan 2010, 08:30

honestly i would have prefered to be myopic, but not a lot, just a little so i dont have to wear glasses all the time, say my same prescription in minus. mayby i should just change the + to - and see what happens, though i dont want it to fuck up my driving

Tom 06 Jan 2010, 08:05

Cactus jack 06 Jan 2010, 07:35

Tom,

I didn't answer you question about your Rx increasing. It is not unusual for there to be a small plus increase in low hyperopes Rx after about 6 months as their ciliary muscles and crystaline lenses relax. However, in you case I suspect it would be pretty small, say +0.50 to +1.00 more than you present Rx. Also, hyperopes typically need bifocals a little sooner than myopes, but that is likely 10 to 15 years away. Depends to some extent on how much close work you do.

Cactus Jack 06 Jan 2010, 07:30

Tom,

Before investing in some nice sunglasses, I would suggest getting some low cost glasses from an on line retailer like Zenni and see if you think they will make enough difference to justify prescription sunglasses.

The main things you need to order online is your Rx, which you have and your Pupillary Distance (PD) which is pretty easy to measure with a ruler calibrated in mm and a bathroom mirror. We can tell you how.

The biggest stumbling block is choosing frames on line. The nice thing about ordering from Zenni is that they are very inexpensive compared to High Street opticians - Their low cost glasses (depends mostly on the frames) are US$8.00. For now, you don't need any extras, just the glasses.

Look up Zenni Optical on line and see what you think.

BTW, I have an on line friend, about your age and Rx, who decided he preferred being myopic (minus glasses) instead of hyperopic (plus glasses). He started with some low minus glasses about a year ago and is now wearing-3.50 full time.

If you want to continue this discussion, it will have to be tomorrow.

Tom 06 Jan 2010, 06:39

sorry for the extra post. if i got the prescription, do you think it would become more + as it kinda looks funny people with plus glasses :)

i have found this forum interesting in what can happen with eyesight. i guess the only reason i got my eyes tested was because all the guys i work with were getting it done, so i though why not

tom 06 Jan 2010, 06:36

Im a mechanic, i live in perth australia. i havent got a prescription filled, i was thinking of getting in my oakley gascans, depending on how much it will make a difference

Cactus Jack 06 Jan 2010, 06:19

Tom,

It couldn't hurt. Have you taken any action to get the Rx filled?

May I ask your occupation and where you live?

Tom 06 Jan 2010, 05:52

would it be benifical to get prescription sunglasses, for use when i drive? i do amature race driving in my car, which is almost always during the day, where good distance vision is important?

or would it be a waste of time. the optometrist said that my eyes work well together and give me good eyesight with both eyes, but stuff on the left is slightly more blurry at times.

Cactus Jack 06 Jan 2010, 05:32

Tom,

For the most part, you are a young low hyperope and you can easily compensate for the low plus sphere by using your accommodation. This occurs without your even being aware of it. The blurriness of distant objects with your left eye is caused by astigmatism as indicated by the -0.50 x 10 cylinder in the Rx for your left eye. You nor anyone else can compensate for astigmatism without either glasses or contact lenses.

At this point, glasses are optional, but that will not always be the case. Over time, you will find it more difficult to compensate for your hyperopia and some form of vision correction will become highly desirable.

If you do much reading or close work, you will find that glasses make things easier.

tom 06 Jan 2010, 03:59

also, i am 23 years of age and thought that i would have been myopic?

Tom 06 Jan 2010, 03:58

Hi, i just got my eyes tested and got the following prescription

RH +0.25 and nothing

LH +0.75 -0.50 10

i am confused because the prescription is + yet everything is very clear even very close to my face, but far away in my lh eye is blurry?

cheers

tom

Slit 03 Dec 2009, 04:59

Is Andrea who made the below last post around?

"Andrea 16 Apr 2008, 07:50"

If yes... How are you doing Andrea? Is everything fine in your end?

Just revisiting the threads and checking how our folks are doing :)

Neville 28 Nov 2009, 22:26

Cactus Jack

Thanks for your reply. It sounds quite alarming when you hear that the brain will ignore the vision from one eye completely. I'll go with her today to look for some new glasses today and suggest she gets some advice about when she needs them.

Cactus jack 28 Nov 2009, 14:26

Neville,

Because of the time difference, it may be tomorrow before Aubrac can reply. Perhaps I can help in the meantime.

Vision occurs in the brain, the eyes are merely biological cameras. In the ideal situation, the brain is provided with two quality images to use in constructing 3 dimensional visiion in the visual cortex of the brain. In the case where one image is better than the other, the brain will select the best image and use as the basis of vision. It will use what ever information it can from the other eye to support and improve the perception. If one image is really bad, it will just temporarily ignore it.

In your GF's situation, without her glasses, her brain will likely use the image from the -1.00 eye for its primary distance source and the image from the -2.00 eye as the primary source for close vision. With her glasses, her brain is supplied with two good images and it doesn't have to work nearly as hard to deliver good vision all the time from both eyes.

At 29 it is highly unlikely that the brain will completely ignore or reject the image from either eye entirely, however that is not the case in very young children. There is a condition called Amblyopia where the brain may decide to only accept the image from the best eye and permanently reject the image from the poorer eye. Should that occur, we do not know how to cause the brain to ever use that eye for vision even if it is later corrected to be able to provide perfect vision. Many times, if amblyopia is discovered early, before the brain has completely rejected the images from one eye, the good eye is patched, forcing the brain to use and develop vision from the poorer eye. If the therapy is successful, the child will ultimately develop normal 3D vision, but will likely have to wear glasses.

Neville 28 Nov 2009, 13:27

Aubrac

She's 29. This isn't her first prescription. I don't know what the other one was as she virtually never wore glasses. What do you mean that the brain will reject one eye, does that mean that it will become kind of dormant or weaker? And what will that mean for the future health of her eyes if she doesn't wear her glasses?

Emily

I think she wouldn't start with wearing glasses all the time unless she was told to. Would that be common at this level?

Aubrac 28 Nov 2009, 07:09

Neville

Emily is quite right in what she said. I would add that your girlfriend may unconsciously be experiencing monovision. That means the brain will prefer the clearer image of the -1.00 eye and reject the image of the -2.00 eye. Nothing particularly serious about this but it could affect depth perception as we need both eyes focussed to effectively judge distances.

May I ask what age your girlfriend is?

Puffin 27 Nov 2009, 14:03

Ian, if you've got access to a reasonably good colour printer and a decent wordprocessor I reckon you could do your own headed paper, don't think you need a whole printworks these days.

Emily 27 Nov 2009, 12:32

Hi Neville,

That's a fairly typical first prescription for someone who is beginning to become nearsighted. She can probably see about 20/50 with the -1 eye and 20/100 with the -2 eye.

She needs to wear her glasses for driving, watching TV or movies and if she's in school, to see the board.

Because of the difference in vision between her two eyes, she will probably be more comfortable wearing her glasses all the time, except maybe for reading.

It's not a strong prescription, so don't worry about it.

Neville 27 Nov 2009, 11:25

My girlfriend was given a prescription for glasses this week. With a prescription of -1 in one eye and -2 in the other how much does she need them and what would she need them for?

Ian 22 Nov 2009, 09:53

I mean like on headed paper that looks like it came from a genuine optician.

22 Nov 2009, 07:17

cyl -2.25

22 Nov 2009, 07:17

OD sph -15.75 cyl -2.22 axis 180

OS sph -17.00 cyl -0.5 axis 10

Ian 22 Nov 2009, 05:01

Can anybody here write up a fake prescription?

Cactus Jack 16 Nov 2009, 08:08

Mirka,

I don't know the procedure for getting a driving license in Poland, but in most countries the vision test is just a simple "screening" test where they ask you to read the letters on an eye chart at a certain distance or read the letters by looking in a machine that simulates distance. The test is done both with your glasses and without them. If you can read the letters with your glasses, but can't read them without, a restriction is placed on your driving license that says that the license is only valid when you are wearing corrective lenses. That is usually all there is to it.

You should probably wait until you get your full prescription before you try to get your driving license.

Paula 16 Nov 2009, 07:57

My distance is only -.75 which is why I don't know why they make such a big difference. I mean that without them, especially at night I sometimes see "rectangles" in the distance, and don't realize until I put on the glasses that there is actually printing on them. It just makes wonder what someone with -2.00 or worst can see!

I decided to try contact lenses, and the Doc told me to try monovision. I am trying them and they work! But the other day I was in a hurry and took out a new pair. I made the mistake of putting in two + lenses, and in the rush didn't notice this until I was in the car and rushing. EVERYTHING was a blur! I couldn't even read license plates. I wore my glasses over the contacts, which helped a lot, but was still fairly short-sighted. It was a very interesting experience to live the morning as a really nearsighted person. Later I was able to replace one of the + lenses with the - and then was really struck by the clarity!

BeBe 16 Nov 2009, 06:45

Paula,

Yes I definitely notice a BIG difference when driving at night. I didn't realize that the halos around lights etc wasn't normal. I also just assumed I couldn't read street signs, because of the darkness. By the way, what is your rx for distance, and do you wear your glasses most of the time?

Mirka 16 Nov 2009, 04:33

Today start my second week with my glasses. I think I got used to they, and I got a bit depend from they. My close vision got better with they than without, I every day put on they on as first things in the morning, and take they off before I go asleep. Sometimes I forgot, that I have they on, but if some friends see me with they first time are still amazed that I need they, and I need they all the time. As told some friends from here, I find my vision got worse when I take they off, but I think it is from reason so I am got used to they. I'm very curious about eye exam for Driving Licence, and if I have they prescribed in Driving Licence.

Aubrac 16 Nov 2009, 01:10

Paula

May I ask what your distance prescription is? Most people who wear a plus scrip for reading then start wearing also a plus correction for distance. It is slightly unusual in BeBe's case to need a minus for distance without being aware of it before.

Ricky 15 Nov 2009, 22:03

Hey Paula, I know how you feel. I have now ended up wearing the trifocal lens. First reading glasses, then bifocals and then the mid-range vision was gone---poof. The trifocals are on the way.

Paula 13 Nov 2009, 07:45

Hey Bebe,

At my last exam, I also got a surprise..didn't know I needed distance glasses till I went in for stronger reading glasses. What a shock. While they did make things sharper and crisper the biggest difference they make is for night driving. At night I can't read signs or street names without them. I can't now remember how my vision was before. The clincher came when I went to visit someone for the first time, not wearing the glasses, and parked the car and walked up to the house, and realized I was off by 1 block cause I couldn't read the street number. I am not full time yet, but now always use them for driving and movies. The increase in reading strength (to +2) though has made me even more dependent on them. How is your night vision with and without them?

Aubrac 13 Nov 2009, 00:43

BeBe

I think the point is that you are slightly shortsighted, this is a physical reality and nothing to do with brain signals or interpretation.

How much you wear your glasses is entirely up to you, some people with your shortsight prescription would be FT in order to have crisp vision, while others don't mind the constant blur.

Do you drive? As I think without glasses you probably wouldn't pass the 20 metre test. However, as I said how much you wear your glasses will be dictated by what you are comfortable with.

Rayray 12 Nov 2009, 10:05

bebe I think you said that the distance proportion of your prescription was -1.75, -1.00. As this is a prescription for short-sight your distance vision will inevitably be clearer with the glasses. Its just a matter of whether the increased clarity would make it worthwhile wearing them full-time. As you also need them for close-up it be that you end up taking them on and off all the time if you don't wear full-time.

russell 12 Nov 2009, 07:21

BeBe: if you are experiencing great vision with the glasses and notice a distinct blur when you remove them, why would you stop wearing them full time? It sounds as if you need them and can benefit from full time wear. Certainly, if you wear them full time for two full weeks, just about anybody you regularly come in contact with will have seen you in them, so they will not be expecting you to suddenly no longer be in glasses. And strangers will never have known you without glasses. So who would you be fooling? (If vanity is, indeed, your reason for not wearing full time.)

BeBe 12 Nov 2009, 06:03

I was able to get my new glasses yesterday afternoon. I took the rx to Optician on 11/9/09, and since I asked for progressive lenses (still in shock over the need for bifocals, rather than just reading glasses)) was expecting glasses to take a week , wow! I have been wearing all the time as Cactus Jack suggested I do (for two weeks.) Playing around with them I notice a disctinct blur when I take them off. I realize this is just my brain getting used to seeing clearly, as you all talk about. My question is, when I stop full time wear in a couple of weeks (which I do intend to do) will I be able to once again see the distant objects clearly, if I wear the glasses as needed?

minus 5 who luvs gwgs 11 Nov 2009, 10:24

Your girl friend is very short sighted but not incredibly shortsighted without glasses she cannot see a lot but can read if she moves very close to the print My own girlfriend is minus 6.50 Your girl friend sounds very lovely and I hope it all goes very well for both of you

Curtis 11 Nov 2009, 10:20

tim --

i asked her if she knew what her prescription is and she said negative 9. does that square with what you told me? i don't wear glasses so i don't know much about prescriptions. thnaks!

Tim 09 Nov 2009, 20:51

Hi, Curtis! You have netted a high myope, or very short-sighted girlfriend. Many of the regulars here would be quite jealous! Do you find her glasses a big turn-on? If so, welcome to the club! Do post a photo of her if you can.

curtis 09 Nov 2009, 18:49

hi. i hope i've come to the right place. about 6 weeks ago i started dating an incredibly attractive girl with glasses. she's shy to let me look at her glasses and i wonder if someone can tell me what might be wrong with her vision if i describe what her lenses look like.

they make her eyes look real small and there seem to be a number of concentric circles around them. and the outer surfaces seem to be totally flat.

for what condition would someone wear such glasses?

thanks

Cactus Jack 09 Nov 2009, 08:22

BeBe,

Should be endangers others.

Cactus Jack 09 Nov 2009, 08:21

BeBe,

Wearing your glasses is strictly up to you. Your vision is your business, no one else, unless you are engaged in some activity where poor vision engagers others, such as driving.

For the first two weeks, you should wear the glasses full time, to get used to them. After that you can wear them when you want or need to.

I would expect that you will need an increase in the add to somewhere in the +2.50 to +3.25 range depending on how much close work you do and how close you like to do it. The amount of the add is related on the distance from your eyes to the work. Your distance Rx (the minus part) and the astigmatism part may change a little, but probably not much. Your Rx should be stable for many, many years.

BeBe 09 Nov 2009, 07:40

How often would you suggest I wear the glasses, if I should get them? Will they be very difficult for me to get used too? What type of rx change do you anticipate in a year/ (Cactus Jack)

Thanks, BeBe

Cactus Jack 09 Nov 2009, 06:54

Mirka,

Remember, your eyes are not "getting used to the glasses" your brain is, and it likes them. We know that your Rx will increase in the next few months because your eye doctor did not fully correct your myopia. The amount of increase will depend on how much these glasses are under corrected.

How much your prescription will increase depends on your genetics. Most young people your age experience about -0.50 increase in their sphere Rx per year, but it can vary. The cylinder correction may change some, but that usually happens very slowly. Small axis changes (the number after the "x") are normal because the accuracy of the axis number depends on your skill at determining relative blurriness during the exam.

Contact lenses are certainly a possibility, but as your doctor said, everything has to stabilize or it is a waste of time and money.

Have fun on your date. If your boyfriend is smart, he will like you even better with your glasses.

Aubrac 09 Nov 2009, 06:39

BeBe

It is unusual at your age that you have never noticed that you are shortsighted and need glasses for distance. You may have noticed the other posts from Mirka who with a similar prescription to you, is just experiencing what is like to see clearly.

I would have thought in any case that you are on the borderline when it comes to needing glasses to drive legally.

The first two figures -1.75 and -1.00 represent the degree of shortsight you have, OD is right eye and OS the left eye. The second figures +0.50 98 OD and 96 OS are the cylinder correction for astigmatism. At certain angles some of the light rays are not focussing on the retina and need a correction of +0.50 at an angle of 98 degrees to correct it. This would result in slightly blurred distance vision, and also make reading difficult which probably explains the headaches.

The add of +2.25 is the additional power for reading, it effectively cancels out the short sight correction and adds more convex power, +0.50 and +1.25 for reading.

I would suggest you have the prescription filled as I think you will be suprised at how much clearer distance vision will be and reading ability a lot better.

Because of the difference of -0.75 between your eyes, ovet the counter readers will not help you as they will either over or under correct the vision in each eye, this will also lead to headaches as each eye will work hard to focus properly.

Cactus jack 09 Nov 2009, 06:35

BeBe,

Based on your Rx, it appears that you are not only need reading glasses but you are also a bit myopic as indicated by the -1.75 and -1.00 in your Rx. The myopia has been helping you with close work, because low myopia is like having built in reading glasses. The +.50 x 98 & 96 indicates that you also have some astigmatism. While it is not very much, it is enough to cause you to have difficulty with small text at any distance. The +2.25 add replaces the reading glasses you have been wearing.

I would suggest getting the prescription filled. Because of your age and this is your first Rx, you should expect to need a slightly different Rx within a year. This is normal. It is nothing to worry about, it just happens to most people in your age bracket.

Not wearing the glasses will not help.

Try to notice your PD (Pupiliary Distance). You may decide later to try some inexpensive glasses from on line retailers and you will need your complete Rx and your PD to order them. For now, it would be better to get the glasses locally. The primary reason for this is that they will adjust the glasses to fit comfortably and many retailers will re-make the glasses at little or no cost if your Rx changes within a year. Be sure and ask what their policy is if your prescription changes within a year.

Mirka 09 Nov 2009, 05:29

Hi Astra, Aubrac, and CJ.

I think so my eyes got used a bit to my glasses, because when I took they yesterday I find that all things at my room looking much more blurry than few day ago, before I got glasses. I think you are right with your opinion, thank you for it, I'm still anew about glasses. Anyone know how strong get my glasses in about 2-3 years? You think I can wearing contacts lenses? My eye doc told about they, but I have to get my finally prescription. But I still enjoy my clear visin with my glasses on!!! Today I have my date and my boyfriend doesn't know that I got glasses, I am a bit scary but exciting what he think about me and my glasses.

BeBe 09 Nov 2009, 05:27

Very interested in this site, as I was online trying to get some info about the glasses that were prescribed for me last week. I am over 45 and have been wearing over the counter reading glasses, for a few years. I never wore any other glasses, and have been experiencing alot of headaches. I also thought it was time I have a glaucoma test and things.

My question for anyone who can help is, what does this rx mean and when would I benefit from wearing these glasses? Would it make sense to fill the rx, or just wear my reading glasses?

Rx says : -1.75 + .50 x 98 OD

-1.00 + .50 x 96 OS

ADD + 2.25

Seems to me from reading your posts that this is a very weak rx, that may not be necessary.

Thanks, BeBe

Aubrac 09 Nov 2009, 01:00

Mirka

When I first started wearing glasses with a similar prescription to yours, I used to think my eyes had suddenly got worse.

But what really happens is that you get used to seeing very clearly with your new glasses, after wearing them maybe all day and taking then off, the comparison between the blurred and and clear images is much more noticeable. If you didn't wear your glasses for some time you get used to the blurred images again quite soon.

At your age, especially teen years, there will be changes in prescription due to growth, actually wearing glasses will have little effect on this.

anon

I have tried wearing my wife's 4 degree BO prism glasses, and as CJ said, there is only a momentary instance of double vision when either putting glasses on or off. However after wearing them for a few hours, the double vision partially stopped but it did take a few minutes to return completely to normal.

Cactus Jack 08 Nov 2009, 15:00

anon,

3 prism diopters Base Out will be almost unnoticeable because the tracking system which converges the eyes for closer than 20 feet (6 meters) objects will automatically adjust the muscles to fuse the images in a fraction of a second. Each eye will turn inward about 1.5 angular degrees. They might notice momentary slight double vision when they took the glasses off, but that also would be compensated for quickly, but it takes slightly longer for the muscles to relax than to contract. Another reason they might not notice anything is that the brain normally does not respond to images from an eye in motion, but waits until it stops moving to process it.

08 Nov 2009, 13:07

what will normal person see if he puts prisms glasses for ex 3 prisms BO?

Astra 08 Nov 2009, 08:42

Mirka,

It's normal for uncorrected acuity to get worse by wearing glasses, as your brain is getting used to the corrected images instead of the uncorrected ones. Moreover, your ciliary muscles are getting more accustomed to function with your glasses instead of without.

Mirka 08 Nov 2009, 06:43

Thank you for your advices my friends. Today is my second day with my glasses. I can to see very clearly, but I'm a bit worry, because yesterday when after all day with glasses I took off they, I think my vision got worse without they.

Cactus Jack 07 Nov 2009, 08:50

Astra,

The ciliary muscles are like any other muscle in the body, the way you condition muscles is by using them.

However, unlike your arm or leg muscles, you have no direct way to exercise the ciliary muscles. That usually is not a problem, because unless a person is myopic, presbyopic, or has some condition that precludes their use, the ciliary muscles get plenty of use and exercise without any conscious effort on your part.

The only function of the ciliary muscles is to adjust the optical power (focus) of the crystaline lenses and if the crystaline lenses have no reason to change their focus, they don't get any exercise.

A hyperope's ciliary muscles probably get too much use, but depending on the amount of correction needed, a myope's ciliary muscles get little or no use if they are not wearing their glasses.

In some instances, if the myopia has been uncorrected long enough, the brain may have forgotten how to work the ciliary muscles. When the myopia is finally corrected, the brain may have to relearn how to work the ciliary muscles and then the muscles have to get conditioned again and used to performing their intended function.

Astra 07 Nov 2009, 02:30

CJ, are there any means to get the ciliary muscles "better conditioned"?

minus 5 who luvs gwgs 06 Nov 2009, 23:22

Mirka if I were you wear them all the time your eyes will probably get a little worse as you are so young so sooner or later you will need them all the time wear them with pride and know you are even more lovely with glasses

Mel P 06 Nov 2009, 20:24

I also found that the simulations at Optiker didn't change much when I put in different numbers, although I didn't go really low. I think I'm a little bit blurrier than what the simulator showed for my prescription, which is R: -9.00, L: -7.75, -1.25x002 (plus a OU +1.25 add). My prescription was too strong to get a result at the Israeli site. I suspect there's a limit like that at Optiker as well.

Like Lenses 06 Nov 2009, 19:36

Mirka

All of the books on optometry that I have read say that if the astigmatism is -.75 or greater in the better eye , that the patient should wear the glasses full time. You are right at that point.

Your vision without glasses is most likely about 20/200.

Cactus Jack 06 Nov 2009, 15:51

I suspect that Mirka actually needs between -2.00 and -2.50 sphere correction. Her ECP (Eye Care Professional) suggested that she wear her glasses full time and come back in 3 months for another exam and an increase to her full Rx. An excellent suggestion.

There are two reasons for initial under correction. One, it to allow her to get used to having good distance vision with her astigmatism probably fully corrected. Vision is a strong secondary factor in balance (signals from the semi-circular canals are the primary factor), recall her mention of some dizziness. A reduced Rx makes that easier. Two, it is likely that her ciliary muscles are not used to having to focus and they need to get used to having to accommodate. A reduced Rx will also make that easier.

You may recall the recent 17 YO who was given an initial Rx of around -3.25. His ciliary muscles were so de-conditioned that he could not read or use his computer with his glasses and had to get tri-focals. I wonder how he is getting on.

I think Mirka should follow her doctors advice.

Guest 06 Nov 2009, 14:21

interesting comment Puffin, what would you think the optician would recommend someone to wear full time?

Puffin 06 Nov 2009, 14:06

Mirka,

Your prescription is somewhat less than I expected (but then, it was an estimate!)

It sort of falls into an inbetween area where the decision to wear all the time is a matter of comfort, avoiding tiredness, and utility, ie keeping them on instead of constantly on/off/on/off. It's not quite at the stage where things would so fuzzy that an optician would automatically recommend full time wear. (btw, that stage isn't far away, I think)

Best thing to do is give them a go at whatever level of usage seems appropriate for the task you're trying to do, especially (obviously) for looking at things in the distance.

Aubrac 06 Nov 2009, 08:24

Mirka

It is always for the individual person to decide if they should wear their glasses or not.

Your prescription consists of two parts, the first one, Right -1.25, Left -1.50 is the correction for short sight or myopia. This amount of correction will make thinks clearer for distance and would make glasses necessary for driving a car.

The second part Right -0.75x10 and Left eye -0.5x170 is correction for astigmatism. This is needed to correct light rays that are not focussing evenly on the retina and causing a blurred image. This amount of astigmatism will cause blurred images at distance and also make reading more difficult. This is maybe why you hold books so close to your eyes to read and can also cause eyestrain and headaches.

On balance full time wear would be appropriate but as I said it is entirely up to you.

As long as you have chosen some nice frames that I am sure will look good on you, trying wearing them all the time. You will be suprised at how clear things like leaves on trees, bricks, signs, etc look.

On thing you may notice as I did when first wearing glasses, is that everyone seems to be looking at you. This is not the case but only seems so because you can see everyone clearly especially their eyes.

Try with and without glasses and see what you think.

Millhouse 06 Nov 2009, 07:05

-Dave,

Yes, the sim is quite accurate, I have a -7/ -6.5 rx and its about the right sort of image I have with no correction.

Mirka 06 Nov 2009, 06:44

Yesterday I got my first glasses. My prescription is: Right eye: -1.25x-0.75x10 and Left eye: -1.50x-0.5x170.

Give me some advice, I have wearing they all the time or not? What do you think?

Specs4Me 04 Nov 2009, 17:36

I entered the Optiker site twice and in the first I entered the Rx the I wear, -9.25 and in the second I entered -15.0. I then flipped back and forth and could not see any diference in them.

I also think that the -9.25 shows the images to be blurrier than what I see without my glasses.

I question the usefulness of this site.

minusfive 04 Nov 2009, 13:17

It's incredible what the simulator shows. You can boost your prescription from -5, which is incidentally what I currently wear, to -9 or even -15 and hardly see any changes. At least not what you would expect with a 4 or 10 diopter increase.

Rayray 04 Nov 2009, 07:18

The first sim shows thing a little more blurry than they really are.

I am OD -8.00 CYL -0.75 105

OS -8.25

And my visision is closer to -6.5 ish on the sim. I think it starts off too strong tho in the minus start any way

Dave 01 Nov 2009, 17:05

Here's another one:

http://www.billauer.co.il/simulator.html

Dave 01 Nov 2009, 16:58

Definitely full time. I can see OK without glasses, around 20/50 in the better eye perhaps a bit worse than that.

Thing about astigmatism is that your eyes continually work at trying to find the right focus when not wearing glasses so the eyes feel continually strained.

Glasses wearers try this translator and tell me if it works for your Rx (and what the Rx is)

http://www.optiker.at/simulator/index.htm

Guest 31 Oct 2009, 15:59

Dave,

Congrats on the new rx. An interesting one as I don't know much about astigmatic prescriptions, do you wear full time?

If you didn't with the old, will you with the new?

Dave 31 Oct 2009, 14:18

New prescription which means new glasses, YAY!

OD -0.50 -2.25 x 165 (unchanged)

OS -0.50 -1.75 x 015 (was -0.25, -1.25 x 019)

I hope the change works - he thought it might take a little getting used to.

Eduardo 21 Oct 2009, 13:04

Thanks Cactus. Next time I go to the eye doctor, I may ask about contacts and see if she thinks they might be workable. Otherwise, I probably need to purchase a pair of "sports" glasses. I do like wearing glasses now.

Chris 21 Oct 2009, 01:24

Cactus Jack, I had exactly the problems you describe with toric lenses. It took me a long time to accept that I needed to start wearing glasses or lenses. When I finally accepted the fact, I thought I'd get contacts. After the test the optician explained that because of my astigmatism, I'd need special lenses, so I should get glasses first whilst the lenses were sorted out. Because the optician was in my home town and I was at university, it was another ten months before I began my trials with torics. I tried a series of different lenses but could never get anything more than adequate vision. Although I do have a pair of lenses, I only ever wear them for sport. I take them out straight afterwards.

Cactus Jack 20 Oct 2009, 19:37

Eduardo,

You need to ask your Eye Care Professional (ECP) about contacts. A contact lens for the -0.50 eye would not be a big deal, but the contact for the +1.25 eye with +1.00 cylinder for your astigmatism could be a problem. There is a type of contact lens, called a "toric" that is used to correct astigmatism, but some people have difficulty with the lens not staying in the correct position on their cornea. If it rotates out of position, it will cause the image seen by that eye to be out of focus. Sometimes, it is possible to get by with a sphere only contact that has the sphere correction plus 1/2 the cylinder (astigmatism) correction. In your case a +1.75 lens. Your ECP can advise you and let you try some contacts and see how they work.

If you can get by with sphere only contacts, I would suggest "one day" lenses. They are very inexpensive if you buy the lenses at some place like Wal-Mart (Rx required). You wear them only one day and throw them away. There is no care or solutions required. They would be ideal for occasional sports wear.

Hope this helps.

Eduardo 20 Oct 2009, 12:24

Hi Cactus Jack, just wanted to touch base. Am wearing my glasses full-time now and studying is less stressful on the eyes. I wanted to ask you about contact lenses---will they work with my hyperopic and myopic prescription. The reason I ask this is because when I play any sport, I take my glasses off, but in a few minutes my eyes feel like they are crossing and I sometimes see double. I think contacts would help.

marilyn 18 Oct 2009, 09:31

Puffin 16 Oct 2009, 13:57

They're not "rules", it's just basically what the average optician will suggest in a given situation. The wearer is at liberty to ignore or follow the advice.

Guest 16 Oct 2009, 13:42

Honestly, I find this attitude regarding "rules" for when to wear full-time a little odd. I think it's really an individual decision--if you want to see well, and your glasses help you to do so, then just wear them. I think to say that, if your prescription is less than -2.50, there's not enough blur to worry about, or to say that a prescription of -2.0 would be the minimum needed to wear full-time is just silly. If your prescription is -3.0, or -4.0, or whatever, and you don't feel the need for correction, then don't wear your glasses (except when driving, please!). If your prescription is "only" -1.0, and you like how you see with your glasses, then wear them whenever you like . . .

Visitor 16 Oct 2009, 11:06

On the subject of full time wear starting at -2, what would the guidance be if someone was higher than -2 in one eye, -3 say, and -1.75 in the other?

Puffin 15 Oct 2009, 17:16

Shantal, it does happen that people get along okayish with vision in the range -2.5 to -4.5 with some accomodation ie getting closer, etc.

It just depends on whether and how often you need the correction, whether you are able to get closer, of course,

some jobs need good vision, etc. Then there is the issue of comfort, some people find it difficult to cope with a blurred image, headaches, etc, especially if there is astigmatism.

(and of course, people deal with that sort of level of myopia without correction, as you well know)

Opticians (or eye docs) will make a recommendation according to their experience but full time wear normally starts at -2 from a standpoint of seeing things clearly and probably from getting people who can be reasonably expected to have increases used to correction.

Dieter 15 Oct 2009, 14:37

SAS,

I missed your earlier post but just caught up thanks to Danbert. I absolutely disagree with your doctor. I have used monovision for at least 12 years and have always been happy with it. Initially, I used contacts for most all activities but found them more useful at work. I now require more help for middle distances because of increasing presbyopia. I work at a computer monitor most of the day. That is essentially what you are asking – to use contacts at work for mid-distance purposes. Monovision is a great plan especially if you plan to continue using your glasses at times for other activities. Bifocal contacts may be a better solution for you but the only way to know is to try something. Find a doctor that is willing to work with contacts whether they are bifocal or single vision for monovision. Your’s is being a jerk when he acts as though it is a low quality solution.

Danbert 15 Oct 2009, 13:53

@SAS: I have no doubt that your opthalmologist probably believes that he is doing you a favour by refusing to help you with contacts. Unfortunately, he is also forgetting that it is not so much his job to tell you what you should do, but rather to guide you to a safe and functional solution that works for you.

Some people are happy with monovision and some are unhappy with it. People have different preferences, habits, expectations and adaptability. Personally I don't like the idea of it, but plenty of people seem to function perfectly well with it.

The same goes for bifocal lenses. They will work for some people, but not for others. The only way you can find out if they will work for you is to try them, which means going to someone who _will_ help you out. Explain your situation and hopefully someone will let you take home some different trial lenses. If you find something that works for you, great. If not, no harm done.

It's going to be a compromise whichever option you take. What matters is which compromise works well for you.

There is also nothing to say that you can't get 'normal' contacts and reading glasses, an option which I doubt I would go for but which may or may not work out just fine for you.

I think it would be a good idea to get bifocal glasses as well as a backup.

Disclaimer: I am not an eye nor a medical practitioner, merely an interested third party. Good luck!

Dieter 15 Oct 2009, 13:26

Shantal,

That sounds like the makings for an excellent story for the "When I Was at School" thread.

Shantal 15 Oct 2009, 11:58

Louise, I usually tell people don't even bother with glasses unless you are at least -2.50. Anything lower than that is not really blurry enough to worry about and it will just make your eyes dependent upon them. Soon you won't be able to see without them and will feel disoriented without them.

I was embarassed to tell my parents I needed glasses when I was in high school because I had been secretly wearing a strong pair I picked up at the thrift store and thought it might have ruined my eyes. For fear of being discovered, I lead a blurry life until I was almost 18 and completely utterly failed the eye test for my driver's permit. I went to get glasses and my first prescription was -4.50! Before that time my eyes had gotten so bad I could barely recognize people but I didn't realize how bad they had gotten because it took so long to get that way.

I really know the feeling of putting on those glasses for the first time. The world bent around me and it seemed like I was in a fishbowl. It took me months before I wore the glasses full time because it was such a dramatic change for me and I couldn't let people see these thick glasses I had after not having glasses at all and claiming my vision was just fine to everyone.

I guess everyone is different after all.

admirer 15 Oct 2009, 11:39

Louise

you have been wonderful posting here. everything you have said rings so true about your persosnal experience. At the end I feel you do gain by wearing them full time but you have to be happy. The benefits wil speak for themselves

ehpc 15 Oct 2009, 09:37

Louise - I bet you look STUNNING wearing the 'bold' pair. What do you do professionally?

Louise 15 Oct 2009, 08:20

Hello well I wore my glasses to work today, I choose the bolder pair as I think I prefer them on me.

I got few comments mainly "I didnt know you wore glasses". But people said they suited me and some wanted to try them on to see if they suited them.

It is a relief to finally wear them out in public just got to show most of my friends and family now.

SAS 15 Oct 2009, 08:14

So Sorry for all of the questions, but I do find your help, informative. I have been thinking about contacts, to wear during day at work. My opthalmologist won't rx them for me as he doesn't like mono vision or bifocal contacts. When I mentioned contacts and mono vision he stated firmly "nice try, but you do need bifocals and they must be glasses". He also said that I can probably find a Walmart optometrist or similar to rx & sell me contacts, but I would be compromising quality of vision and wouldn't be happy. At me rx (stated below), is there even a point in trying contacts? If so how do you all feel about bifocal or monovision lenses, do you agree with my Dr. ?

Thanks-SAS

SAS 15 Oct 2009, 06:00

Cactus Jack,

Thanks once again. I live in the US,Pennsylvania.

SAS

Cactus Jack 15 Oct 2009, 05:57

SAS,

It actually makes no difference in the optics of the glasses. Eye Care Professionals are trained in using either + cylinder or - cylinder examination techniques. In the US, Opthalmologists tend to use + cylinder and Optometrists tend to use - cylinder. Phropters are made with either type cylinder and trial lens sets have both.

No matter how the Rx is written, there is a simple formula for converting + cylinder to - cylinder. Lenses are ground from lens blanks which involves removing material which generally grinds in more minus to the starting power of the blank. Lens makers convert a + cylinder glasses Rx to - cylinder and make the glasses. The end result is the same.

I hope this helps.

May I as where you live?

SAS 15 Oct 2009, 05:27

Cactus Jack and Russell,

Thanks for your help! I am going to try the clip on's 1st, and see what happens. I have another question that you may be able to help me with. I don't understand the difference between the + correction for astigmatism vs. the - correction. I realize my correction is miniscule. Is it that with the + the .50 gets added to the -1.75 at the axis prescribed, and the minus cylinder would get deducted from the spherical correction at the axis specified?

Thanks,SAS

Cactus jack 14 Oct 2009, 15:40

SAS,

If you want to order some computer glasses and need help with an Rx, let us know, but I would try the clip ons first.

Cactus jack 14 Oct 2009, 15:37

SAS,

Comfortable focus at 34 inches would require about a +1.00 or +1.25 add to your distance Rx. Some while back, I got some +1.00 clip magnifiers for use with the computer and they are great. The nice thing about them is that they are cheap and I can look straight at the computer without tilting my head and getting a crick in my neck (I wear trifocals).

Check out http://www.rx-safety.com/Magnifying-Safety-Glasses/ their clip on magnifiers are US$14.99 and are available in +0.25 increments from +1.00 to +3.00 in two sizes.

russell 14 Oct 2009, 14:28

You can have your optometrist write you a prescription for computer glasses--which will be single vision that you will use only at the computer.(As Cactus said, be sure you tell the opto the distance you use from the computer.) Then go to www.zennioptical.com or www.39dollarglasses.com and order them. In about two weeks, you should get them. I've always been happy with Zenni's work and you will be able to get a pair for under twenty bucks. I love 39dollar's progressive lenses so if you ever buy frames only, send them to them for cheap, very well made lenses. If you go with 39dollarglasses for computer glasses, you will pay just that: $39.

sas 14 Oct 2009, 11:49

Cactus Jack,

Thanks for your help ! I sit about 34" from my computer screen, so I'm assuming from what you have told me that this would be considered intermediate vision. Most likely my distance and add rx are correct?, sound right? I hate to give up my cute glasses, but realize that the intermediate area is obviously not sufficient. Would computer glasses need to be prescription or would some over the counter readers suffice? My glasses were rather expensive and I can't afford the expense of another Drs visit or rx glasses for the computer, although I work at a computer atleast 8 hrs each day, so this is an issue

Thanks Again, SAS

Cactus Jack 14 Oct 2009, 10:43

sas.

The first thing to do is measure the distance from your eyes to the computer screen. You will need that number if you go back to your Eye Care Professional.

I suspect the problem is caused by the "compact" progressives. Your add of +2.25 will allow you to see things comfortably at about 45 cm or 17 inches and a bit closer, but things beyond that distance will be blurry.

You may find that "computer glasses", a larger intermediate area in the progressives, or tri-focals would give you more comfort.

sas 14 Oct 2009, 09:56

Hi I haven't posted for a long time, and just got a new rx, it is :

OD -1.75 + 0.50 x 097 +2.25 ADD

OS - 1.00 + 0.50 x 095 +2.25 ADD

I am having a major problem with seeing the computer. So much so that I have to wear my old glasses all day at work. My old rx was .75 diopters weaker for distance and astigmatism rx only in left eye. Could the problem be that my progressive lenses are the "compact" type and my mid range area is not large enough. Or is it that distance is too strong or add is too weak?? Please help. I'm debating on whether to take the glasses back to optician or ask opthalmologist for another exam.

Louise 14 Oct 2009, 08:10

Hey I wore my glasses last night whilst at home, did notice a difference when watching the tv.

I noticed that my eyes felt more relaxed wearing them, than when I took them off.

I wore them on the the way to work but have again chickened out wearing them at work but do have them in my bag!!

Phil 14 Oct 2009, 07:31

Louise, how is the glasses-wearing going?

Phil 13 Oct 2009, 09:09

I first tried specs on a bus! Look at all the shop signs. You'll be able to read them!

Louise 13 Oct 2009, 08:53

Im about to finish work so might try them on whilst on the bus home.

I dont live with my parents as have moved away to work, I still havent told them ive got glasses yet.

Yes it is strange why im so self conscious about them as im a fairly out going person.

Phil 13 Oct 2009, 08:35

Louise, put them on when you've left work. If it is beginning to go dark by them the difference will be more noticeable. Let us know how you find wearing them. It's odd how wearing glasses make some of us self-conscious, isn't it? Are your family expecting you to come home a first-time gwg?

Louise 13 Oct 2009, 07:48

Hey everyone, yes I did pick my glasses up today during my lunch hour. I did notice a difference in my vision when the optician put them on me in the shop, I was then asked if I would like to keep them on im afraid I chickened out at put them in their case.

I havent worn them since as ive been at work and will probably wait till I home to wear them and get used to them!!!

Stingray 13 Oct 2009, 07:08

My wife is myopic and her prescription is -3.00 OS, -2.50 OD with some astigmatism. On the prescription, the optometrist wrote "recommend hi-index or polycarbonate lenses". Do you think that is necessary? It seems to me that high index lenses are for much higher corrections. Is this just a rip-off or what?

Phil 13 Oct 2009, 05:17

Louise, have you collected them yet?

russell 13 Oct 2009, 02:29

When I first showed up wearing glasses, almost no one said a word about it. They just simply assumed that I needed them and that was why I got them. Little did they know that one lens was plano and the other had only a -.25 correction. I had no need for them. I simply wanted them and was glad that the optometrist prescribed some correction and sold them to me. (This was well before the internet where we have a vast array of possibilities for getting glasses without prescription or making up a prescription or doing glasses over contacts.)

Phil 12 Oct 2009, 09:37

Louise, I can't say that I found it easy! I've worn specs for 35 years and am still not fulltime!

But it sounds as if you have chosen nice frames. And you should take comfort that wearing them will enhance how you look rather than detract. Have you told your family you are getting them? Friends and colleagues will certainly just shower you with compliments (or just be too shy to comment). But family might expect to have been told!

Let us know how you get on. You will not believe how crisp your vision will be. Look at the bricks, leaves and blades of grass!

JR 12 Oct 2009, 09:05

Louise

Seriously, put them on and wear them. That said, we all need a little "alone time" to get used to them. Look in the mirror and see how pretty you are wearing them.

I think a lot has to do with your vision change. It is easier if you can tell a real change. If it is more subtle then you will feel a little self conscious. But it is just the first time, then it is easy from there on.

Louise 12 Oct 2009, 08:19

Hey had a call from the opticians and my glasses will be in tomorrow, so I should hopefully be able to pick them up at lunchtime. Am feeling abit nervous about having to wear glasses!!! Any tips on the best ways to get used to them, and wearing them in front of friends and family for the first time.

bela24 11 Oct 2009, 14:30

Hi, since this thread is post your prescription im finally posting mine after being a lurker for quite a long time!. Its -0.50, -2.25 both eyes, axis 70 and 117

ehpc 11 Oct 2009, 09:11

The bold black plastic frames sound just the best, Louise :) Pete

Louise 11 Oct 2009, 07:46

By the way im 25 years old

Louise 11 Oct 2009, 06:04

Hey everyone I choose quite a bold black plastic frame and a pair of semi rimless ones. It was my friend who persuaded me to go for the bold pair aswell.

Im just finding it strange that I hadnt noticed I need glasses and now need them, I guess because it all happened so quickly!!

Amy 11 Oct 2009, 04:27

Louise. Like antonio says, you only have a mild prescription so going without glasses shouldn't be too much of a problem for you. I would suggest wearing them for driving, tv and the cinema and perhaps when you're in town shopping. They will certainly make evrything clearer. Depending on your age your eyes may not change too much, but once you start wearing glasses, they do tend to get more dependent on them the more you wear them.

Phil 11 Oct 2009, 02:55

Louise, you'j be amazed when you first put your glasses on. If you are comfortable wearing them, keep them on. You'll be amazed at the positive reactions from others.

antonio 10 Oct 2009, 22:59

Hi Louisa,

whether you wear your glasses all the time or only sometimes will be up to you,

because it´s only a mild prescription you got. Nevertheless I´m sure you will be able to read far signs better in them and have a clearer view in general as you have astigmatism.

Just try and wear them for a while to see how good they are

best regards, antonio

ehpc 10 Oct 2009, 19:26

What style frames will you be wearing, Louise? Pete

Louise 10 Oct 2009, 17:17

Hiya I pick my glasses up next week they are going to phone me when they are in I got two pairs as they had n offer on both of them are very different to each other. Not sure which pair im going to wear more.

My prescription is L -1.00 +0.75 86 and R -0.75 0.50 100. Not sure what it means, also any ideas when i would need to wear them, or should i wear them all of the time?

Dan 10 Oct 2009, 11:23

Louise,

Do you know your prescription?

When do you pick up your glasses?

I'm sure you'll love the crisper vision!

Truely 10 Oct 2009, 09:20

Hi, I have been reading for a while but not posted just got new rx.

R -4.50 -0.75 20 3 base out Add +1

L -3.75 -0.50 180 3 base out 1.5 base down Add +1

This is my first RX with add but the third with prism.

Louise 10 Oct 2009, 08:46

Hello everyone just found this site and also found out that i need glasses for the first time!!!

I hadnt had an eye check up for about 5 years and was out shopping with my friend who was also picking up her new glasses. Whilst in the opticians a worker there gave me voucher for an eyetest and my friend persuaded me to hve one, it turned out that they had an appointment free.

I didnt think that i had any problems with my vision, but after the test i was told i ws slighty shortsighted with some astigmatism (not sure what this means).

As i was in the shop with my friend she helped me choose some frames which she said suited me. Not sure about wearing glasses, as it all happened very quickly.

Amy 10 Oct 2009, 03:49

Fran. Your girl friend must be about as bad as me, I reckon, if she can only see up to 20 cms without either glasses or contacts. I'm -7.00 and -7.75. But I suppose it depends what she actually means by clearly! For instance I can walk around our house without glasses and find stuff ok without any problems if I want to. But it would be difficult in someone else's house that I didn't know very well. I can't actually read anything without glasses unless I hold it closer that 20 cms if that's any more help.

minus5who luvs gwgs 09 Oct 2009, 21:30

My gf has just got a new prescription was minus 5.25 and minus 6.25 has gone up on both eyes by minus.25 and her add has gone up by .50 to 2.50 Great to see an increase in her myopia even though she is now 51 She picked a pair of Rayban rimless frames with a double temple in black and white I must admit she looks delectable great power rings and decent cut in what a lovely girl

Puffin 01 Oct 2009, 15:30

It would be around minus 5, and the visual acuity would be around 20/500, depending on how good she is at interpreting blur and whether she has any astigmatism.

I imagine a quick eyetest might be awkward.

Fran 01 Oct 2009, 14:42

The girl I have just started seeing, wears contacts nearly all of the time. I haven't seen her in glasses yet. She says that she can see clearly up to about 20cm and then after that everything is a blur. If someone can see for 20cm, what prescription would this be? And what would it be in terms of 20/xx?

Thanks

Wilson 01 Oct 2009, 11:49

Lentifan:

I have tried monovision, but was never successful, hated it in fact. I far prefer the clip ons.

My Brother, 24, on the other hand, likes the monovision. He has one lens -25 for distance, and one -21 for reading.

lentifan 30 Sep 2009, 16:30

Wilson, have you ever considered monovision, as an alternative to clip- ons for reading etc?

Wilson 30 Sep 2009, 13:00

Puffin:

I get 2 eye checks per year, have had increases in both.

Mark & Others:

The twins are identical. The -21 started glasses at 1yo, the -17 at 3yo, and she has lagged her twin in everything, walking, talking, glasses, etc. I'm sure they will both end up well into the -20's.

Astra 27 Sep 2009, 13:06

Re Josh: Same as Cactus Jack, I would advise you to have an eye check. Because eye discomfort are likely due to eye problems.

But you haven't mentioned how long you focus on the computer/book. If it is relatively short period of time (say less than 5 min), then very likely there must be eye problems. If there are refraction errors, the refraction errors may be quite significant (usually requiring more than 1 diopter of correction)

But if it is relatively long period of time (say more than 45 min), then your eyes may get dry or strained, due to slight refraction errors (usually within 1 diopter) or other eye problems.

Cactus Jack 25 Sep 2009, 08:30

Josh,

Brian-16 is right. At your age, focusing for long periods of close work should be effortless. An exam would be in order to find out what is going on. It would also be good to occasionally look away from the book or computer to let your eyes relax for a few moments.

You haven't provided enough detail for me even guess at the problem. My first thought is that you may be a little hyperopic (far sighted), but only an exam can determine that for sure. Don't be afraid to let your parents know that you are having some vision trouble. No one can know how well you see except by getting an exam. From here on out, your visual workload will be mostly close work in school and university and you need comfortable vision.

Please let us know your plans and the outcome of the exam.

Brian-16 25 Sep 2009, 04:39

Josh - It is always a good idea to have a check-up.Perhaps Cactus Jack might have some advice.Where are you located-US or Europe?

Josh 25 Sep 2009, 01:13

Hi, I'm new here. I'm 14 and I think I might need glasses cause when I'm reading a book or the computer my eyes sometimes drop out of focus and if I'm tired it can be hard to focus again... do you think I might need an eyetest?

harry 24 Sep 2009, 14:02

can someone send me images of the -19.75 (or less) glasses from zennioptical ?

if you can send it to my mail that will be great - dsuk124@walla.com

thanks :)

Dieter 24 Sep 2009, 10:44

Mark,

There's still some unknowns. Are they identical twins or fraternal twins? Did they start wearing glasses at the same time or different times? Besides, with the name "Wilson", they might be volleyballs.

Mark 24 Sep 2009, 10:10

@guest,

Thats kinda my point, its a 20% difference when they are twins, ie, they didnt start at different ages different births etc, were both from the same, and yet they ended up different.

Thats why i was asking as to whether there might be some nurturing difference as nature was the same.

and -17 to -21 is still quite a big difference, if it was -17 and -18 wouldnt be such a big thing as one might prefer slight over correction etc.

guest 24 Sep 2009, 09:19

@Mark

Is going from -17 to -21 a big difference? In percentage terms 20-25% isn't that much. That'd be like one twin at -4 and the other at -5.

Or given the huge jumps a 16 yr. old would have to acquire myopia that high one twin may be one or two RX's behind.

Mark 24 Sep 2009, 06:01

@Wilson

Its interesting that your twin sisters have different prescriptions, and by quite a large amount.

Do you think you could acredit this to their differences in personality and likes? ie one prefers a lot of reading?

Regards

Mark.

R Ed 23 Sep 2009, 11:40

Chrissi,

Your question "I wonder what rx I will be at when my progression stops!" is unanswerable even though no doubt you'd like to know the answer.

But it sounds like you and your parents are doing the right thing-getting good professional eyecare advice and following it.

I would have guessed you'd be prescribed an add for bi focals, since reading is easier with older, weaker glasses, but I take it that did not happen. Is that correct?

Puffin 23 Sep 2009, 08:26

Wilson, do you/did you have yearly prescription changes? Or did the optician suggest coming back sooner if the RX went up by 2 or 3 dioptres? Yes, I know 2 dioptres is to some extent managable temporarily, depending on what you're trying to see.

Wilson 23 Sep 2009, 08:22

Puffin:

As to my progression, it has been faily even in two rough steps. From age 2 to 12 it was about 1 diopter per year. From 12 to 20 it averaged 2 diopters per year, although one year, when I was about 16, it was 3 diopter.

I discuss my glasses with the optician before they are ordered, but I have had them long enough that he pretty much knows what I want.

Chrissi:

Mostly, you lose peripheral vision with the myos, and have to look through the center of the lens and turn your head more. But you should be accustomed to that if you have -13s.

My younger sisters (twins) are 16, and one is -17 and the other is -21. Both of them wear myos.

Danbert 22 Sep 2009, 17:38

@Dan: Myopic progression may be caused by various factors: (a) genetics, (b) excessive near-work and (c) myopic blur, amongst others.

(c) relates to the fact that the eye may attempt to compensate for blur caused by growing (the brain may not actually "realise" that shrinking, if that were possible, would be preferable).

This is debatable and may be contradicted by other evidence. Regardless, the general/boring advice I see is that wearing your prescribed correction will make no difference to your Rx at all.

Not wearing correction will result in squinting/eyestrain and your ciliary muscles will not have to work very much when focusing up close. These things are probably not permanently detrimental to one's vision, but they're unlikely to help it either.

Chrissi 22 Sep 2009, 16:05

R Ed, my script is about -12.75 and -13.75 for my left and right eyes (respectively). There is some astigmatism. I wonder what rx I will be at when my progression stops!

R Ed 22 Sep 2009, 07:04

Chrissi,

My Rx is

right eye -5.00, +1.25 at 45, +2.75

left eye -6.5, + 1.50 at 170, +2.75

I've had progressive bi focals for many years; they are great. One day perhaps you'll consider them.

Chrissi 21 Sep 2009, 16:22

@R Ed. I have yet to get bifocals actually! Still working with the older glasses thing for lots of close work....What is your rx?

Clare 21 Sep 2009, 12:53

Dan - my first Rx was about the same as your wife's; I was younger though, in my early 20s. 15 years later I mostly wear contacts and my prescription is -3 and -2.75 with a bit of cyl. I can't attribute the progression in my Rx to wearing my glasses too often - I didn't wear contacts full time till I got to around -2.50. And since I did, though it may be coincidence, I've not had much change.

Dan 21 Sep 2009, 12:37

After suffering repeated headaches and noticing she didn't always see things sharply when tired, and a visit to the ophtalmologist, my wife (aged 33) got her first pair of glasses two weeks ago. Her prescription is not strong, with -0.75 in each eye and some cylinder left.

I have been encouraging her to wear her glasses often (I really like her in them), but she only puts them on when driving so far. Although she immediately conceded that she could see much better with glasses, she thinks her eyes will deteriorate if she wears them too often. I think the contrary: put the glasses on, and that way you will not put too much strain on your eyes.

Do you think her prescription can evolve over the next years? And will it matter whether she wears the glasses often or not?

R Ed 21 Sep 2009, 06:52

Chrissi,

If I recall correctly you were asking about bi focals some time ago and discovered reading was easier with older glasses with less minus power. Were you prescribed bi focals as part of your most recent Rx?

Mark 21 Sep 2009, 02:14

Chrissi, if you are interested in trying out myodiscs but dont want to shell out a fortune i have a few ideas that you might like to hear.

Send me an email if you want to talk about this in more detail.

Samheim@hotmail.co.uk

Regards

RL 20 Sep 2009, 16:10

I have gotten myodiscs from optical 4 less and was quite satisfied with them. I've just been trying to find someplace closer to home than Hong Kong. Somplace where one could talk to the optician.

sam12744 20 Sep 2009, 14:45

RL,

I should have mentioned, though, that optical4less are still quite expensive, despite being an online supplier. The quality is good, but the choice of frames may leave something to be desired.

sam12744 20 Sep 2009, 14:43

RL,

Failing getting myodiscs( lenticular) done locally,optical4less are happy to do them online. You can order the size of bowl you want( default is 28mm, which is on the large side for most modern frames), so you need to specify in the "other instructions" what size you want. I use 20mm or 18mm to avoid them being cropped by the frame.They can turn out remarkably thin and light myodisc lenses in scripts from -14 to -40.Obviously, the plano carriers give the thinnest and lightest lenses.

Puffin 20 Sep 2009, 14:41

Wilson and other similar high myopes:

When you get your presumably myodisked glasses, do you give the optician some input about what you want, ie bowl size, plus or plano carrier, etc, or just leave them to it and see what they turn out?

Also, did your myopia go up sharply in the teens - for some congential or near congential myopes, it grows steadily or stays fairly flat.

Chrissi 20 Sep 2009, 13:11

Wilson, wow that is a very high rx! I might actually get around there by the time my progression stops. I am 14 and wearing -13 now.

Can you tell me about how it is to wear myodiscs?

Wilson 19 Sep 2009, 08:24

RL:

I don't think I am going to be much help, all of my family (also significant myopes) use an optician in our town (no chain) and have always used him. He sends out to a lab, my glasses usually take about a month to come in. I've worn myos since I was -18, about 7-8 years now.

My current glasses are 28mm bowl, plastic with + carrier.

SoCal 16 Sep 2009, 21:27

Okay, so I went to the eye doc today and to my surprise, he was going to lower my Rx. I had told him I was getting headaches and he thought that my Rx was a bit too strong for me and that lowering it would fix the problem. He also thought that my eyes were too dry and that the dryness was distorting my vision. He said that my current Rx was too strong for me and that, coupled with the dry eyes was causing the blur. I told him that my eyes actually felt better with contacts on and that there was not any dryness and that it was not the issue. So try and fix things for now (until I return next Tuesday) he lowered the Rx in one eye and increased the Rx in the other eye so that they were the same. Well, now when I am indoors or driving at night, I find myself squinting a bit because I don't feel like I am seeing much better than before I went in. What is up? Is it me or is the Rx off? Should it be stronger

Cactus Jack 16 Sep 2009, 16:06

Eduardo,

It was only a suggestion. It is not unusual for a low hyperope to need less than a +1 increase in their sphere correction after getting and wearing their first glasses for a few months. This is because their ciliary muscles relax after years of compensating for their hyperopia. However, because you are slightly myopic in one eye, it is possible that you have been reading with that eye, your hyperopic eye has not had to compensate, and your Rx is correct.

Many optometrists will do a recheck at no charge after a few months of wearing your first glasses and if you need a small change, many glasses makers will remake your lenses at no charge within a certain time frame.

After everything has had a chance to relax, a once a year exam will be all you need unless you notice a problem.

Eduardo 16 Sep 2009, 15:41

Thanks Cactus, I think that you are trying to tell me that I will need stronger glasses in the near future. More hyperopia?

Aubrac 15 Sep 2009, 12:25

Jack

Saw your earler post. Contacts come in faorly standard diameter and base curve but you must have an optometrist fit them.

If not you can get oxygen starvation to the cornea and loose sight to the lens.

Don't mess around with it

Cactus Jack 15 Sep 2009, 12:07

Eduardo,

I didn't answer your question about distance vision w/o glasses. The reason that doesn't seem as sharp is that your brain has become used to using both eyes together and is not over accommodating to see distance clearly with the hyperopic eye while ignoring the blurry myopic eye.

Cactus Jack 15 Sep 2009, 12:03

Edurado,

Good to hear form you. What you are experiencing is pretty much normal. The pulling or eye crossing are caused by the interconnection between the focus mechanism and the convergence mechanism in your brain. You distance vision may not seem as sharp because the image from your mildly hyperopic eye is like a slightly over corrected myope. The image appears shaper and you brain will always use the sharpest image as the primary source.

In a month or so, you might want to consider a re-check on your Rx after your eyes have had an opportunity to fully relax.

Eduardo 15 Sep 2009, 10:24

HI Cactus jack---wanted to check in with you after several weeks of college. Have been wearing my glasses all the time for about a month and been back at school for two weeks. Interesting, I have found that when I remove my glasses for any length of time, my eyes feel like they are pulling or crossing. Also, distant vision w/o glasses is now not as sharp. Not sure why this is the case as I am only nearsighted in one eye. Close accounting work is now less stressful on the eyes.

RL 15 Sep 2009, 07:56

Wilson, where do you get your myodiscs made? I find they are increasingly hard to come by and although my prescription is only in the mid-teens, myodiscs are the only really thin lenses I can get. Are yours plastic or glass and do they have a plus or plano carrier? How big are the bowls? Thanks in advance for the info.

Wilson 15 Sep 2009, 07:24

I am a 21 yo college senior and very high myope. Introduced to ES a few weeks ago by my room-mate. Worn glasses most of my life. First were about -4 at 18 months.

My script is R: -27.00 -1.75 x045 L: -28.50 -4.25 x050 add +5.00, been stable for a couple of years. Glasses are myodisks and then I have clip-ons with intermediate and add, and another clip-on with just +5 in the lower part for class.

ambly 14 Sep 2009, 04:34

Just had an eyetest two days ago script changed from +2.00_add+2.25 both eyes to R +1.75 L+6.00 add 2.50 this is the largest increace i have ever had.This was just a two year checkup i hadnt noticed anything wrong.Have not ordered any new glasses yet as I am still a bit shocked and maybe a little pleased to have a deasent strength script at last.Does anyone think my new glasses will look a bit odd with only one strong lens? I dont really mind if they do look odd being a long term O-O with a love of the unusual.

JimInCA 12 Sep 2009, 22:30

Hi all. Been viewing this site for a while. As sometimes people ask what someones vision is like based on a presciption number, I wanted to share this tool I found on the web for myopia simulation. It shows the number and an image and what it looks like. I imagine it is probably pretty accurate, but can't say for sure.

http://www.eyeland-design.com/webtools/53828496ca1045c06/53828496bd08d7c0c/index.html

My vision actually went past this as I had -11.5/-12.5 plus about 3 myopia in each eye. I say "had" because I got a surgery to fix recently - I got the Visian ICL in both eyes in May and then a Lasik on the left eye in late June. I am seeing very good now, around 20/20 - way better then my old 20/1000+ range!

JimInCA

Clare 11 Sep 2009, 12:02

Jack - my prescription is similar -3/-2.75. I'd say its worth paying to get a proper examination for contacts, unless you get the right brand for your eyes they can be less comfortable than they need to. Invest in the money, keep your eyes healthy and comfortable. I've had contacts that weren't and it is horrible!

R Ed 11 Sep 2009, 10:55

Jack,

Listen to Julian; he is correct.

I did what you are doing all through high school. It was dumb. Everyone knew I couldn't see; people are observant. No one cares if you wear glasses or not.

My denial ended when I got a great job that was subject to a physical exam including guess what? An eye test. A few days later I had glasses, wore them full time and guess what again? IT WAS NO PROBLEM.

Please let us know what you intend to do.

Julian 11 Sep 2009, 02:10

Jack: honestly, why don't you just let people know, AND SEE, that you have glasses? Everybody around you probably knows that you need them, so why not just put them on and wear them with pride?

Phil 11 Sep 2009, 01:30

I picked up my new specs. Distance rx down by .50 sphere and .25 cylinder to -3.25 in one eye and down by .50 sphere to -3.25 in the other. Reading add up to 2.50 from 2.25.

I certainly can't see long distance as well as before. Bus destinations etc are much more of a blur. And the bottom portion of the lense is much less clear for reading. But computer vision is excellent with the new lenses. I think I'll use them for work and get a pair with single vision lenses at old prescription for distance and another pair (at around -1.25) for reading.

The strange thing is that, if I take off the new specs after only a short period of wear, my eyes feel tired. I did not experience that with my previous rx.

Curt 10 Sep 2009, 06:32

Jack: Contacts must be fitted by an optometrist. They come in different curvatures and diameters, and measurements of your eyes must be done to ensure that the lenses fit properly. Badly fitted contacts would be irritating to wear, and could possibly cause problems with your eyes.

If you really want contacts, spend the money and have them fitted properly. They are the only eyes you have...

Jack 10 Sep 2009, 06:24

Hi,

My prescription -2.75 , I can't see anything without my glasses,nobody around me know that I have glasses (I am 18), and I thought that I need to get some contacts.

There is a store nearby which sell very cheap contacts , and I want to try some, but I don't want to go the optometrist, can I just buy them and put them ? Visitng optometrist will be very expensive so I prefer this way .

I am interested in daily contacts just for school ( because I cant see a thing)

I can videos on YouTube to demonstrat how to put them.

Is that will be a problam.

SimonC 10 Sep 2009, 01:14

Julian - Hi. It is inches. I realised as soon as I had posted it but had not had time to reply. Trying to post while I should have been working.

VFL: Glasses with me, just took them off to see what I could(nt) see. They were straight back on. Dont like going bare eyed.

Julian 10 Sep 2009, 00:32

Simon: do you really mean you have to be 6 mm. from the screen to read it? Even 6 cm. would seem pretty close with your Rx.

VFL 09 Sep 2009, 13:20

Thank you for your reply, Simon. Where were your glasses when you were in the car? Tucked away in your pocket? Don't you get headachey going without?

SimonC 09 Sep 2009, 08:44

Hi.

Without my glasses I am pretty useless. I can read the computer screen without glasses about 6mm away - cant make out the keyboard when sat here without glasses on. And no, cant see any faces looking around the office here. I can make out people sat down but no features of them.

I can manage getting around at home without glasses as I know where everything is so I can get up in the night to say go to toilet without needing to put them on.

Driving is a complete no-no of course. I cant recall the distance you are supposed to be able to read a number plate from but when I was in the car a few days ago and someone asked if I could see a number plate I couldnt read the one right in front of us when in traffic jam.

VFL 09 Sep 2009, 08:37

May I ask, Simon, what your vision is like without your glasses? Can you recognize people from across a room? Are you okay with not putting them on in the middle of the night? How about reading a book or the computer?

If you were out somewhere and broke them, could you drive home?

Galileo 09 Sep 2009, 08:21

Hi James, I have seen -4.25 with plano fronts.

SimonC 09 Sep 2009, 08:04

I am 35. My current prescription is:

L: -5.50 -1.50

R: -5.00 -1.25

James 09 Sep 2009, 07:15

I am sure this has been asked a thousand times but I couldn't find it, so here goes:

what is the MINIMUM minus Rx at which lenses are made flat in front?

I saw a delicious guy yesterday with irresistble flashing-in-the-light flat fronted lenses. Nice cut-in too. But then, from the side, they looked disappointingly thin, attributable mos likely to high index. Either way, I guess he was on the lower end of flat fronted lenses, and I am wondering what his numbers were.

James 09 Sep 2009, 07:14

I am sure this has been asked a thousand times but I couldn't find it, so here goes:

what is the MINIMUM minus Rx at which lenses are made flat in front?

jhon 08 Sep 2009, 13:46

probalby that will be more than 20/200, i think 20/250

Interested 08 Sep 2009, 12:42

Hey

My Korean girlfriend wears glasses. She said that in Korea, visual acuity is measured from 2.0, 1.5, 1.0,0.9,0.8..........0.0...and then into minus figures e.g. -0.1,-0.2 etc.

So good eyesight is at '2.0'. He eyes are 0.0 in both her right and left, so I was wondering whether anyone could give me an idea of what this would be in either standard visual acuity terms or her rough prescription. I'm really interested to know how well she can see. She wears contacts all of the time, so I rarely get to see her in glasses.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

John L 04 Sep 2009, 14:53

Recently had a boost to my near vision prescription to +2 both eyes now 49 was + 1.5 at last test at 47.

Distance

right

-5.00, -0.75cyl, -180

left

-4.75, -0.75cyl, -180

Clare 04 Sep 2009, 11:22

Phil - remember, it's your acuity that counts not your Rx! Did you ask what your acuity is?

ehpc 02 Sep 2009, 12:39

Phil - I am 55 and about five times in the last couple of years I have been assumed to be, or asked if I am, a 'Senior Citizen' !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's the white hair (what little there is of it :)) - hair was white by age 45. Pete

Phil 02 Sep 2009, 02:42

I've just had an eye test. My previous rx was -3.75 sphere (in both eyes) and -.25 cylinder in one. My new rx is -3.25 in both eyes (with no sign of astigmatism)! It's the first time my rx has ever gone down. The cheeky optician was so happy: she said it was "age-related"! I am distraught: I was expecting a slight increase!

I ordered Zeiss varifocal lenses. And I managed to get her to edge my reading add up to +2.50.

I am not expecting clear sharp vision with the new glasses but I suppose I might be surprised.

david 01 Sep 2009, 13:34

i want to make an order from zennioptical and i have some questions.

my prescription is -3.25 and -0.5 cyl

1)what will be the difference between lenses index 1.61 and 1.67 ?

2)is there anyone here who didnt receive his glass from zenni?

3)how much time it will take them to ship to israel?

4)you reccomand to buy from zenni or from optical4less?

if you cant answer some of this questions send it to email -hareld10@gmail.com.

Cactus Jack 27 Aug 2009, 14:39

Adam,

It sounds like things are working out about as we discussed previously. Your Rx is low enough that glasses are optional for most situations and they are no big deal to you, your friends and associates should you decide to wear them. The strain you described is normal because your brain now knows what the images are supposed to be like. It is trying to use the tools it has to improve the quality of the images being delivered without your glasses. Unfortunately, the tools (ciliary muscles and crystaline lenses) are simply not capable of solving the problem without external help.

Just out of curiosity, did you find that the football game was more enjoyable with your glasses? About how far were you from the screen? If it was more then two meters, it should have been sharper and any text should have been easier to read.

I hope you have found the advice and encouragement by the members of Eyescene to be helpful and you will continue to post occasionally.

Has anyone asked to try you glasses yet?

Adam 27 Aug 2009, 11:52

Sorry i havent posted for a while, but i have now started wearing my glasses in front of my friends. It was when i went to the pub to watch some football on the tv i could see the screen ok without my glasses, but thought this would be an ideal time to wear them. So i put them on when the match started, there were afew comments but not as much i thought just like "I didnt know you wore glasses?" and comments to that nature. I ended up keeping them on for the rest of the night. Now people have seen me in them i dont feel as self concious about wearing them anymore.

I do find that my eyes are straining when i dont have them on, but im still not wearing them all of the time mainly for driving at night.

Slit 27 Aug 2009, 11:11

Hey GG!

Well, actually it was me posting as Eyescene by mistake.

Yes, what you say seems to have a fact.

I guess forst we have to point nose, and then move eyeball along the vertical line to find the right place to see through.

GG 26 Aug 2009, 20:28

Eyescene,

Its true, I cant just move my eyes side to side to see since it gets distorted like you said. I have learned to point my nose at what I am trying to see. It was hard to find the right part of the lense at first especially when working on the computer but the more I wear them the easier it has become. Maybe because I started wearing the progressives with a low RX it was easier to get used to? I dont know, but either way I wouldnt be without them now.

Melyssa 26 Aug 2009, 12:44

Eyescene,

My husband has worn progressives for 3 years now. And yes, he does "follow his nose" to see properly at all distances. His RX is -8.25 with a +2.25 add. He got used to them pretty much right away.

Eyescene 26 Aug 2009, 10:38

Hey GG!

Yes, you are the engineer who started with bifocals.

Well, seems your eyes have found its full relaxed position.

I have tried bifocals, but never tried progressives. Always thought the area in two sides of the lens look fuzzy.

Does it require to point head at each thing you see? Back in time I heard a tip somewhere that prograssive wearer should direct the nose at what is needed to see (it ifs upclose) so that things are well focused.

How do you handle this?

guest123 25 Aug 2009, 16:52

thanks for the photos jack

GG 24 Aug 2009, 20:20

I dont know if you remember my posts from last fall but I am writing with an update. My full Rx is +2.50, -.5, add +1.00. I was wearing contacts but about 6 mos ago I finally got some really great glasses with my full RX. They are black and copper color with thin progressive lenses!! I now put my glasses on first thing in the morning and wear them all day! I hate to say it but I have become pretty dependent, I don't have the ability to bring near writing or object in focus anymore without my glasses and supprisingly distance objects are even more clear! I still wear my contacts occassionaly but I notice that my vision is definitely not as good and I find that I strain to read since they do not incorporate the astigmatism or reading add of my Rx. My Dr. wanted to see me back in a year wich will be in the next few months and I am curious if I will have any changes in my Rx. I have been reading that it is not unusial to have Rx increases often as your eye muscles relax. I am truly amazing how fast glasses have become a necessity for me. I will keep you posted when I have my next exam. Thanks again to all of those who encouraged me to trade vanity for great vistion. :)

SAS 24 Aug 2009, 11:31

When I said I see better without glasses previously, I meant (when viewing the computer, only)

SAS 24 Aug 2009, 11:30

Hi,

I used to post on this site, but mostly lurking lately. I am 47 yrs old and have a new rx for progressives. It reads :

OD -1.75 + 0.50 x 097 +2.25 add

OS -1.00 + 0.50 x 095 +2.25 add

I'm sure my left eye compensates for my right at distance, and with such a weak rx, why do you think my opthalmologist stated, "the glasses are meant to be worn full time". Do you think it's necessary to avoid eye strain? Also, I feel that I get alot of headaches and don't know if it is because of the new rx, or the fact that I sit at a computer all day, and find that I see better without my glasses. I need my glasses however at work to see anything printed on paper. Any suggestions or answers would be appreciated. Love this sight! So informative.

Guest123 24 Aug 2009, 10:15

I sent you an email

Cactus Jack 24 Aug 2009, 09:59

guest123,

I don't know of any web site with pictures of Base Out lenses and Eyescene has no provisions for posting picutres. If you will contact me privately at cactusjack1928@hotmail.com, I will see what I might be able to send you. I have worn prism glasses for about 20 years.

Guest123 24 Aug 2009, 08:39

I understand what you want and I checked it on optical4less, but I don't have money to "throw away" and I want to put this money on much better lenses,

My optician suggest for 1.74 lenses , what would you suggest?

+ do you have any web so I can see glasses with prisms before I do something?(it's not that I am not gonna order I just don't want to surprise)

Thanks

Cactus Jack 23 Aug 2009, 19:37

guest,

You mentioned that you were very concerned about the thickness of your lenses and unfortunately, Base Out prism will make the outer edges of the lenses thicker by a few mm. However, the major controlling factor in edge thickness is the Sphere Rx, the width of the lenses and the index of refraction of the lens material. Because this is your first prism Rx, you might consider getting the lenses made locally at the lowest possible cost, perhaps even using old frames and CR-39 because of its optical quality, to make sure the Rx solves the double vision problem. Then, you can order more stylish glasses with high index lenses. If you want to order on line, you might try Optical 4 less or Eyeglass Factory Outlet. Both offer prism.

Another possible way to reduce lens thickness is to put part of the sphere correction in contact lenses and the rest of the sphere, the cylinder and the prism in glasses. There is no way to put prism in contacts and the toric contacts are not always satisfactory. In effect, a form of glasses over contacts.

Before spending a lot of money on an exotic solution, I would suggest getting the Rx at the lowest reasonable cost and see how it helps.

Please understand that this is a forum of people interested in vision and optics. We offer nothing but education, advice and suggestions based on knowledge and experience. You are always free to do as you wish.

Also, it would be helpful, if you continue posting, if you could adopt a unique nickname. There are many visitors who post as guest with widely diverse questions and it is difficult to keep them straight.

guest 23 Aug 2009, 16:12

i have been in the oprician and i got new script:

RE SPH -4.75 CYL -1.00 AXIS 110 PRISM 3 BASE OUT

LE SPH -4.5 CYL -1.25 AXIS 80 PRISM 3 BASE OUT

i didnt order the lenses yet , and i need your suggestion... what are you offering?

guest 20 Aug 2009, 23:29

i am going to the optican tommorow

Cactus Jack 20 Aug 2009, 18:28

Guest,

That really is not the way to approach the problem. It is possible that you may need Base In prism. In that case, prism will make the outer edge thinner and the inner edge slightly thicker.

The important thing is to find out the source of the problem. Then, we can help you decide what to do about it. Remember, you do not have to get an Rx filled immediately.

You may need to see a doctor who specialized in such matters.

Guest 20 Aug 2009, 14:24

It is very important to me the thickness of the lenses (I have -4) and the glasses are thick,so I don't want to "put" more thickness on the edges.

So before I do something, do you have images of glasses which have prisms from as I checked between 1d of prisms and 11d of prisms so I can the thickness and consider the lens type according to the thickness.

Thank you

Cactus Jack 20 Aug 2009, 13:20

Adam,

How are you doing with your glasses.

hd,

How are you doing with yours.

Puffin 19 Aug 2009, 15:30

If I were to try assessing my own convergence or double vision problems I'd get hold of some prisms, look through one at a time with increasing prism each time, and see how much is needed to cause a problem.

However, this is quite likely to be awkward and inaccurate if you've never done it before, and will not tell you what the cause is, so perhaps best leave it to the optician.

Cactus Jack 19 Aug 2009, 14:45

guest,

It is possible that you have some muscle imbalance problems and that might be helped by prism. The need for a small amount of prism is very difficult to self diagnose and if you are having the symptoms you describe, the best thing to do is schedule an appointment for an eye exam and relate the symptoms you stated in your post.

Just to help you understand a bit more about prism, prism us used to bend light rays and correct for situations where the 6 muscles that control the motion of each eye (total 12 muscles) do not work together in a coordinated manner. Base Out prism corrects for the eyes trying to converge too much. Base In prism prism corrects for the eyes trying to diverge or not converge enough. Base Up and Base Down prism corrects for situations where one eye points downward while the other points upward.

Prism is specified in Prism Diopters where 1 prism diopter is defined as that amount of prism that will deflect a ray of light 1 cm at a distance of 1 meter. In angular terms, 1 prism diopter deflects a ray of light 0.57 angular degrees.

It is likely that you may need a few diopter of Base Out or Base In prism which would increase or decrease the outer edge thickness of your glasses by about 1 mm per diopter. Up to about 5 diopters of prism would be barely noticeable by others but if you do need some prism correction it would substantially increase your comfort.

Please let us know what you decide to do.

May I ask your age and where you live?

guest 19 Aug 2009, 04:39

hello,

i am 21 , and in the last time i feel that i am not fully control my eyes, sometimes i see think like double vision and i need to focus again, it's happen to me also when i am reading.

and its happen to more when i am tired.

I checked in the internet and i found that prisms can fixed that, so ,is there any way i can make a rough test on my computer to see if i need some?

and someone can give me explantion about prisms ? i also see something about "base out,base up...." what is that mean?

my prescription is -4.00 with -0.75 cyl both eyes

Joseph 15 Aug 2009, 04:50

Many thanks Cactus Jack, for all the information and insight. I had not had my eyes examined in over 30 years---so all of this presbyopia, latent, etc. is new to me. Am going to the optical shop today and purchase a pair of bifocals.

Cactus Jack 14 Aug 2009, 14:46

Joseph,

The effects of astigmatism are difficult to explain without your ever having seen the difference between corrected and uncorrected astigmatism.

Astigmatism is caused by your cornea being curved more steeply in one direction than it is in a direction 90 degrees away. What that means is that it is impossible for you to focus an image accurately on your retina with sphere only correction. The effects of can be noticed when reading small text where the horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines (strokes) of the letters are not equally black, sharp and in focus. It will probably be more noticeable in your left eye than it is in your right eye because the astigmatism is greater. If you move the text closer and farther away, you will probably notice that the relatively clarity of the strokes changes unevenly.

If you have ever seen a Tee shirt with multiple prints of the word "focus" that is similar to what a large amount of astigmatism can cause. Fortunately, you have very mild astigmatism or we would not be having this discussion.

Regarding your distance vision, you may not immediately notice an improvement in your distance vision. It is likely that you have been compensating for your hyperopia that it will take several weeks for your ciliary muscles and crystaline lenses to relax. Until they fully relax, your distance vision may be a bit blurry.

If you review the threads on hyperopia and presbyopia, you will find numerous instances of concerns similar to your. Essentially, you are what is called a latent hyperope and there are many, many people with similar concerns as yours. You are not alone.

Joseph 14 Aug 2009, 13:04

Honestly, I do not understand enough about my astigmatism prescription to even know how it affects my vision. Also, will the distant prescription make a noticeable difference in my vision?

Cactus Jack 14 Aug 2009, 05:39

Joseph,

The +3.25 OTC readers will be OK for close work, but you really need to consider some Rx bifocals. If nothing else they would also correct your astigmatism which can affect reading acuity.

You should be able to get either lined or progressive bifocals on line pretty inexpensively. You can try progressives, but with your Rx, I think you will find lined bifocals more satisfactory. Try both and see which you like best.

Joseph 14 Aug 2009, 05:26

Thanks. Am going out today and purchase +3.25 OTC readers.

Cactus Jack 13 Aug 2009, 18:53

Joseph,

For bifocals, the reading add optically adds to the basic distance Rx so your reading segment is actually OD +3.25 OS +3.00.

Joseph 13 Aug 2009, 18:18

Have worn OTC readers for over 6 years. Am now 49 and my partner had been urging me to have my eyes examined. Finally gave in and went today. Prescription is:

OD +1.00 -0.25 160 add +2.25

OS +0.75 -0.50 5 add +2.25

Interestingly, the + on my OTC glasses was +2.50. For this prescription, it appears the reading lens is not as strong. Also, a little surprised that I had difficulties reading the eye chart at a distance.

Adam 13 Aug 2009, 13:32

Still havent worn my glasses in front of my friends yet, but have been wearing them most of the time when driving. I also wore them whilst shopping in my local city this was by accident really, as i had them on while driving and forgot i had them on when i got out of the car.

So i guess this means i am kind og getting used to them, just need to wait for the moment i forget to take them of in front of my friends!!!

Dan 13 Aug 2009, 08:09

Clare,

My vision without the glasses/contacts is not terrible (I wouldn't expect it to be with a -1.00) but I really like to see things as clearly as possible.

I'll be going back to college in a week or two and I need to be able to see the board obviously. It's easier to just wear the glasses/contacts all the time especially with my new prescription.

The only time I see myself not wearing any correction is in the morning when I wake up or late at night if I'm just watching TV. Actually, right now, I'm not wearing any correction while typing this.

Clare 13 Aug 2009, 01:33

Dan - congratulations on your new Rx. How are you finding your vision without glasses/contacts now? I guess that's a factor in your decision to go full time?

Dan 12 Aug 2009, 15:22

I posted back in June regarding my new prescription:

OD -1.00 -0.50 x 090

OS -0.75 -0.50 x 090

At the time, I decided to get contacts (yes I know, contacts...everyone start the jeering haha) and just now got around to getting my glasses' prescription updated.

Although the contacts are great, there is definitely nothing like getting a new prescription and seeing the thickness of the lens...mine are a fair amount thicker than last time.

Looks like I'll be full time now (whether it be contacts or glasses).

Cactus Jack 11 Aug 2009, 14:57

Adam,

The halo effect is typical of an improperly focused image on your retinas. Lack of focus does two things; it makes the image a bit fuzzy, and it spreads the available photons over a larger area, which reduces their ability to stimulate the light sensitive cells in your retina. The result is a very mild form or night blindness. Most people who need a much stronger Rx than you, try to avoid doing anything after dark without their glasses for that reason.

You are doing fine, I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the reaction of your customers and friends. I will bet that it will be a non-event.

Adam 11 Aug 2009, 13:47

Yes the cinema sounds like a good idea, will try and go when ive got some time. As it is dark i went for a drive wearing my glasses, and they do make a difference to my vision make lights less of a halo effect (if that makes any sense). Have kept them on since i got back from my drive t owatch tv, to try and get used to having glasses on my face which does feel strange and i guess takes time to get used to!

Cactus Jack 11 Aug 2009, 12:35

Adam,

The more I think of it, the cinema would be an excellent idea. You can put on your glasses after the lights go down and if the movie is a good one, you may forget that you are wearing them and even walk out with them on.

Cactus Jack 11 Aug 2009, 12:31

Adam,

Most people with a low Rx and some with a remarkably high one are surprised that their vision was not "perfect" before they got glasses. If nothing else, go somewhere where you are not well known and see what the world is really like. I think you will really notice the difference after dark. Perhaps the cinema.

Adam 11 Aug 2009, 11:15

Hello, my glasses arrived today. I have worn them in the house abit and have noticed that my eyes feel relaxed wearing them, and that words on the the television are clearer, i had not noticed them being blurry before.

Im still not sure that i suit glasses and i think i look abit strange wearing them. I havent worn them in public yet as i only got them after i had finished work, now got to build the confidence to wear them out in public.

Cactus Jack 08 Aug 2009, 08:03

Adam,

I think you will notice the biggest difference in low light conditions. In bright light, your irises close down and that is like squinting. Please don't wait too long to wear them in public. All that happens is that wearing glasses will just be "something new". Everyone will want to try them and some will comment that they are not very strong. You may also find that others are pretty quiet and make no comment. Usually, the ones that make no comment, discover that they see better with the glasses.

Your Rx means that your vision starts to blur around 2 meters (6.5 feet). Closer than that, you probably won't notice much difference with your Rx.

Andrew 07 Aug 2009, 11:06

Bel,

I'm no expert, but two things spring to mind. It might be your age, or it could be the way the prescription was written last time out, or a combination of both. CJ will also point out that small amounts of astigmatism are difficult to assess 100% accurately so this could also come into play.

Adam 07 Aug 2009, 08:45

Hello well i choose two pairs from an internet site and they should be delivered in 3 to 4 days!! Still havent told people i need glasses yet, will try and get used to wearing them first before i wear them in front of people.

Will let you know how i get on.

Cactus Jack 06 Aug 2009, 18:55

Eduardo,

Please do.

Eduardo 06 Aug 2009, 17:22

Thanks for your advising, Cactus Jack. If it is okay, I will post after I return to school and let you know how my life and studies go with glasses.

bel 06 Aug 2009, 15:52

Andrew, I hadn't had an eye test in a few years which was mainly why I decided to get one. I do get tired eyes when reading and the occasional headache but I've gotten used to it.

The other interesting thing (well to me, at least) was at my previous test I was very slightly nearsighted and now I am slightly farsighted. Is there a reason behind this?

Cactus jack 06 Aug 2009, 11:15

Eduardo,

At 19 you probably have quite a ways to go. The typical age is around 40, but the need for focusing help can occur at any age. College students with heavy workloads occasionally get bifocals for the classroom to make switching from reading the blackboard to their notes easier. Don't sweat it.

Eduardo 06 Aug 2009, 10:21

Hi, I am 19 and live in Brooklyn, NY. I cannot even imagine wearing bifocals---is it possible that I could need them in a few years? Just getting used to full-time wear of glasses seems to be a big deal to me. Want to be wearing my glasses full-time when I return to school in a few weeks.

Cactus Jack 06 Aug 2009, 09:43

Eduardo,

Yes, you will likely need some form of vision correction from now on. Symptoms that you need an Rx change would be about the same as you previously indicated or mild blurring. Even if no symptoms appear, you should get a yearly exam.

Also, don't be too surprised if you wind up needing some additional help with close work a bit sooner than is typical (bifocals).

May I ask your age and where you live?

Eduardo 06 Aug 2009, 09:17

It does look as if I should get used to the idea of wearing glasses from now on. Stronger glasses in a few months---what would be a signal that I need new glasses? headaches, etc.

Cactus jacl 06 Aug 2009, 05:45

Eduardo,

The numbers after +1.25 indicate that you do have astigmatism in that eye. Astigmatism affects your vision at all distances and there is no way for you to compensate for it except with glasses or a toric contact lens, which may or may not work.

It is very difficult to predict what changes may occur in your Rx because it is difficult to know how you have been compensating for the hyperopia in your right eye. Within limits, unlike myopia, it is possible for you to compensate for hyperopia. people with low hyperopia regularly, without being aware of it, compensate for their hyperopia by using the auto-focus mechanism in their eyes. This constant compensation can cause their ciliary muscles and crystaline lenses to have difficulty relaxing. This condition is called latent hyperopia because the "victim" is usually not aware of the condition until early presbyopia prevents reading comfortably. Depending on the circumstances, when they finally get an exam and vision correction, there is a period of Rx changes over several months, typically increasing plus, as the ciliary muscles and crystaline lenses relax. Only time will tell how you have been compensating for the hyperopia in your right eye.

It is also possible that the -0.50 will increase a little, but probably not too much. You should just be aware that changes are possible and most Eye Care Professionals will gladly re-check your Rx if you have problems. Some will provide new lenses for your glasses at no charge if your Rx changes within one year.

Eduardo 06 Aug 2009, 03:58

Hi Cactus, thank you for your thoughts. I checked my prescription last night and the eye that is -.50 has no other numbers on the line. The line that is +1.25 has additional numbers after the +1.25: +1.00 X 175

Also, I was interested in why you thought I would need a new prescription in a few months and should I be expecting more farsightedness or nearsightedness or both?

Many thanks!

Andrew 06 Aug 2009, 02:50

Well done to the optician for NOT insisting that you get glasses with such a mild prescription. The choice is yours, bel, but I guess one of the factors might be what made you decide to get your eyes tested in the first place. If, for example, your eyes get tired when reading, then the glasses might help with that. If you were to go ahead and get glasses, you should also be able to take advantage of a "complete pair of glasses including frames and lenses for a set price deal".

Good luck with whatever you decide.

bel 06 Aug 2009, 02:13

I went for an eye test about a month ago and was given a prescription of +0.50 -0.25 X 180 for both eyes. The optician mentioned it was a borderline prescription and it was up to me whether I wanted to get glasses.

For such a mild prescription, I don't know whether I want to invest in a pair of glasses which can be quite costly. Also, will I see a difference if I do get these glasses made?

Cactus Jack 05 Aug 2009, 19:50

hd,

That sounds about right for a person who has never worn glasses and almost immediately needed trifocals. Sounds like you are discovering what you have been missing. Best wishes and please try to occasionally post your adventures. I understand Greece is a very beautiful country, enjoy.

Have you had any comments about wearing glasses or the fact that you needed to start with trifocals?

Cactus Jack 05 Aug 2009, 19:38

Mike,

All that would happen is that you wouldn't be able to see very well with either a very high plus Rx or a very high minus Rx.

Myopia is primarily caused by a mismatch between the plus power of your cornea and crystaline lenses combined (about +40 diopters) and the length of your eyeball. It is highly likely that because of genetics and perhaps your visual environment mildly excessive growth has occurred and your eyeball is about 4 mm longer than it should be for the above mentioned plus power. Your minus lenses cause the focus plane to move back to your retina so you can see clearly.

Unfortunately, organs of the body, including the eyes tend to grow rather than shrink and eyeball growth, if it occurs, tends to occur slowly increasing myopia in those so disposed. Age plays a big factor in growth, may I ask your age and occupation?

Mike 05 Aug 2009, 17:19

Hello,

I am -4D and I have question,

If for example I put very high plus glasses (+12D)

Or very high minus (-15D) for a day what is going to happen to my vision? Maybe it will help me improve my acuity? Maybe it can help me lower my -4D's?

Mike

hd 05 Aug 2009, 14:48

jack,

i got the trifocals, they are great, i can see fr close and mid very sharp and focous.

i need a week in order to adapt to the glasses

Cactus Jack 05 Aug 2009, 12:23

Eduardo,

What is happening is not at all surprising. There are a few fields of study where your eyes will let you know if you have a problem and accounting is one of them.

I wish you well and don't be hesitant to seek help if you have vision discomfort. There is no need for it.

Eduardo 05 Aug 2009, 09:36

Will check my prescription for astigmatism. I will be a sophomore and am studying accounting.

Cactus Jack 05 Aug 2009, 08:00

Eduardo,

In your situation, full time wear would be very helpful in training your eyes to work together as a team. Because of the difference between your two eyes, you have years of experience in using your eyes separately and it will take a while for your brain to learn to fully coordinate two good images rather than picking he best image for the situation and using it. Once your brain learns how to use both eyes together, you will have significantly improved depth perception (3D stereo images) and improved overall visual acuity. Also, it is possible that your right eye has become so used to compensating for the +1.25 that it will take a while for your ciliary muscles and crystaline lens to relax and start functioning properly. You should expect to need another exam in 3 to 6 months and the possibility of a prescription change.

If you have astigmatism, it would be indicated by a cylinder and axis component in your Rx. For example, if your Rx was written as:

OD (right eye) +1.25, -0.50 x 87

OS (left eye) -0.50, -0.25 x 80

The first number would be the sphere correction for myopia or hyperopia and the second and third number would be cylinder and axis for astigmatism. If you have no cylinder or axis listed, that means you don't need any astigmatism correction.

I hope this helps. Let us know if you have other questions. May I ask your college level and field of study?

Eduardo 05 Aug 2009, 07:05

Hi,

The eye doctor did suggest full-time wear. I have been working on that but am not there,as of yet. How would I know about astigmatism?

Cactus Jack 05 Aug 2009, 06:13

Eduardo,

It is very common for there to be a difference between the prescription for each eye. Yours just happens to be on different sides of 0.00. The difference is enough to make it hard for your eyes to work together and the fact that one is - and the other is + makes it even harder.

I suspect that you have needed vision correction for several years, but your brain was able to compensate for the difference. The higher study workload in college just made your visual system complain by causing the symptoms you described.

Just for information, the -0.50 in your left eye actually makes close work a little easier, but the +1.25 in your right makes close work significantly harder. And, if there is also some cylinder for astigmatism needed, it just makes things even worse without correction.

Did your Eye Care Professional suggest full time wear?

Eduardo 05 Aug 2009, 04:33

This past school year at college, I noticed that I was rubbing my eyes a lot while studying and having occasional headaches. Decided to have my eyes examined before returning to school. Ended up with a very interesting prescription---one eye has slight myopia and the other is farsighted. -.50 in the left and +1.25 in the right. Would this type of vision problem cause my difficulties with studies? Is plus in one eye and minus in the other common. Never heard or seen it before.

Cactus Jack 04 Aug 2009, 17:22

hd,

How are you and the trifocals getting along?

Cactus Jack 04 Aug 2009, 14:48

Presbyope L,

What you are experiencing is common. It is caused by rapid de conditioning of your ciliary muscles rather than rapid stiffening of your crystaline lenses. Your distance Rx may increase a bit more and then stop and your add will increase to around +2.50 to +3.25 and then stop. I have written extensively about this phenomenon on the hyperopia and presbyopia progression thread.

Presbyope L 04 Aug 2009, 12:02

I just had an exam and have a new prescription.

SPH. CYL. AXIS ADD

OD +1.00 -.75 105 +1.75

OS +1.25 -1.00 85 +1.75

I have been wearing glasses for about 3-4 years now. When my acuity was tested I could only read ( barely) the 20/60 line. On my near vision, without the add, I could only read the second line. I am amazed at how quickly my vision hsa deteoriorated. I told my doctor that I was not always full time and she said that I definitely should be a full time wearer. I also got monovision contacts and wore them three days in a row and was quite impressed with them.Has anyone else suffered such rapid deteorioration?

Cactus Jack 03 Aug 2009, 16:47

Adam,

Usually, assistants in optical stores will tell it like it is. If she said that some frames looked good on you, she was telling the truth because it is simply not good business to sell someone frames that will not complement their appearance.

There are a couple of ways to introduce your associates to the idea that you are going to be wearing glasses. One way, which some consider the best, is just get them and start wearing them with confidence. That will get you and them used to the fact that you now wear glasses. After a day or two, it be of no more consequence than getting a different style of hair cut or a different shirt. After a week or two, you can make a decision on how often you wear them. The other way is to mention that you had an eye exam and you are going to have to get some glasses. The problem with that way, is that they may want to offer their inputs, and frankly you don't need any input but your own. If you decide to get and wear glasses, you do it for your purposes, not theirs and you really don't need their approval. If it causes them a problem, they aren't very good friends anyway.

Let us know what you would like to do and any help you need. I mentioned Zenni Optical, but there are several on line retailers in the UK. Perhaps some of our members in the UK can offer suggestions on a good source of low cost glasses.

The only other thing you will need to order on line is your PD. If it is not listed on the Rx, you can measure it easily with a ruler marked in mm and a bathroom mirror. We'll tell you how

Adam 03 Aug 2009, 14:24

Hello whilst out shopping i went to try on some glasses. The assistant in the store was very helpful and i ended up trying on quite afew frames. She understood that they were my first glasses and i didnt know what i wanted or wasnt very keen on the idea of wearing glasses.

To my surprise i did find afew pairs that i liked and she said looked good on me (but i guess she would have to that). I didnt buy any as i think i might try getting a cheap pair from the internet first to try them out. Although im still not keen on wearing glasses im abit more confident after trying some frames on, but still worried about wearing them in front of people i know when i get them. Any tips on the best way to introduce the fact you need glasses to friends for the first time?

Cactus Jack 03 Aug 2009, 08:03

Guest,

Your astigmatism is enough to cause problems at all distances. But your computer problem is likely an early symptom of presbyopia.

If you want to do a experiment, get some +1.00 or +1.25 reading glasses and try wearing them over your regular glasses while using the computer. They will have the effect of reducing your distance Rx by that amount. You absolutely do not need more minus in your glasses for close work.

If that helps, you may need to consider bifocals, single vision computer glasses, or clip on readers. Because of your astigmatism, using the computer without your glasses is probably not very satisfactory.

May I ask your age and where you live?

Aubrac 03 Aug 2009, 07:36

Katy

Very good point about downside of Lasik. I think very few people know it will exclude them from certain types of jobs.

I think it is due to the very high possibility of 'haloing' at night especially with oncoming vehicle lights. This cannot be tested for and so a blanket exclusion is imposed on Lasik patients.

Guest 03 Aug 2009, 07:12

Wear mild minus distance script, with bit of astimatism about -2.00, -1.25 RE -0.75, -1.25 LE. Have difficulity when using computers, done online test for computer glasses & was coming out about +1.00 for intermediate use.

Would increasing distance script compensate for the short term, or is this sign that astimatism has increased ?

Adam 03 Aug 2009, 05:37

I got my eyes tested at my local opticians, where i had had all my previous eyetests growing up. So they would notice any changes in my eyesight, and dont think they would just be trying to sell me glasses.

I dont think i would be keen on lasik even if my eyesight was worse than it is. Anyway off to go and try on some frames, will let you know how i get on.

Katy 03 Aug 2009, 05:09

Adam - where did you have your eyes tested? I would think about maybe getting a second opinion, as some opticians will 'find' a very low prescription is needed, in order to sell glasses. The optician has written your prescription in a way that makes it appear more than it is - an more common way to write it would be Right 0 sphere, -0.5 cyl and Left -0.5 sphere, -0.25 cyl. Written this way, you are not shortsighted in your right eye and only very slightly in your left, and you have a small amount of astigmatism in both eyes. If you have another test, ask them to write down your visual acuity and then check the police requirements. Also I would be very careful about Lasik as some employers won't take you if you've had it (eg. train drivers), and you could very easily end up with much worse vision than you have.

Adam 03 Aug 2009, 03:58

When i had my eyetest i mentioned i was applying for the police, and she said my vision was good enough to apply. What would my vison be as its not 20/20 with my prescription.

I am going into town later today so i might have a look at some frames as i will need them if i get into the police, hopefully i will start to warm to the idea of wearing glasses if i can find a frame i like and suits me!!

Aubrac 03 Aug 2009, 02:38

Adam

Not so many years ago you could not work for the police unles with 20/20 vision. This was relaxed as was height requirements due to lack of recruits.

I think even with your low scrip you will need to go fulltime if you join the police force. Not uncommon in the UK now to see officers wearing glasses although interesting to see if there are any rules on style, lens type etc.

As a bye-the-bye, many years ago, air hostesses in the US and UK could not wear glasses, and only work as ground staff if they needed them.

Just shows how we have progressed since them, or is it just a higher incidence of people needing some form of eyesight correction?

Cactus Jack 02 Aug 2009, 18:56

Thanks Julian,

Any suggestions or corrections you might have for Adam would be very helpful. To my very deep regret, my total experience in the UK consists of a stop at Heathrow for a few minutes about 35 years ago, on the way to somewhere else. They let us off the plane long enough to stretch our legs and get a cup of Earl Grey.

I don't even remember where I was going.

Julian 02 Aug 2009, 18:27

Cactus Jack & Adam: No, the UK 'member of the Walmart family' is ASDA, not Tesco. Only the biggest branches will have an optical department - but that applies to most supermarket chains.

Cactus jack 02 Aug 2009, 17:53

Adam,

Just a bit more. I suspect that the police department would require vision corrected to 20/20 which would mean that you either get glasses or contacts. If you want the job, the decision may be made for you.

Another option is lasik, but I would thing long and hard before deciding to do that.

If you decide to get some glasses, there will be a few comments for a couple of days, but then they will seem natural to both you and your associates. After that, no one will pay any attention to them.

Cactus jack 02 Aug 2009, 17:45

Adam,

Unless you do a lot of reading, I would not think working in a pub would cause much pseudo myopia so it is possible that your myopia is true myopia.

Here is my suggestion. Go to a large chain optical store that has a lot of men's frames on display. Try some on and get an idea of what you like. Here in the US, I would probably go to a Wal-Mart Vision Center, but in the UK, I believe Wal-Mart is known as Tesco.

Don't feel obligated to do anything but look and try some on. People do it all the time. If a clerk offers to assist, you can tell him/her that you are a little bit shortsighted, but have never worn glasses. Your current job doesn't require vision correction and you don't need glasses to drive. The situation is that you have made an application for a job that might require that you wear glasses and you wanted to get an idea of what kind of frames you might like and the cost. If asked if you have a prescription, say not yet.

The clerk will likely make some suggestions of frames that suit your face. Then, look on line for similar frames. Measure your PD, and order. Most sites are very helpful and the order for single vision glasses is pretty simple.

On line retailers like Zenni have some very low cost glasses and if they work for you fine, if you don't like them it is no great loss.

I would suggest that you avoid High Street opticians unless you are very flush with cash. There is little difference in the quality of the glasses no matter where you get them. High fashion, designer frames are murderously expensive with incredible margins.

Adam 02 Aug 2009, 17:10

I am from England, i am currently working in a pub but am applying for the the police which was part of the reason i got my eyes tested as there is a visual acuity test in the application process.

My concern about wearing glasses is i think based on both what people will think and personal inconvience. I dont want to wear them all of the time but this also means i have to carry them around with me incase a situation arises where i need to wear them.

Yes i do drive, with this prescription will i need to be wearing all the time when driving or just for in lowlight situations?

Cactus Jack 02 Aug 2009, 16:55

Adam,

Typically, myopia tends to develop, if it it going to, much earlier than the 20s, but it can develop in the 20s and even in the 30s.

Your myopia is pretty low (sphere correction) and it is possible that it is what is called pseudo (false) myopia rather than axial (true) myopia. Myopia of either type causes blurry distance vision, but at low levels does not affect close vision. In practical terms -0.50 means that things beyond 2 meters are not sharp and clear. -0.75 means that things beyond 1.3 meters are not sharp and clear. However, in your situation, your brain will select the image that is clearest an use it. Pseudo myopia can be a temporary condition in the ciliary muscles and crystaline lenses that may go away if you can avoid visual stress while doing close work. Axial myopia is caused by a mismatch between the optical power of your cornea and crystaline lenses and the length of your eyeball. Axial myopia doesn't go away and does not generally decrease. Both can increase. Myopia is corrected by glasses, contacts or in some instances, by surgery.

I am more concerned about your astigmatism (cylinder and axis). While it is low, it is enough to cause you some discomfort and fatigue, if you do a lot of reading, by making it impossible to see really clearly at any distance, without correction. Astigmatism is generally caused by uneven curvature in the front surface of the cornea where the curvature in one direction is greater than it is in another. The cause is not known, it usually changes very slowly and the only solution is to wear corrective lenses (glasses, always or contacts, in some cases). Astigmatism can be corrected surgically, but the correction is problematical.

I understand your concern about glasses, you have survived for 24 years without them and you are apprehensive about wearing them. You just joined a club of several thousand people who, to their dismay, discover every year that they may need glasses. A number of them wind up here asking questions exactly like yours.

Before I offer any further suggestions, I would like to ask you a few questions:

1. Where do you live?

2. What is your occupation?

3. If not obvious, does it involve a lot of close work?

4. Is your concern about wearing glasses based on what other may think or personal inconvenience?

5. Do you drive?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Adam 02 Aug 2009, 15:37

Hello getting a cheap pair from the internet sounds like a good idea, as i dont really want to spend alot on a pair if im not ging to to need them that much. I'm just a bit worried about finding a frame that will suit me and i will like as the idea of wearing glasses does not really appeal that much to me.

I have not noticed myself squinting and friends have not said any thing about me squinting either. Im also abit nervous about wearing glasses in public for the first time and peoples reaction to them.

Is there any reason for my eyes to have become shortsighted as i have always passed eyetest with perfect vision, and thought that it was when you are in your teens that myopia developed not in your twenties.

He 02 Aug 2009, 12:51

Jack,

I got the trifocals, it's looking good, give me a fed hours to get use to them.

I will update you

Cactus Jack 02 Aug 2009, 07:58

Danbert,

I don't think there is a time limit. What is going on here appears to be optical physics and it has little to do with presbyopia itself. With IOLs, I have about as much "presbyopia" as you can get and it worked for me.

BTW, after I wrote the post, I tried 6 point and 4 point arial text and had no problem with the 6 point at 16 in(40 cm) and a little with the 4 point.

Danbert 02 Aug 2009, 07:48

Thanks Cactus Jack. Very interesting.

I'm guessing that you're not the only one who recognises this phenomena (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyopia#Presbyopia_and_the_.27payoff.27_for_the_nearsighted) but it would be interesting to know how long high myopes can in practice get by with single vision lenses.

Cactus Jack 01 Aug 2009, 18:53

Danbert,

The sentence in the last paragraph should read . . . depth of field for high natural . . .

Cactus Jack 01 Aug 2009, 18:49

Danbert,

On 23 July, I promised to conduct a test of focus range (depth of field) while dong GOC.

I received the Proclear +12 contacts from Globallens and I must say that they are more comfortable than my previous +12s. The glasses are single vision

OD -14.75, -0.25 x 90

OS -12.00, -1.50 x 75

In good lighting, I can read 8 point text easily at a distance of 16 inches (40 cm,) which is normal reading distance and vision is quite good at all distances and is maybe a bit better than 20/20 at distance.

The only disadvantage to the high minus glasses is that the location of the optical center is pretty critical and acuity decreases rapidly when looking off axis.

If you recall, I have had cataract surgery on both eyes and have IOLs selected for monovision. Normally I wear a low Rx with trifocals because I have no accommodation. My actual Rx has changed slightly from my Rx when I got the -14. 75 glasses and I think the cylinder is off a little which affects reading more than distance. Also, the GOC Rx was determined by refraction while wearing the +12 contacts. Vertex distance is critical and a mm in either direction affects acuity significantly.

The experiment is very interesting and it tends to confirm the theory that high minus glasses do provide significant improvements in depth of field high natural or GOC myopes than for low and it may have the practical benefit of delaying the effects of presbyopia. It will be interesting to someday conduct the experiment with high plus GOC and compare depths of field.

C..

Cactus Jack 01 Aug 2009, 10:34

Adam,

Your Rx is low enough that wearing them is optional (your decision) for most of your activities, except for driving, particularly in low light conditions. The only thing to do is compare your vision with and without correction and see which you prefer.

If you want make the comparison without spending a lot of money, you might consider ordering some low cost glasses from an on line retailer such as Zenni Optical (we'll help you do it) and see if the difference in your vision is worth spending more money for fashion designer frames - lenses are not the expensive part, unless you get high index, which you don't need with your Rx.

Many people worry about their eyes becoming "dependent" on glasses. Your eyes are merely biological cameras and their job is to provide two images (for 3D vision) to your brain. The brain has the ability to correct small problems in the images, not unlike image processing done by modern computers, and present you with acceptable vision (actually a potentially beneficial form of hallucination). The amount of work you brain has to do depends on the quality of the images from your eyes. The better the images, the less work the brain has to do, which results in less fatigue. Your eyes will probably not become "dependent", but your brain may decide that it likes not having to work as hard.

One reason you may not have noticed that you vision is not as good as it could be, is that you have likely been squinting to see better. Squinting can help, if your Rx is low enough. You may not have noticed that you were squinting, but I'll bet your associates have and been thinking that you should have your vision checked.

Let us know how we can help.

Adam 01 Aug 2009, 07:44

Hello have just been prescribed my first glasses at 24. My prescription is Right -0.50 +0.50 10 and Left -0.75 +0.25 100. I hadnt noticed that i had been having problems with my vision, but went for an annual check up. When should i wear my glasses when i get them? I havent chosen any yet as im not that keen on the idea of needing them and making my eyes depended on them, and also im not sure if i will suit glasses. Any comments would be appreciated.

Julian 01 Aug 2009, 02:15

Presbyope lover: yes, of course, if it's really necessary. I was just suggesting that Myra should try finding out whether it is.

Like Lenses 31 Jul 2009, 14:48

Myra

Also if you have not, wear them full time for a week or more. Best to put them on as soon as you wake up in the morning, and keep them on all all day until you go to bed.

Like Lenses 31 Jul 2009, 14:45

Myra

Try working on the computer for about an hour getting as close to the monitor as you are visually comfortable, while wearing the new glasses, then try reading a book or newspaper for about a half hour with the new glasses. This should help you get used to the new stronger prescription.

Presbyope Lover 31 Jul 2009, 12:06

Julian, Is it not better to get an add and have comfortable reading? It seems like it is delaying the inevitable......But then again, i ve alwyas enjoyed wearing glasses.......always wanted them when in school

Julian 31 Jul 2009, 11:28

Myra: maybe if you persevere with your new glasses you might adjust to the slightly stronger Rx and find you can read with them.

Presbyope Lover 31 Jul 2009, 11:27

Myra, 36 seems a bit early for presbyopia, but you might have a bit of an overcorrection in your lenses. You might want to look into progressive lenses if you do a lot of reading with your glasses on. I found it was easy to adjust to progressives starting earlier. I have a very good friend who is about -4.00 and has worn glasses for as long as I've known him and he had a difficulut time adjusting to progressives. He uses lined bifocals

Danbert 31 Jul 2009, 10:24

Just wondering... but shouldn't an eye examiner not only seek to correct someone's distance vision but also try to ascertain whether the near vision is still adequate?

When I had an exam I was asked to read some fine print as close as possible until it started to blur. I don't know exactly how close I was, but it seemed like roughly 10cm which would be about right for my age.

Myra 31 Jul 2009, 09:07

I am 36. I can read perfectly without any glasses. I could read OK with my old glasses. It is the new ones that blur everything close.

Presbyope Lover 31 Jul 2009, 06:48

Myra It sounds like you might be in the early stages of presbyopia, which is totally normal condition where as we age it is harder to see up close because of weakness in ciliary muscle or hardening of lens. In any event, it is totally normal. It probably means bifocals are in your future. What age are you?

Myra 31 Jul 2009, 06:37

My eyeglasses were 4 years old so I decided to get new ones but couldn't without a new prescription. The old ones were -0.75r and -1.00L. I got a new prescription -1.25R and -1.50L. Tried them on in the shoppe and had them adjusted. I can see everything much crisper, but can't read with them. Is this normal. I am going back to the Dr, but not till next week. Why can't I see close?

hd 30 Jul 2009, 17:21

jack,

i am sorry for the delay, i should get my glasses on sunday, i'll update you

Cactus Jack 30 Jul 2009, 08:31

hd,

We haven't heard from you for a while. Did you get the trifocals? If so, how are you doing with them.

Also, did the optometrist suggest any exercises to strengthen your ciliary muscles?

Melyssa 28 Jul 2009, 09:56

Aubrac,

With the vision-impaired, drunk, cell-phone yakkers, maybe the figure should be 300%. Make it 299% -- my husband and I know what we're doing when we drive. LOL

Aubrac 28 Jul 2009, 03:29

Melyssa

I think with all impairments the figure must be 100%!!!!!

Danbert

Sorry - didn't notice your link

Val

It just shows with plus prescriptions how other factors affect acuity. With half your prescription, my wife as I said, could not read a numberplate at 20m, although she is the same age as you.

Sorry Val, but as a simple myope it still seems difficult to understand how you can see numberplates so well but wear your glasses most of the time. Unless maybe it makes vision more comfortable with less strain and fatigue.

Melyssa 27 Jul 2009, 12:53

"60/70% of drivers in the UK have uncorrected visual impairments but continue to drive." In the U.S., you can add 29% to that. Oh sorry, the quote said "visual" impairment. I was thinking all impairments combined. LOL Well, maybe the drivers here don't want to see what's going on.

Val 27 Jul 2009, 10:37

Aubrac, I am wearing my glasses almost 90% of the time. I don't wear contacts. I don't wear my glasses when I'm playing some sports, or go hiking.

Danbert 27 Jul 2009, 08:35

Aubrac: Just thought I'd point out that I had already posted that same link on the 24th July ;)

Aubrac 27 Jul 2009, 08:30

Danbert

Found a good website with conversion from acuity to diopers.

www.mdsupport.org/library/acuity.html

Danbert 27 Jul 2009, 05:35

Ok, here's a list of various countries and their minimum vision requirements, visual acuity being just one of them.

In terms of visual acuity, 20/40 (or 6/12 or 0.5) seems to be most common, but there are lots of variations.

http://www.icoph.org/standards/drivingapp1.html

Aubrac 27 Jul 2009, 05:18

Val

That's interesting, I think it would be a good idea for everyone to have a proper eye test rather than just reading a number plate.

It is theoretically possible for a registered blind person, e.g. with tunnel vision, to pass the eyesight test and start driving a car. There are many other factors affecting vision such as glaucoma, halos, poor contrast abilities, etc, that would severly restrict visual acuity.

It was mentioned in previous posts that 60/70% of drivers in the UK have uncorrected visual impairments but continue to drive.

May I ask if you wear glasses at any other time apart from driving?

Val 27 Jul 2009, 04:21

Because in my country you have to go to an eye exam before getting your licence to drive. It's not a simple eye test. And if you are a hyperope above +0.5 you will have to wear glasses to drive.

Aubrac 27 Jul 2009, 03:53

Val

Sorry but a little confused, if you can read numberplates at 30 metres why do you need glasses to drive?

Is it because you make a concentrated effort with accommodation to read something specific like a numberplate at distance, but for general driving cannot do this?

Do you always need your glasses for reading or can you still accommodate for this?

Val 27 Jul 2009, 03:36

Aubrac, if one has accomodation enough, +1.50 of sphere correction is not a problem to compensate without glasses. I am at +3 and I can read number plates from 30-40 metres without glasses, and I am 41 years old. I am not saying that I can drive without glasses.

Aubrac 27 Jul 2009, 00:44

Wow, a lot of interesting information. The concensus seems to be about -0.75 which is pretty low really. You may be able to see a bus fairly clearly at 20m but not be able to read its numberplate!!

Astigmatism should also be taken into account as I suppose this alone (without any sphere correction) could result in failing the test.

I am really interested in the plus correction needed. My wife used always to wear her glasses for driving but rarely does so now, and I know she can't see signs, directions etc. Her ciliary muscles have probably become de-conditioned as she wears glasses all day at work, and always uses them now for reading. This is fairly recent as she only used to wear glasses for reading at home for very small print or in poor light. So I am guessing she would not have much accommodation power for distance and would probably fail the test.

With a scrip of R+1.50 -0.50 30, L+1.75 -0.75 130 and limited accommodation power I very much doubt she could read a number plate at 15m let alone 20m. Would this assumption be correct?

Katy 25 Jul 2009, 06:18

I think -0.75 is about right - I had about -0.5 and -0.75 at 17 before I got glasses - my driving teacher picked up that I was struggling to see number plates and told me to get an eye test. I can't remember whether I needed them for the vision part of the driving test, but I always wore them for driving after I passed.

Clare 24 Jul 2009, 07:53

Phil - of course it's inevitable but it must also be inconvenient, so no harm in postponing it as long as possible!

Aubrac - I scraped through my driving test (just, they had to measure the distance and let me have another try, how embarrassing!) at 17, a few years later I was prescribed -1.25 and told to wear them for driving. I'd guess thenthat the barest minimum would be between -0.75 and -1, depending on the person I suppose.

Danbert 24 Jul 2009, 04:09

SC: 20/40 in feet or 6/12 in metres is the legal minimum in most if not all of the world.

Actually I come from a metric converted country as well but oddly enough everyone here still uses feet when referring to acuity. We also say 'mileage' when it comes to how far we travel on one tank of petrol (it does sound better than kilometreage). Regional oddities :)

SC 24 Jul 2009, 03:57

Danbert,

Found a site that claimed the UK test was between the 9 & 12 lines (ie between 20/30 & 20/40). If you take the height of the letters on the 6m Snellen and just multiply up to 20m then 79mm would fall between the 12 & 18 lines. This assumes that I got the correct size of 88mm for the top letter!

So this confirms your view that 20/40 is the target even though we have to state it in a different way in UK

Danbert 24 Jul 2009, 03:15

Sorry for double-posting. SC's post wasn't visible when I composed mine.

SC: True, the degree of blur would be the same assuming no accomodation.

For the low hyperope, however, reasonable accomodation may help achieve good enough visual acuity, whereas for the myope, nothing but minus lenses are going to help.

Danbert 24 Jul 2009, 03:09

Most countries legislate a minimum acuity of 20/40 for driving, so legally it would be closer to 0.75 diopters, not 1.50.

http://www.mdsupport.org/library/acuity.html

The FAQ of this website also describes the rough conversion between acuity and prescription (assuming no complicating factors).

SC 24 Jul 2009, 03:07

Aubrac,

I don't think the maths will help because it's difficult to work out what level of blur makes things unreadable. The maths will help you match to the Snellen chart but not give you an Rx.

You can do practical experiments - as I have just tried. I'm -0.25 so that is like in-built +0.25. If I add +1 readers then I believe I am seeing what a -1.25 person would see. If this is correct then the 'N' on the plate of the Vauxhall Vectra outside becomes very tricky (N or M or W???).

So my conclusion is that the limit is below -1.25. If I put my progressives on (-0.25) and put the readers over the top, then the 'N' is still a challenge but the other letters and numbers are pretty good. So my best guess is that it is somewhere between -0.75 and -1.00. I suspect a lot of people are driving illegally!

I can't try the hyperope approach but I don't see why the image being focused in front or behind would make any differences to the degree of blur so perhaps the same values could be used.

Aubrac 24 Jul 2009, 02:40

Cactus Jack

Many thanks for that, I'll try and have a go but don't know if my maths is up to it!!

I would guess that around -1.50 is around when people must wear glasses for driving, does anybody know what prescriprion thay got when realising they needed glasses to see a numberplate?

Cactus Jack 23 Jul 2009, 15:41

Danbert,

I don;t wear the GOC much because the contacts are uncomfortable and I don't like the pin cushion distortion in the glasses. I have ordered some different contacts and will conduct the experiment again.

I only have the +12 contacts and the glasses to go with them, but if the new ones are comfortable, I will try some other values. I suspect you have to get above -12 glasses for there to be much benefit, but it is an excellent question.

Danbert 23 Jul 2009, 15:10

Cactus Jack: Yes, optical physics is very grand :)

Thanks for bringing up the importance of depth of field - in your case, what was the acceptable focal range where you could see quite clearly? If you could read then, what factors necessitate your use of trifocals now?

Would there have been an "optimal" plus IOL that you would choose, given your time over again?

Very interesting stuff.

Hopefully Retinox appears on the market soon :)

Cactus Jack 23 Jul 2009, 12:16

Aubrac,

There are some specification for the Snellen Chart that specify that the 20/20 (6/6) line on the chart subtend 5 minutes of arc from a distance of 20 feet. Don't have the rest at hand. You can use trig to determine the minutes of arc subtended by the characters on a number plate from 20 meters and then compare that number to the specifications for the lines on a Snellen Chart you should be able to come up with a number.

There are strict specifications for the characters on the Snellen chart and If I remember right, they are the same height and width. I suggest using the height or 79 mm as being the dominant dimension that determine legibility.

Cactus Jack 23 Jul 2009, 12:02

Dan,

+1.00s shouldn't cause too much problem because even with +1 you ciliary muscles have to supply the other +1.50 to read at 16 inches (40 cm) and visual tasks without the +1s should keep the muscles active. The only snag is that you may like the +1s so much that you gradually increase the power and ultimately de-condition the muscles. Hooked!

Cactus Jack 23 Jul 2009, 11:54

Danbert,

Presbyopia is a biological process that changes the flexibility of the protein that makes up the crystaline lens. There probably are things that can affect that process, but I don't know of any particular efforts to find out what they are or how to delay presbyopia. Almost everyone gets it and there are some pretty good tools to inexpensively correct it. I believe I recall a scene from one of the Star Trek movies where McCoy gave Kirk some reading glasses because he was allergic to "Retinox 5" so apparently, there is hope for a solution in the future.

Obviously, conditioning of the ciliary muscles is important, but there are limitations to how much effort the muscles can expend to alter the shape of the crystaline lenses.

There are a few optical tricks that a person could use to "delay" the effects of presbyopia. The easiest one is to take advantage of "depth of field" effects and there are two ways to do that. One is to read using good lighting so the iris will close down and increase the depth of field. The other is to consider high Rx minus glasses using GOC.

I know many are asking if their dream of having a socially acceptable reason to explain sudden strong glasses, has come true. Well, maybe.

As I mentioned previously, I have had cataract surgery wilt IOLs that wound up making me slightly myopic in my right eye (about -1.50) and slightly hyperopic in my left eye (about +0.25) with absolutely no accommodation. I decided to experiment with GOC using +12 contacts and an appropriate glasses Rx (in the -13 to -14 range) using a trial lens set. I was initially concerned that I would need at least bifocals, but had trouble getting them from Zenni and they ultimately supplied two pair of glasses, one for distance and one for reading. It turned out, I didn't need the reading glasses. Because of vertex distance effects, the high minus glasses act like wide angle lenses and the depth of field is incredible. I have a full range of vision with the distance glasses and can read comfortably. If I had reasonable accommodation, I might never have noticed.

Ain't Science (optical physics) Grand?

GOC anyone? Now all we have to do is convince the ECPs that we are on to something. If I had know about the phenomenon, I might have asked for very high plus IOLs.

Vision with trifocals is very near normal as long as you are doing typical visual tasks. The only time lack of accommodation becomes a problem, no matter what kind of lenses, is if you need to focus on something close, but can't tilt your head or look down. This is a frequent problem for mechanics or electricians who need to do close work above their eye level. The solution is glasses with an Add segment at the top of the glasses in addition to segments below eye level. I don't have any glasses with that feature, but there have been rare occasions when I wish I had some. I might have avoided a crick in my neck and a few expletives.

As far as getting used to bifocals or trifocals, it might have taken me 15 minutes.

Aubrac 23 Jul 2009, 08:47

Does anyone know the minimum spherical correction (plus or minus) needed in order to pass the UK driving test eyesight requirements?

The test requires a person to be able to read a numberplate with characters 79mm high and 50mm wide at a distance of 20 metres.

Is there a way this can be calculated?

Dan 23 Jul 2009, 07:59

Cactus,

A related question to Clare's. If you were to not have any vision problems and decided to wear reading glasses (+1 for instance) while doing nearwork would you eventually decondition your ciliary muscles and become dependent on the glasses?

Danbert 23 Jul 2009, 07:21

Cactus Jack: Interesting stuff about presbyopia.

Do you have any suggests for people approaching the age of presybopia to delay the onset as long as possible? Is it as simple as delaying reading adds as long as possible, or are there less inconvenient measures that can be done?

I do wonder (and can only wonder) what the visual experience is for those wearing bi/tri/varifocals. Compared with single vision lenses, is it a reduced visual experience for distance?

Cactus Jack 23 Jul 2009, 06:02

Clare,

I think occasionally not wearing your glasses to read or use the PC is not particularly harmful because your ciliary muscles get plenty of exercise by normal vision activities. They are probably the second or third most used muscles in the body behind the heart and breathing muscles. I also think natural myopic monovision or moderate uncorrected myopia in the -1.5 to -3.5 range is particularly insidious because the eye's focusing mechanism rarely needs to be used and in young people, the brain simply does not develop the skill to use the focus control system properly.

Intentional monovision after a person becomes presbyopic or when selecting IOLs for crystaline lens replacement is not harmful because accommodation is lost anyway.

Ciliary muscle de-conditioning can occur much more rapidly than stiffening of the crystaline lens and is the primary cause of the common rapid increase in the required strength of reading glasses or bifocal add in presbyopia.

This link has a very good explanation of presbyopia's and decreasing accommodation amplitude with age as affected by several factors. http://www.nova.edu/hpd/otm/otm-c/presbyopia.html

Notice how slowly the decrease occurs and compare that with how rapidly the need for reading add occurs. About the only factor that explains the rapid increase is ciliary muscle tone.

Phil 23 Jul 2009, 05:44

It will come whatever Clare; and within the next 5 years! You should view it as an opportunity: you'd look stunning in readers or varifocals I'm sure!

Clare 23 Jul 2009, 01:36

Cactus - on the subject of keeping cilliary muscles toned, do you think it's important to wear a minus prescription for reading? If I'm not wearing my contacts at home I wouldn't generally wear glasses to use the PC or read but although I'm in my late 30s I can still read with them. So should I keep them on to stave off the advance of presbyopia?

Dieter 22 Jul 2009, 19:30

Cactus,

I'm sure the point is moot but it's been a fun discussion. I'm probably wrong for looking at this subject from the other end (i.e. the older side of life). I've used monovision for many years - never even tried bifocals. Several years ago, I had a lensectomy in my dominant eye so now I have a plano eye and a -3.25 eye. Encouraged by my doctor, that's how I deal with most activities. But, I also have two contact prescriptions, two glasses prescriptions, and a multitude of readers for my special needs. I have a story in progress documenting all this that I plan to post on Bobby's site some day.

Cactus Jack 22 Jul 2009, 18:59

Incidentally, the trifocals were great for flying instruments.

Cactus Jsck 22 Jul 2009, 18:56

To put in my two cents, I think the question is moot, we have no input in the matter and it is doubtful, the niece will even hear of our discussion.

That said, I must agree with Specs4ever et al, but from a slightly different perspective. As I mentioned before, it is important that normal accommodation and binocular function be established as soon as possible. My first Rx at 14 was OD -1.50, OS Plano. Fortunately, I was able to develop binocular vision and depth perception to the point where I could pass the physical for a Commercial Pilots License (2nd Class Medical), but the price I paid was bifocals at 20, part time trifocals at 30 (to read D size drawings) and full time trifocals at 37. Later I started having problems with double vision and now were prism correction full time. My last Rx before cataract surgery was about OD -3.75, OS -2.50. I don't know if the delayed correction had anything to do with the early presbyopia and strabismus. No one really does.

The posts by hd on this thread are rather interesting. First Rx at 17 of about -3.25 and almost no ability to accommodate. It remains to be seen if the problem is extreme de-conditioning or some other problem that will require permanent trifocals instead of temporary. Hopefully, he can train his ciliary muscles to work properly.

Dieter 22 Jul 2009, 18:31

specs4ever,

See, that's the thing with vision comfort; it varies considerably from person to person. Some people find monovision unadaptable. Others find it preferable. The niece in this case is not needing nor trying to have monovision. But I think a -1.50 difference is not considerable enough for the doctor to mandate full time wear to promote binocular vision in an 18 year old. I say encourage her to wear glasses when she finds them useful(and obviously when mandated by law such as driving). She will determine what's right on her own.

specs4ever 22 Jul 2009, 16:54

As one who has experienced a big prescription difference(over 2.50D) in eyes for most of my life, I must agree with those who suggest that Clare's niece should wear her glasses. Ii is wonderful to be able to see distance clearly with one eye, and it is great to be able to read well into my middle 60's without glasses. However, I lack binocular vision, and when my eyes get tired mid to late afternoon, even when wearing my glasses I find that I have a tendancy to have double vision.

Puffin 22 Jul 2009, 14:42

I agree that it is somewhat unlikely that this niece will develop normal binocular vision simply by correcting the focussing error fulltime (rather than using prisms). If she was younger it would rather more likely to succeed (hence, the optician will be more justified in suggesting it) due to the generally more adaptable nature of a younger visual system.

As far as I know, the first step in sorting out binocular vision problems in young children is to correct any focussing error (presumably full time)

and see if it sorts itself out, then move on to patching, exercises and all the rest if that fails.

oh, and fulltime wear at -0.75 seems a bit odd to me. I think if you had little or no astigmatism, no vast difference in RX between eyes, no headaches or tiredness and okay binocular vision there's no apparent need to insist on full time wear.

Dieter 22 Jul 2009, 11:20

Clare,

I think that is my point. Based on our experiences both personally and from this forum, vision is incredibly subjective. I work with a lady that wears glasses mostly full time at -1.50. Others don't at -4.00. Some doctors bully, others tell you to use glasses as you wish. From my own experiences, -1.00 in one eye with -2.50 in the other is not a major imbalance. If the lady is comfortable seeing that way, her vision will get no worse or better simply because she refuses to wear glasses full time.

Clare 22 Jul 2009, 10:54

Puffin - I'm sure they do (as in my experience opticians would have us wearing glasses fulltime at -0.75!) but it doesn't seem necessary, do you think? At -1.25 my vision seemed okay to me.

Dieter 22 Jul 2009, 09:07

Puffin,

That's a different subject (and it varies widely between optical professionals as well). I was addressing Clare's statement "The optician told her that she has been using one eye for distance and that she should now wear her glasses most of the time to get her eyes working together" which in my opinion is a load of hooey. With one eye at -1.00, she is seeing at approximately 20/40 and I'm sure is quite happy doing most activities without aid.

Puffin 22 Jul 2009, 08:20

re the niece of Clare's friend, as far as I'm aware, opticians tend to recommend full time wear based on the worst eye (amongst other things) and this is above the -2 threshold that normally triggers the recommendation. Is there any astigmatism? if so then it becomes more likely.

Dieter 22 Jul 2009, 07:01

Clare/Cactus/Aubrac,

Concerning the niece of Clare’s friend, I’m not certain I agree with her doctor. Obviously, the girl needs glasses to wear for driving and seeing in the classroom. She will find them beneficial for all distance purposes if she can get past vanity. But, wearing glasses full time with the expectation that they will correct the imbalance doesn’t exactly jive. Is her “bad” eye going to get “better”? Not likely. Is her “good” eye going to get “worse”? More likely, but most probably both eyes will continue to change for the worse based on her age and the fact that she is going to add stress at university. I expect that she will have a very different visual situation by the time she reaches her mid to late twenties. But for now, a -1.50 difference is actually a very small difference in monovision terms. It will not cause issues with depth perception. If she is comfortable doing activities and does not suffer from headaches or strain, at age 18 she is old enough to wear glasses when she finds them beneficial.

marieb 21 Jul 2009, 14:24

Thanks!

Clare 21 Jul 2009, 09:09

Cactus/Aubrac - I know she's hoping to go to university later this year so it may be that she will come to appreciate the difference at that time.

Aubrac 21 Jul 2009, 08:10

Clare

CJ is quite right, monovision while seemimg to work well for reading and distance is not a good long term solution.

Our eyes are designed to work well as a pair and give us binocular vision. The greatest advantage of this is that the different image from each eye allows the brain to estimate distance. Seeing with only one eye could lead to unfortunate consequences when driving by not realising how far away oncoming traffic is at a junction, or mis-judging the distance from the car in front. Try closing one eye and quickly touching your computer screen - a lot easier with two eyes!

At 18 she might not be too happy but will probably find a good improvement in vision and with less fatigue for extended periods of reading and computer work.

Cactus jack 21 Jul 2009, 04:41

Clare,

Yes, I read the post and I think the opticians advice is on the mark. 1.50 difference is enough for her brain to become have become very used to using one eye for fair distance vision (good intermediate vision) and the other for quite good close vision. She has a form of natural monovision.

Monovision can work well for some older people, with limited accommodation (presbyopia) but at 18, she is effectively already wearing natural bifocals and that is not good for the long term. She needs to develop binocular vision and exercise and condition her ciliary muscles, or she may never develop really normal accommodation functions. That can lead to early symptoms of presbyopia. After she conditions her ciliary muscles, she may find glasses optional for many situations, except for say, driving. Initially, her ciliary muscles are going to rebel, but she need to learn to use her eyes normally soon, or she never will.

Vanity can be a very powerful force in a young woman of 18. My thought is that at 18, university is straight ahead with its extreme visual workload. If wearing glasses is the problem, she needs to be using contacts unless they are not an option.

Clare 20 Jul 2009, 22:24

Cactus - did you read my post below? What would your opinion be? Thanks

Cactus Jack 20 Jul 2009, 15:42

marieb,

I understand what you need now. The +2.00 contacts have the same effect as making you -2.00 more nearsighted and you will be doing a form of very light GOC. The Rx for bifocals would be:

OD -2.25, -3.75, X 180, 2PD up

OS -1.25, -2.25, x 063

+2.00 Add

If you don't want bifocals just leave off the Add and get single vision glasses. The PD would be for distance.

marieb 20 Jul 2009, 14:35

Cactus Jack,

Sorry...I did sound confusing! I have the +2.00 contacts solely for times like reading menus at restaurants, if I am out with someone and don't want to own up to the glasses thing just then! The astigmatism correction isn't there, but it suffices for that time period. But of course, unless I remove them before I leave, it's tough to see much beyond a few feet. I have not been able to find a contact lens that sufficiently corrects that cylinder, so I just get the extra magnification. My vision is certainly not great with just the contacts, but it, as I said, is enough for the time being. I guess I want to be able to get up and get around without having to take them out and put on my glasses-just putting a pair over the contacts instead. So, they would be for distance, and astigmatism, while the contacts allow me to see up close. If this makes no sense then please advise as such! I'm just thinking about how to see things up close, albeit not perfectly, without glasses and then be able to put them on when I leave and see well enough to get home! Right now the contacts work for allowing me to see the menu, but the faces of those around me are not totally clear, and anything beyond is a blur! Then I make a restroom stop, remove them, and pretty much bare eyed. I know what you, and everyone else is thinking, just wear the darned glasses and be done with it. I'm working on it. Just not there yet. thank you again for your help.

Cactus jack 20 Jul 2009, 08:15

Aubrac,

I would think that they would make some difference. I suspect, but don't know for sure, that most auto- refractors approach their estimated Rx from the plus direction. By approaching from the over plus direction, the ciliary muscles tend to be more relaxed and have litle opportunity to accommodate. Of course, without dilation, there isn't much opportunity for the ciliary muscles to relax very much in a typical exam.

Aubrac 20 Jul 2009, 06:09

Question for anyone.

Does administering cyclopegic drops make any difference to the autorefractor results? I do not know exactly how they work but assume that with drops, the ciliary muscles will relax completely, therefore the lens shape will change, and the amount of plus indicated by the autorefractor will be higher.

I was just surfing some websites about autorefractors, and on one it said drops should be given before using it.

Cactus jack 19 Jul 2009, 15:22

marieb,

Your request is a little confusing and your significant cylinder correction complicates things a little.

If I understand correctly, you have some +2.00 sphere only contacts that you use for reading. Do you presently wear your prescription glasses over them while you read?

If you are wearing the +2.00 contacts, what would you want the glasses to do for you? Distance, close-up, or both?

marieb 19 Jul 2009, 13:33

Cactus Jack, Thank you for your answer to my Rx question. If I may ask one more, please; I have some contacts that I wear for reading, they are +2.00 for each eye. I would also like to get glasses for wearing over the contacts, so how would that adjust my recommended prescription? The +2.00 would not be worn with the reading-only glasses, but rather so that I can see close, and put glasses on top of the contacts for everything else. I know this is opposite of what is usually done, which is putting reading glasses over distance contacts, but it is what I would be interested in. Thank you.

Clare 19 Jul 2009, 10:26

One thing we discussed this afternoon was my friend's niece who has just got glasses with quite a high first prescription. Of course my friend doesn't know I know so much about glasses but was telling me about her niece's first glasses which are -1 and -2.50. The optician told her that she has been using one eye for distance and that she should now wear her glasses most of the time to get her eyes working together.

It made sense to me but the girl, who is 18, is not very happy. I guess with -1 she can see not too bad most of the time.

For anyone who's come across a big discrepancy like this, is this a regular recommendation?

Cactus Jack 17 Jul 2009, 07:09

hd,

The last post was from me

17 Jul 2009, 06:33

hd,

I saw this link in a post on the Induced Myopia thread from Nostolgic.

www.i-see.org/gottlieb/presbyopia_chart.pdf

It is a technique developed by an optometrist to help older people delay the onset of presbyopia where they have trouble focusing close. I was thinking that it might be useful for you to help you get your ciliary muscles back to work.

There is an interconnection in the brain between the convergence muscles and the ciliary muscles that helps you focus when you look at something close. Its strength varies significantly depending on the individual. I suspect the your convergence/focus response may also be very weak. It may not work, but it is worth a try.

The explanation is not very clear, let me know if you need help or if it has any effect. The exercisees should be done while wearing your distance glasses, but without the readers. However, you may need to start with your low powered readers until you develop some focusing capability.

Gabi 17 Jul 2009, 00:39

Many thanks for this info, does make sense, my optometrist will see me in 6 months time regarding my left eye, he says other than the increase in power my eyes are healthy.

My concern about what the lenses in my glasses looks like comes from when I look at myself, my left lens does look noticably stronger and I am aware that it may look strange to others?

I have been battling a little to read both with and without my glasses so I am looking forward to my new lenses arriving.

thanks again!

Cactus Jack 16 Jul 2009, 13:51

Gabi,

I am not sure exactly what you meant by your question. Varilux lenses look very much like regular high index lenses except there will be a very noticeable area (to you) where they make the transition from distance to the reading area. It will be much less noticeable to others unless they know what to look for.

it is very rare for an Rx to increase as rapidly as yours has at your age and in only one eye. You might want to consider an appointment with an opthalmologist to find out what is happening. Either your left eye is growing longer or the plus power of your cornea/crystaline lens is increasing. The -4 difference will cause a significant difference in image size on the retina which can cause other problems including double vision. If you have problems you might have to consider wearing a contact lens on one eye to equalize the Rx in the glasses.

Gabi 16 Jul 2009, 10:13

Wow! how interesting, please help, I am 47 years old getting varifocals for 1st time, however interested to know what Cactus Jack might think about the deterioration in my Left eye only over the last 3 years.

My current prescription:

OD-5.50 -0.75 x139 add 2.50

OS-9.50 -1.00 x80 add 2.50

At my eye check in 2005 OD-5.25 -0.75x139 / OS-6.75 -0.75x139

Increase only to left eye in 2007, 2008 and now?

I wear a 1,67 index lens, and noticed the difference in thickness with my current glasses, what will my new glasses look like?

Input appreciated.

kind regards

Cactus jack 16 Jul 2009, 09:47

hd,

I'm glad you got an exam. Your situation is about as I expected and we discussed. The muscles that are very weak are the ciliary muscles that change the plus power of your crystaline lenses. Hopefully, as you begin to use your ciliary muscles, they will become stronger.

You might do some research on how vision and the eye works. It reality, the eyes are nothing but biological cameras and the way they work is very similar to a film or, more closely, a digital camera.

Please let us know when you get your trifocals and how you like them.

hd 16 Jul 2009, 09:37

jack,

today i went to the optometrist, he told me that muscels are very weak and he told that i need to where trifocals for a while, so made a exam and i have new script.

OD sph -3.5 cyl -0.5 165 add +3.00

OS sph -3.75 cyl -0.75 20 add +3.25

he told that the intermediate part will about 0.5 from the power of the reading.

i should get the glasses soon, i will tell you how its feel.

hd 15 Jul 2009, 18:29

jack,

i understand what you are saying,

i am going to the optometrist tomorrow,

i will catch you up with the result.

Cactus Jack 15 Jul 2009, 13:20

hd,

The problems you are having are not surprising. Your glasses have corrected your distance vision to normal, but the autofocus mechanism in your eyes is not working properly and you are having the same problem that older (typically older than 40) people have when they have lost their ability to focus close.

The +3.00s are right for distances of 33 cm or less because your eye can add a little more plus if it is needed but because your ciliary muscles and crystaline lenses are fully relaxed, they can't go any lower in power than they already are.

To focus at a distance of 45 to 50 cm, you need a +2.00 lens and to focus at 50 to 80 cm, you need less than +2.00. For example, a +1.50 lens would focus at 67 cm.

Hopefully, you can train your autofocus mechanism to go back to work, until you can, you may need several different powers of reading glasses to wear over your glasses until you can get some trifocals or train your ciliary muscles and crystaline lenses (the autofocus mechanism) to go back to work.

hd 15 Jul 2009, 09:45

hi jack,

let me explain again, when i put the +3.0 over my glasses i can read stuff very easy (books and newspaper) , and i can read from the screen very clearly from abot 29-30cm .

but if i am looking to something ,lets say 50-80cm away i feel its blurry again , its kind of weird because without the +3.00 i can see things far away very good,and when i put the +3.0 on ,its very easy to read from close but between the reading and the far i see some blurry.

maybe i wrote it wrong last post, i do see cleary to the screen from 28-30cm with the +3.0 but its start to blurry when i move the screen a little bit to the back and then it become about 45-50cm.

i did not understad exacly what you want me to measure,if you can xplain it better it will be good.

thank you again

Cactus Jack 15 Jul 2009, 07:28

hd,

The +3.00 may be too strong for the distance to the computer screen. They focus at 33 cm or 13 inches or a little closer and would probably be about what you are used to for reading.

Measure the distance from your eyes to the screen of the computer and tell me what you get. We can then use the formula 100/distance in cm to determine the + value you need for the computer. I suspect that it is a bit farther away than 33 cm and that would make it blurry with the +3.00. You probably need less than +3.00 for the computer. Try the +1.50s and see how that works.

Welcome to the world of optics. The math is easy, and it almost always works.

hd 15 Jul 2009, 06:08

jack hi,

today i bought +3.00 reading glasses and with them i can read very easy books and newspapers, but when i am trying to read from the computer ther is some blurry and again uncomfortable.

what would you suggest?

Cactus jack 14 Jul 2009, 06:30

HD,

Last post is from me.

14 Jul 2009, 06:29

Hd,

59 is your distance PD. When you order Trifocals or Bifocals, reduce the PD by 3 mm for your near PD. For example PD 59/56 would indicate both.

hd 14 Jul 2009, 05:36

jack,

i know my pd (59).

first i will buy +3.00 reading to check if the script match, if it is i will make order fot trifocals/bifocals.

thank you , and i will update you about what i am going to do.

Cactus Jack 14 Jul 2009, 05:07

Hd,

For Bifocals or Trifocals do not select a frame that it too small vertically. Here are some example Rx. I have indicated an Add of +3.00 but substitute what you need.

Trifocal Rx:

OD Sphere -3.25 Cylinder -0.5 Axis 170 Add +3.00

OS Sphere -3.25 Cylinder -0.5 Axis 15 Add +3.00

Trifocal 7/28 or 8/35 (the numbers mean the height of the intermediate segment and the width of the segment)

Bifocal Rx:

OD Sphere -3.25 Cylinder -0.5 Axis 170 Add +3.00

OS Sphere -3.25 Cylinder -0.5 Axis 15 Add +3.00

FT-28 (or FT-35)

If you want progressives, do not specify FT-28 or FT-35 because that would be meaningless.

You will need your PD. Do you have it or know how to measure it?

Check out several online retailers to see what they will make. Zenni makes low cost glasses, but I don't think they will make trifocals. Optical4less is well known and there are others such as http://www.eyeglassfactoryoutlet.com/ as a possible online vendor to get an idea of how what is available. Also check other vendors to see if they will make what you want. You might also contact Patrick who posted on Glasses for Auction or Sale to see what he can do.

Perhaps other members can offer suggestions.

If you have any questions, please ask.

Hd 14 Jul 2009, 04:07

Thank you catcus jack for your help,

I think in the meantime I will put reading glasses while I am reading, I can buy reading glasses very fast ,I think I will go for +2.75/+3.0 for reading ,and I will update you how it feel.

About trifocal, you have website which I can check this option,if you can give me prescription for trifocal it will be good.

About bi focal / progressive I do have web so if you can give final prescription and I will check it out.

Thank you again,

Phil 14 Jul 2009, 01:55

Guest, I have just bought a trial lense set and one of the things that I have noticed when using it is that the effect of adding or subtracting .25 is insignificant once one gets beyond a very low rx. I'm around -4 and the effect of even .5 either way is hard to assess. I now realise why my recent prescriptions have varied between -3.25 and -4.

guest 13 Jul 2009, 22:27

Cactus Jack,

Can you tell me why - contacts go in increments of 0.5 after about -6?

Just curious why they don't correct to the nearest 0.25 like for the lower powers.

Cactus Jack 13 Jul 2009, 20:22

hd,

You are on the right track with the +1.50 readers over your glasses, but I suspect that they were not strong enough. You are accustomed to reading without your glasses. Effectively, when you do that, it would be like wearing +3.25 reading glasses over your glasses except that there would be no correction for your astigmatism.

I would also suspect that you are used to reading and using the computer at a distance of about 30 cm using the formula Focal Distance=100 cm/3.25.

There are several types of multi-focal glasses.

Bifocals are glasses with two different powers. The top portion or segment of bifocals is for distance and the lower portion or reading segment has additional plus power to provide the focusing power that your ciliary muscles are unable to supply at this time.

Bifocals are available as lined bifocals and progressives. In lined bifocals, the reading segment is a distinct lens of additional plus power. Most lined bifocals these days are what are called Flat Top where there is a straight line across the top of the reading segment. Flat Top bifocals are available as FT-28 and FT-35 where the numbers mean the width of the top of the segment of either 28 or 35 mm.

Progressive bifocals are glasses where there is a gradual transition between the distance segment and the reading segment and there is no obvious line. Progressives are very popular where the wearer does not want the need for bifocals to be obvious, but there are disadvantages. The transition zone is much wider with progressives and take up valuable lens space. Also there can be some distortion in the transition zone particularly if there is a higher add involved (which you need right now).

Trifocals are similar to lined bifocals except there is a third intermediate power segment between the reading segment and the distance segment. Trifocals can be very useful in those situations where a strong reading segment is needed. but the reading segment is too strong for intermediate tasks such as using a computer.

I suspect in your immediate situation that you may find that lined bifocals or trifocals would be more useful than progressives because of the wider field of view.

If you were older, I would definitely suggest trifocals with a +3.00 or +3.25 reading add an an intermediate segment of 1/2 the reading add, but few online retailers offer them. They would probably slow down the conditioning of your ciliary muscles, but I suspect you would find them very comfortable.

I hope the above has been helpful. When you decide what you want to do, please let me know and I can make some specific suggestions and advise how to order.

One thing, I noticed that you were asking about buying existing glasses. Please do not get glasses that were not made for you. You may be able to adapt to a sphere difference, but you cannot adapt to a cylinder difference. You have enough problems right now without creating more.

Cactus jack 13 Jul 2009, 19:33

marieb,

The Rx for single vision reading glasses would be:

OD +1.75, -3.75, X 180, 2PD up

OS +2.75, -2.25, x 063

If you have the PD, it should be stated as something like 60/57. The top number is the PD for distance and the bottom number is the PD for reading. If you don't have the PD, you can measure it with a ruler calibrated in mm and a mirror and get pretty close. Let us know if you need instructions. Some on line retailers include direction on how to measure PD.

marieb 13 Jul 2009, 18:31

I posted a question a while ago but did not have my complete prescription with me at the time in order to provide enough information for an answer! I have a new prescription with an add but would like to order, at an online store, single vision reading glasses. How would I change the current rx to be just for reading?

OD -.25, -3.75, X 180, 2PD up

OS +.75, -2.25, x 063

+2.00 Add

Thank you.

hd 13 Jul 2009, 11:39

there you go-

1)Greece

2)i really dont know, i knew from about 14 that i will need glasses but it never bother me too much, its like i ignore it.

3)if you mean physics formulas , not at all, but if you men that you put - 3.25D and +2.00D you will finally have -1.25 glasses.i do know about cyl and the basics, but not too much.

4)Male.

again, thank you for your help

Cactus Jack 13 Jul 2009, 11:29

hd,

Before I get too deep into all this, I would appreciate answers to some additional questions.

1. Where do you live?

2. How did you avoid glasses until you needed -3.25?

3. Do you have any knowledge of the basic formulas involved in optics?

4. What is your gender?

The above will help me formulate my suggestions and answers to help you understand them better.

hd 13 Jul 2009, 10:56

thank for your help,

I do have +1.50 reading glasses , so i tried to put them and read newspaper, it's still blurry and unfoucosed but more easy to read with the +1.50.

i can efford buying a new eyeglasses,

if i buy new eyeglasses i will buy throw the internet , what should i write then?

the same prescription just with "add +2.0 or +2.5"

last quest- what is the difference between bifocals and multifocals?

and what is progerssive lenses?

what is the difference between those 3 kinds?

what should i order?

if it will help you, i work a lot with the computer, without glasses.

Cactus Jack 13 Jul 2009, 10:13

Carlos, Jr.

I seem to recall that your son had a similar problem to hd's when he started wearing glasses. Didn't he have to wear bifocals for a few months until his ciliary muscles got conditioned? BTW, how is he doing?

Cactus Jack 13 Jul 2009, 10:06

hd,

Welcome. Yes, there is a problem, but the problem is not uncommon in moderate myopes who have avoided wearing corrective lenses for too long. Your ciliary muscles (focusing muscles) are completely de-conditioned from lack of use and you need to train them to work as they should. The solution is fairly simple. You need some temporary reading help either with bifocals or supplemental reading glasses. If you decide to try the supplemental reading glasses, you need to get some reading glasses to wear over your regular glasses when you read. I would suggest starting at the lowest power you can read comfortably with and gradually reduce the power. If you got +3.25 reading glasses, you would not do any conditioning. If you can start lower than that, say +2.00, wear them for a week or two when reading and then try to reduce the power to +1.50 and then after a week or two, try to reduce it to reduce it to +1.00. After a couple of weeks reading with the +1.00, try to read without any supplemental glasses.

If you are successful, then you have re-conditioned your ciliary muscles. It is possible that you still may wind up needing to wear bifocals or progressives, but lets hope not. You should try to avoid reading without your glasses except in an emergency because it allows your ciliary muscles to not get exercised properly and you may wind up having to wear bifocals or trifocals before you would normally need them.

If you have more questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

hd 13 Jul 2009, 09:16

my script is

od SPH -3.25 cyl -0.5 axis 170

os SPH -3.25 cyl -0.5 axis 15

acuity before - 6/36 after 6/6

those are my first eyeglasses and i got them a month ago, i am 17.

when i put them it is very hard to read stuff' its so blurry that i prefer reading without them.

is there any problem?

Mr Cockeyed 13 Jul 2009, 08:03

Rachel, you are very nearsighted with fairly strong astigmatism, did you ever consider toric contact lenses?

Rachel 13 Jul 2009, 02:47

If I post my latest rx, could anyone thoruoughly explain it to me please.

RE -11.75 x -1.50 x 115

LE -12.50 x -1.75 x 120

Thanks

Sal 11 Jul 2009, 12:20

Melyssa

Interesting, indeed it is a small world, but I don't know of any Pucci's except for my family and cousins, etc.

Cactus jack 10 Jul 2009, 18:38

Dan,

The 2nd sentence in the 3rd paragraph should read:

. . are at work here and there is . .

Cactus Jack 10 Jul 2009, 18:35

Dan,

The astigmatism correction at 100 degrees, which is just 10 degrees from vertical, might be responsible for about 1 to 2 mm extra thickness to the inside and outside edges of the lenses, but there are more significant factors at work.

Lens edge thickness is related to size of the lens, index of refraction, required center thickness for safety, and the Rx. In your situation, the long axis of the cylinder is almost vertical so that your Rx in the horizontal direction is approximately -3.25 and in the vertical direction it is approximately -2.00. If your frames are rectangular, the width would be a significant factor.

If the edge thickness causes you concern, you might consider higher index lenses and narrower frames. Unfortunately, optical physics are at work had there is not much you can do about it.

May I ask where you live, some countries require a minimum thickness at the thinnest part of the lens so it can withstand being struck by an object without shattering.

dan 10 Jul 2009, 16:40

thank you for your help do think my glasses are so thick beacause the astigmitism is at 100 degrees

Cactus Jack 10 Jul 2009, 16:16

Dan,

Thanks, now I understand your problem. On the surface, you have fairly low sphere correction and a moderate astigmatism correction, but the problem is that when they are combined, you Rx is complex enough that you really need your glasses. T

Sphere correction is usually associated with a mismatch between the length of your eyeball and the total plus power of your cornea and crystaline lenses.

Astigmatism is usually caused by uneven curvature in the front surface of your cornea.

Astigmatism is a real trouble maker because it actually causes they eye to focus at two different distances and there is nothing that can be done about it except wear corrective lenses or have corrective surgery of some sort.

dan 10 Jul 2009, 13:37

od -2.00 cyc -1.25 axix 100 it is the same for both eyes

Cactus Jack 10 Jul 2009, 13:34

dan,

A typical complete Rx would look like

OD (Right Eye) Sphere. -2.00, Cylinder -0.75, Axis 100, Prism and then Add

OS (Left Eye) Sphere -1,25, Cylinder -1.00, Axis 95, Prism, and then Add

If there is no prism or add then those are not listed

It might be abbreviated:

OD -2.00,-0.75 x 100

OS -1.25. -1.00 x 95

The Rx you listed does not have enough information for me to work with. I can't tell if you have any sphere correction or if the -2.00, =1.25 is the cylinder correction..

dan 10 Jul 2009, 11:29

my rx is -2.00 -1.25 astig boyh eyes cant see more than 13 inches clearly thenit is very blurry maybe it is a fairly strong astig correction my glasses are also quite thick 5mm maybe because the axis -s -100 degrees

Cactus Jack 10 Jul 2009, 06:12

dan,

It sounds like you are confused by the difference between sphere correction and cylinder correction. Each has its own purpose. Could you please post your full Rx and your age?

Rachel 10 Jul 2009, 04:27

dan. The astigmatism doesn't help. And if you keep your glasses on all the time with -2.00 you will have got used to the improved vision they give you. It could be you need an increase as well. How long is it since you had your last check-up? i was fulltime with -1.50 and -1.75.

dan 10 Jul 2009, 04:10

i am confused by this site i have -2.00 and -1.25 astigmitism and when i take my glasses off things are very blurry how can this be such a mild rx when people on this site have -7 rx and higher i dont think ican see anything with that rx

Cactus Jack 09 Jul 2009, 11:00

davidson,

Pretty normal. If you wear glasses that are -2.00 and -1.00 and you wear +2.00 readers without your regular glasses, your effective vision is +4.00 in one eye and +3.00 in the other. That would mean that the +4.00 eye would focus clearly at about 25 cm or 10 inches and the +3.00 eye would focus at 33 cm or 13 inches. Beyond those distances things would get progressively blurrier. If things do not get blurrier beyond those distances, you may have some pseudo myopia or may be over corrected.

You should be aware that wearing that much plus for close work will de-condition your ciliary muscles and may cause similar effects as presbyopia.

davidson 09 Jul 2009, 09:37

i'm shorsighted, about -2,00 and -1,00 but I bought myself readers +2,00 and i am wearing them right now (without my other glasses) and it's heaven to look at the computer screen or books, just SO effortless. I am 27, is that normal?

Rachel 09 Jul 2009, 06:02

Carlos, jnr. You can't really because each person is different. But there is a kind of pattern, especially with myopia. The younger you start with glasses, the higher you are likely to get, and the teenage years are pretty crucial ones for rapid increases. But like I say, everyone is different and it can vary.

Carlos, Jr 08 Jul 2009, 23:23

Rachel, how do you compute prescription increases for people? I am just interested in the logic/method.

Rachel 08 Jul 2009, 22:37

newcomer. At 34 your prescription probably will not increase as rapidly as if you were in your teens like me. I suppose if you start wearing your new glasses quite a lot you will appreciate the improvement in vision they give so much you will tend to keep them on. But wearing them a lot will not damage your eyes and will probably stop you straining them, so my advice is try and get used to the idea of needing glasses. In the end you will probably end up with a prescription of around -3.50 or so which will not becessarily make you totally dependent on them.

Cactus Jack 08 Jul 2009, 20:12

newcomer,

Welcome. That is a pretty low Rx and at 34 it is highly unlikely that you will become "dependent" on them or that it will increase much in the future. Depending on your occupation you may find that you like seeing clearly rather than the blurry distance vision that you have "enjoyed" up to now. You can pretty much wear them whenever you want to.

newcomer 08 Jul 2009, 19:11

I'm 34 years old and just got glasses for the first time. It's been a long time coming, I guess, but I've survived this long without them. My perscription is R-1.50 -.50 110 L -1.50 -.25 70. How would that perscription compare with others. How often and for what do people with that perscription wear their glasses. My biggest fear is becoming dependant upon them if that is at all possible. Anyone who can respond with some advice based upon personal experience would be appreciated.

USANJ 07 Jul 2009, 09:49

I don't know if this is the proper place to right this but anyways, I lost one of my contact lenses this morning so I wore my eyeglasses to wrk. My current prescription is -5.50 and -5.75 -.75 x 032. So during my lunch I went to a small Optical store near my job so I could purchase new contact lenses and since I was there I decided to check how much a new pair of eyeglasses cost. They are actually very cheap, the lady tells me that it will cost $70.00 So I asked if that was the low index lenses and she said no, with low index and she said no because with my prescription it would be very thick, so I told her I wanted it to be cr39. I never had cr39 lenses, normally I get 1.57 index. And she made sure I would know that the lenses were going to be very very thick. I was very happy for that, so I can't wait until my new glasses arrive. Any guesses on how thick they will be?

p 07 Jul 2009, 07:10

Cactus, thanks for the reply. My main problem is with frame appearance and fit, its just too hard to tell with a pic and some measurments. I want to go full time but I need to be totally happy with my choice. I'm not looking for high Rx at the moment, only -2.25 or so. I've had no problems with the vision aspect of it. I just need a template that will give me a good starting point, me and photoshop can take it from there. Its worth a try anyways I reckon.

-P

Melyssa 06 Jul 2009, 12:37

Sal,

One of my favorite frames is a designer frame, oversized sky-blue top-temples, from Alberto Pucci. I also knew a Joseph Pucci in junior high school. Small world!

Sal 06 Jul 2009, 04:55

Yes I'm a guy, Salvatore Joseph Pucci, III.

Cactus Jack 05 Jul 2009, 18:36

It would probably be a good idea if you got an Rx in the area where you live. I have Rx in a number of different formats and no matter what format the Rx in in, the optical dispenser always copies the Rx on to the form used in their shop, and retains a copy of the Rx for their records.

Could I ask what glasses Rx you are trying to get. Perhaps the problem is not in the glasses, but in the CL / Glasses combination you have selected for your actual Rx. The tables and formulas appear to get very inaccurate in the higher Rx.

p 05 Jul 2009, 17:50

Does anyone have a rather generic looking Rx that you would be willing to scan and e-mail to me (you can cover personal info with strips of blank paper or whiteout)? I'm sick of ordering glasses online (for GOC) and being dissapointed. I can run the scanned document through Illustrator and have it say whatever I want so I can just walk into a shop and order glasses that I know I'll like.

Thanks!!

Rachel 05 Jul 2009, 03:03

Sal, a guy?? wow.

05 Jul 2009, 02:17

Sal posted his Rx on 17 Jun 2009, 08:20 on this thread.

Rachel 04 Jul 2009, 23:00

Sal. What's your rx now? Trifocals sound pretty amazing. I presume you are a pretty high minus wearer.

Sal 04 Jul 2009, 03:53

I got my new glasses about 3 days ago and am really enjoying the crisp clear vision. Could not get the aspheric lenses this time, got some 1.6 high index,, but they are really much thicker than my previous ones, and a lot less peripheral vision.

I like the trifocals, for the first time I have only one pair of glasses.

We got some good news last week, my fiancee was approved for a cochlear implant. Her hearing has been really bad since she had memingitis as a 13 yo. She gets implanted 7/13 and activated in mid Aug.

Happy 4th all!

And 03 Jul 2009, 15:31

Ash, have you noticed you can now see things/people/detail that you didn't realise you couldn't see !

03 Jul 2009, 11:08

Ash rx is further down the page.

Rachel 03 Jul 2009, 06:05

Ash. What rx are you now?

Ash 02 Jul 2009, 23:29

Well I have worn my glasses quite a bit this week. Twice at work, when we have had to sit through presentations, the cinema and tv a few times (the tv in my room is very small and I was having difficulty with the print and seeing fine details). Mostly positive comments about the glasses. Although my boss at work told me to be careful not to wear them too much (I had only worn them twice at the time, both or distance and not just whilst I was sat at my desk!) or I would end up needing them all the time. I told him that I wasn't planning to wear them all the time but distance vision had become a lot clearer with them so had decided to start wearing them more. I am still getting a few headaches but hopefully they will reduce now I'm wearing glasses more.

Cactus Jack 30 Jun 2009, 06:52

Steve,

There are several parts to a prescription that do completely different things. Asking about overall Rx is like saying I have 3 apples and 2 oranges. If I combine them, how many appnges will I have.

The sphere component usually corrects for a mismatch between the plus power of your cornea and crystaline lens (about +40 combined) and the length of your eyeball. Yours, right now, is about 2 mm too long which is corrected by the -2.00 sphere.

Astigmatism is usually caused by uneven curvature of the front surface of the cornea. Yours has greater curvature in one direction (actually +1.25 more) than it does in the direction 90 degrees away from it. Sort of like an American football, but to a much lesser degree. The -1.25 corrects that.

Your average or overall Rx is about -2.67, but that doesn't mean anything. If you tried wearing glasses with a -2.67 Rx, it would be clearer than without glasses, but would still not be as good as wearing the correct Rx.

Lens thickness is affected by three things. The Rx, the size of the lens, and the index of refraction of the lens material. You probably have CR-39 lenses, which is inexpensive, has a low index (about 1.49), but superior optical properties. If you want thinner lenses, you need to go for higher index lenses that are smaller, but be ready to pay more. There is a direct relationship between the index and the cost of the lens.

May I ask your age and where you live?

If you have more questions I need your complete Rx.

steve 30 Jun 2009, 05:58

they stick out 5mm from my frame ihreard that over -1 astig is called moderate astigmitism what is my overall rx

Cactus Jack 30 Jun 2009, 05:11

steve,

No and No. Define "thick".

steve 30 Jun 2009, 04:20

my rx is now -2.00 with -1.25 astigmitism is that a large amount of astigmitism and is my ovarall rx -3.25 because my glasses are quite thick

Cactus Jack 29 Jun 2009, 08:25

dan,

Your eyes are probably rather good, they just like to focus at about 26 inches or 67 cm. which makes things farther than that, blurry. Then, the astigmatism makes it even blurrier.

Overall, the prescription is pretty low. Glasses will fix that very well.

dan 29 Jun 2009, 05:27

hi i just got 1-50 myopia and -1.25 astigmitsm how bad are my eyes

Ash 25 Jun 2009, 08:16

Cactus jack,

Thanks for all your help. I don't think my eyesight is bad enough to warrant contacts but I will keep in mind to try and wear my glasses more often- I think Im probably straining my eyes at work. We often have to sit through presentations that I feel myself squinting at. Will bite the bullet and wear specs next time : )

Cactus Jack 25 Jun 2009, 04:52

Ash,

Wearing your glasses is ALWAYS your choice. Prevention is much better than a cure, if you think you are going to be in a situation where you might develop a headache, you could prevent it by putting on your glasses a half-hour before.

Before you started wearing glasses, your brain had probably given up on seeing clearly and was no longer even making the effort. One of the reasons you may be getting headaches is that your brain has re-discovered the pleasure and comfort of seeing effortlessly, using two eyes, rather than straining to see clearly with each eye individually. Human beings quickly adapt to labor saving devices and are reluctant to go back to the old ways. You glasses are a labor saving device for your brain, and it is rebelling against having to strain to see.

If you REALLY don't want to wear your glasses, you might discuss contact lenses with your Optician. Even if toric contacts are not an option for you, it may be possible to do an acceptable compromise using sphere only contacts. They are easy to wear for most people.

Ash 25 Jun 2009, 00:45

Cactus jack,

Thanks for the advice. So when should I be wearing them, whenever I get a headache? It mostly happens at work and I would just put up with it if I was off out somewhere. So I may stick with my current glasses as they are only 6 months old.

Cactus Jack 24 Jun 2009, 15:53

Ash,

Vanity is generally ascribed to females, but when it comes to wearing glasses I'm about convinced that the males may have you beat. Maybe it is the Macho image.

You do have a very significant advantage in the frames department. Attractive frames can be a very important fashion accessory. Fortunately, your Rx is not very strong and it does not require very thick lenses. You probably chose you frames thinking that you would not wear the much and never in a social setting. Consider getting some frames that accent your beauty. I think rimless frames (similar to the style Sarah Palin wears) can really make a young woman even more attractive than she already is. Your optician friend should be able to advise. If there are budget issues, consider ordering on line. You have your Rx, all you need is your PD which is easy to measure if you don't have it handy.

You are thinking of glasses as a liability, turn them into an asset.

Ash 24 Jun 2009, 13:43

Cactus jack

I am female- perhaps why the vanity! I actually got an eye test after my fathers friend, who owns an opticians, noticed me squinting slightly at some distant view and gave me an eye test for free! Previously I had noticed that if I shut my left eye, it was quite blurry, but thought it was ok as my vision with both eyes seemed fine.

He told me I was only very slightly short sighted so would just need glasses for driving and distances. There was never any mention about astigmatism although I have read a little about it here, or wearing them for any other activities.

Cactus Jack 24 Jun 2009, 12:28

Ash,

Monovision is usually done intentionally to avoid wearing bifocals. One eye is corrected for distance vision and the other eye is corrected for reading and close work. Mostly it is done using contact lenses and occasionally it is done with implanted replacement lenses during cataract surgey. With monovision you typically see with only one eye at a time. The brain switches between the eyes to use the clearest image for what you are doing, without your being aware of it.

Normally, monovision does not cause headaches, but uncorrected astigmatism does. The problem with astigmatism is that no matter how hard your brain tries to provide you with clear vision, it simply cannot do it without external correction using glasses or contact lenses.

You might possibly be able to wear what are called toric contact lenses, but they don't always work well for low levels of astigmatism. The problem with low cylinder toric contacts is that they are expensive and tend to move on your cornea as you blink. Your astigmatism may not be enough to stabilize them.

To correct astigmatism, the axis of the cylinder corection must be very close to the axis of your astigmatism. If it is not, it actually makes your vision worse.

The best solution is to wear your glasses even though you may not like them. You and your associates will soon get used to them and you will enjoy the comfort. The alternative is to stock up on headache rememdies.

BTW, I had natural monovision similar to yours when I first got glasses at 14. I am 71 now and have had cataract surgery. I intentionally selected the implanted lenses for monovision and I also wound up with a bit more astigmatism than you have. I can function without glasses, but I prefer the comfort of glasses and don't care what others think.

Please don't let vanity keep you from having comfortable effortless vision.

May I ask your gender, Ash is sort of gender neutral.

Ash 24 Jun 2009, 11:37

I am 22. Had the last eye test around 6 months ago which was when I first got glasses. What is monovision, is that what is causing the headaches?

Cactus Jack 24 Jun 2009, 11:31

Ash,

I would suggest that there are two problems. One is the difference in the sphere and the other is your astigmatism.

What is happening is that you are primarily using your left eye for distance and the right eye for reading. That is pretty much what monovision is all about. The problem is your astigmatism. Unfortunately, there is no way to compesate for astigmatism except corrective lenses.

May I ask your age and when you had your last eye exam

Ash 24 Jun 2009, 09:36

Cactus jack- thankyou for the quick reply. My prescription is L eye sph -0.50 cyl -0.75 x 105 and R eye sph -2.00 cyl -0.75 x 60. I have started wearing them a little more now, but I'm not a massive fan of myself in them!

Cactus Jack 24 Jun 2009, 09:22

Ash,

You may have some astigmatism which changes what is typical. What is your prescription.

The fact that you find wearing the glasses more comfortable than not wearing them should tell you something.

Maybe it is time for a new exam and perhaps new glasses and more frequent wear.

Ash 24 Jun 2009, 09:08

Hi. I have what might be a slightly weird question but not sure where else to ask! I have glasses because I'm very slightly shortsighted but never wear them really- I don't have a car and I just move closer if there's something I can't see properly. However recently my eyes were feeling a but strained and I have been getting headaches so I wore my glasses for a couple of hours to a work presentation. As well as being able to see, my eyes felt lots better and the headache disappeared. But I have read here that short sighted people shouldn't get headaches without glasses. I have tried it a few times since when I've had a headache/ strained eyes and it's worked every time. Anyone any idea what might be going on?

Dan 24 Jun 2009, 06:59

Rachel,

Yep, definitely! I doubt I will ever get to that prescription.

Rachel 24 Jun 2009, 03:37

Dan. Wow I bet. You are still really low though compared with me. RE -11.75 x 1.50 x 150 LE -12.50 x -2.00 x 180

Dan 23 Jun 2009, 19:20

Got an eye exam today and got a new prescription.

Old:

OD -.50

OS plano -.50 x 90

New:

OD -1.00 -.50 x 90

OS -.50 -.75 x 90

The optometrist showed me a trial frame with my new prescription versus my old one and the difference is so amazing...I can't wait to get my new prescription!

Chrissi 23 Jun 2009, 17:47

Thanks for the tips Cactus Jack and R Ed.

I do have an appt booked in August, one for my ophthalmologist at a hospital and one who can get me measured for contacts.

My CL rx is 2 years old (but my -11.25 for glasses are only 8 months old).

I will be needing an increase when I go back in August.

R Ed, you're right, I might have issues reading up close when I get my distance rx for contacts updated.

I might get glasses to wear for reading if it comes to that.

Thanks for the help!

R Ed 23 Jun 2009, 14:12

Cactus Jack and Chrissi,

CJ- Please don't be concerned with "butting in"; I certainly respect your very helpful comments to all on Eyescene.

Chrissi,

CJ's estimate of 1.66 add for you is likely correct over your CL's. You might test this by trying on readers at a pharmacy ( or chemists if you live in the UK). You may wish to ask CJ if there are adverse consequences, short and long term, of reading with your distance correction

Cactus Jack 23 Jun 2009, 07:28

Chrissi & R Ed,

Not to butt in, but the -9.50 contacts are pretty close to what is required for a refracted -11.25 distance Rx. If you like wearing the -8.75 glasses for reading, that would be pretty close to the effect of wearing +1.66 reading glasses. You might try wearing some +1.50 or +1.75 readers with the contacts for reading and close work. The differences are caused by vertex distance effects which are related to the glasses Rx squared (^2).

R Ed 23 Jun 2009, 07:00

Chrissi,

You mentioned earlier you only wear glasses around the house. That being the case you already have what you need; -11.25 for distance and -8.75 for reading.

You say you can read "all right" with -9.50 CL's. Do you feel eye strain? Are your eyes fatigued after long periods of reading? Since the experiment with your old weaker glasses suggests you need "add +2.50" which is certainly significant; maybe your current CL's are a comprise; a little weak for distance, a little strong for reading but you can accomodate. How old is you CL Rx? Maybe it needs updating for distance and that would make reading without bi focals more difficult. If I were you I'd visit my eye care professional soon.

Chrissi 22 Jun 2009, 16:36

Thanks R Ed for your advice.

Should I still then, get bifocals, if I can read with my -11.25 glasses, but just not as comfortably as with weaker ones?

Because when I wear my contacts, -9.50, I can read all right.

R Ed 22 Jun 2009, 06:46

Chrissi,

If I understand correctly your best distance Rx is -11.25 and you are most comfortable reading with -8.75 glasses. Bi focals would be a huge help for you. The difference between these two numbers is 2.50. If you had a bi focal prescription it would state "add + 2.50".

I believe there are two ways to deal with this. With CL's one eye would have he distance lens -11.25; the other the reading lens -8.75. I believe this approach is called monovision. I wouldn't take this approach but I know people who do and they accept it.

The second approach is bi focal glasses. Progressive bi focals (with no visible line) are excellent; I've had them for many years.

Which approach do you think you'll take?

Aubrac 22 Jun 2009, 00:41

Had the biennial eyetest yesterday but nothing really exciting.

My contact lens scrip has been the same in both eyes for over ten years,

-5.00 +2.00 add, small change in glasses scrip, now

R -5.25, add +2.00,

L -5.00, -0.75 axis 166, add +1.75

Ther was a little concern that the eyeball pressure was slightly over the limit in the left eye, apparantly in the UK this has recently been reduced so more people are being referred. However, after the third test nearly an hour later, it had gone below the limit.

Must say a very thorough and unhurried test by a nice young lady optometrist.

Chrissi 21 Jun 2009, 16:32

I apologize for any misunderstanding.

Due to budget issues, I haven't been able to get new contacts (which is why they're still in the old rx), but my -11.25 is my real prescription.

Chrissi 21 Jun 2009, 16:29

Oh and don't get me wrong, I love my glasses, but the reason I wear contacts is that it's just easier to get around for me.

I consider them more of an intimate thing, I suppose.

Chrissi 21 Jun 2009, 16:26

Thanks for everybody's input.

My -11.25 is about an 8 month old prescription.

I actually wear -9.50 contacts (which convert to about -10 in glasses). I rarely wear my glasses, only at home.

When I read, I wear my -8.75 glasses.

It is easier for me to read just because it takes the pressure off my eyes. The letters appear to be farther away when I wear my -11.25.

Sal 21 Jun 2009, 12:29

Chrissi:

R Ed's idea is a good one you can also try a pair of +1.5 or +2 OTC readers over your glasses and see if there is less strain. Once you get into college, probably with a still higher prescription, you may find bifocals helpful. My siblings and my fiancee are very happy with them for intense studying.

In fact, when I was an undergraduate I roomed with an architecture student. By the time we were seniors, almost every architecture student had glasses of some type for close work.

Rachel 20 Jun 2009, 01:01

R Ed. No I haven't actually, cos I find reading and close work OK with my single vision lenses and I desperately need the high minus for my distance vision. Maybe one day I will have to give in and get some bifocals, but until then I want to persevere with single vision.

R Ed 19 Jun 2009, 13:49

Chrissi,

My idea, 2 posts earlier, would just give you an indication if you may benefit from bi focals. The authoritative way would be to visit your eye care professional.

Rachael,

Thanks for your support. Have you tried my suggestion? If so, what were your conclusions?

Rachel 19 Jun 2009, 11:03

Chrissi. That's a good idea of R Eds. try it

R Ed 19 Jun 2009, 10:51

Chrissi,

If you feel eye strain when reading small font in dim lighting then you may need bifocals.

You may be able to run a test if you have an old pair of your glasses with a lower Rx. Do you have something in the -9.00 to -10.00 range? Do you feel less eye strain? Do the letters seem larger?

Rachel J 19 Jun 2009, 08:39

Sal. That;s not too big an increase for her thankfully.

Sal 19 Jun 2009, 08:22

RachelJ

My sis' prescription before the change was -16, not -15.

Rachel J 18 Jun 2009, 23:00

Chrissi.

I'm 16 and my current RX for glasses is very similar to yours R.E -11.75 and LE-12.50. At the moment I don't have any problems at all with single vision lenses either for reading or close work, so I reckon you should be O.K. with them for quite some time yet. Are you having problems, or is -11.25 a very recnt rx? Sometimes opticians recommend bifocals at quite an early age in an attempt to slow myopic progression. Someone I chat to who is 22 was prescribed some, but she wasn't very happy with them now she has gone back to single vision lenses again and prefers them. It would be good to hear your experiences.

Chrissi 18 Jun 2009, 17:30

Hi, I'm new to posting but I've been reading threads for about a year now.

I'm 14 and my rx is -11.25 for glasses.

I was wondering about bifocals; when does a myope know when he/she needs them?

Rachel J 18 Jun 2009, 01:55

Sal, Has Jen gone up to -16.50 and -17.00 from -15.00? If so that is quite an increase I would say and she must have been really struggling with her old glasses. Her astigmatism is pretty severe as well isn't it? Is she having high index lenses fitted into her glasses? I don't blame her for not wanting contacts to be honest, because I don't fany them despite my mother banging on about them all the time. I'm sorry to seem more interested in your sister's prescriptions, but I don't know much about hyperopia, except one of my friends at school has it and her current prescription is now R.E. +6.00 and L.E. +6.50. I don't know what the rest of the numbers are, but she seems pretty happy with it now. She kept putting off having her eyes checked for a long time before she got her new glasses, because she didn't like the idea of her eyes looking even bigger through them, but now she's accepted it.

Sal 17 Jun 2009, 08:20

Well, my sister Jen and I had our exams and both got increases, Jen's a little less than in the recent past, mine about what I expected. Jen is not going to get contacts, she just doesn't tolerate them at all.

My new script is R: +10.50 +2.25 x105 13.00BO L: +10.25 +3.50 x095 13.00BO add +3.00 with trifocals.

Jen's new script is R: -16.50 -5.00 x050 L: -17.00 -4.25 x020 add +3.25 with trifocals (this is the first time I ever knew Jen's full prescription).

My fiancee, Susan, also recently had an eye exam and had no change in her script.

Rachel 17 Jun 2009, 07:05

Cactus Jack. I thought you must mean that. Yeah I suppose with such a high rx you will need -3.00 more for glasses than for contacts. It bumps your rx up quite a bit more actaully. Sal's sister Jen is pretty high isn't she?

Cactus Jack 17 Jun 2009, 05:51

Rachel J,

The -15.75 was a typo that is why I corrected it in the next post. The reason I said -18.50 or -18.75 was because of potential errors in the formulas. You have to start with the refracted Rx that the patient has said was the clearest and that is very subjective. The examiner can't tell what you see, only what you tell him you see.

Cactus Jack 17 Jun 2009, 05:47

Andrew and Rachel,

The difference between a glasses Rx and a CL Rx is caused by the vertex distance of the lens. Vertex distance is the distance from the front surface of the cornea and the back surface of the lens.

Except in rare instances, the vertex distance of a phoropter and glasses is pretty close, about 12 mm. That being the case, the Rx as determined by the phropter is pretty close to the Rx of the glasses without any adjustment for the difference. However, CLs have a vertex distance of Zero (0) which means that the CL Rx must be adjusted for the difference.

The formula for the adjustment is pretty simple, but it involves a couple of steps:

Refracted (or Glasses) Rx ^ 2 (squared) and then divided by 1000. This will yield the amount of Rx change per mm of vertex distance. Then multiply the change by the vertex distance. This final number is then added to or subtracted from the refracted Rx to give the CL Rx. If the refracted Rx is minus, you subtract. If the refracted Rx is plus, you add.

Note that you start with the refracted or glasses Rx. If you start from the CL Rx, you have to guess at the glasses Rx and do the calculations until you arrive at the CL Rx. The reason for this is that you are dealing with exponential functions and the square of the refracted Rx will be different than the square of the CL Rx. Also note that at refracted Rx below 5, the difference is so small that no adjustment is necessary and accommodation will usually make up for slight errors.

There are two problems with the calculations. The errors get large at high Rx and it is very hard to measure or estimate vertex distance. There is an instrument for doing this, but it is a bit pricey and few ECPs have them. Usually, there is a small calibrated prism on each side of a phropter that will allow the examiner to read the distance from the front surface of the cornea to the back surface of the first lens in machine.

Rachel 17 Jun 2009, 02:08

Cactus. I should have put -3.50 MORE

Rachel J 17 Jun 2009, 02:06

Cactus Jack. Do you mean -3.50 for glasses, if your contacts are -15.00? What do you mean by -15.75 then? I was only -1.00 with my assumption though.

Andrew 16 Jun 2009, 09:39

Is there a set formula for working this out? I know my glasses Rx is based on a lens to pupil distance of 10mm., and I have been told today I now need a -7.50 contact lens for one eye (other would have risen to -7.25, but they don't make them). Given that, how strong are my next glasses likely to be (am due an eye test in October, and am pretty sure a change will be needed)?

Cactus Jack 16 Jun 2009, 07:46

-18.50 or -18.75

Cactus Jack 16 Jun 2009, 07:45

Raches J,

Glasses would actually be closer to -18.50 or -15.75 if she wears -15 contacts.

Rachel J 16 Jun 2009, 07:26

And. I think Sal means that her sister Jen is getting -15.00 contacts and then her glasses will need to be a higher prescription. Probably about -2.50 more, making her glasses prescription something like -17.50. That's because with contacts being actually on your eyes, they don't need to have as much minus as glasses, that are about an inch away. I know it sounds complicated but it's not really. It makes sense when you think about it.

And 15 Jun 2009, 09:49

Nothing wrong with being 5'3" or wearing glasses ! Do you mean Jen will wear contacts and glasses together ? That sounds complicated.

Rachel 14 Jun 2009, 22:47

Sal.

Are those "hard" contacts your sister is getting (RGP)? -15.00 is really strong for contacts isn't it? Usually contacts are a lower rx than glases aren't they? What rx glasses will she need now with such a high rx for contacts?

It's amazing how quickly your hyperopia is increasing. Are you wearing your double digit glasses all the time then now instead of your normal ones? If so that shows you are in for an increased rx again. I love the big eyes plus lenses make you have. I sometimes wish I was a hyperope. I hope your sister Jen likes the extra clarity she'll experience when he gets her new specs!! I bet you can't wait either!

Sal 14 Jun 2009, 12:40

Rachel:

Thanks for the wishes, my exam is tomorrow. Jen is going for her exam before her learning permit and since I am taking her they are working me in. Jen is getting RGP contacts -15 with the rest of her prescription in glasses.

I don't have a problem with the double digits, I have almost been wearing them now since I am wearing my computer glasses most all of the time, and they are not quite adequate, and they don't really work for computer either. I am like you, can't function without glasses. I even have to put them on to see my bedside clock at night.

Me being a hyperope and the rest of the family myopes, the doctors explain is due to my size. I am the runt of the family, I am only 5'3" while the other guys are over 6' and Jen is 5'11". I was small at birth, was cross eyed and have short small eyeballs (although they look big through my lenses). The doctors say my hyperopia will increase for a while yet as well. There were other problems I had earlier in my life but not vision related, so I won't bor folks here with them.

Rachel 10 Jun 2009, 23:50

Sal.

Good luck with your eye exam. Let me know what rx you get to. Do you want double digits?

Rachel 10 Jun 2009, 23:48

Sal.

It's quite weird that your brother and sister are really myopic and you are the opposite I think. Usually brothers and sisters are the same. Jen must be coping ok with he bifocals by now and also Jim. I suppose of its just a case of doing what the opticians recommends. I have heard it where they recommend bifocals to try and prevent myopia increasing too much, because doing a lot of close work looking through minus lenses can help to do that. (That's why some people who wnat higher rxs do read a lot close up wearing minus lenses.) I'll probably get bifocals pretty soon myself, if my distance vision carries on deteriorating like it is doing at the moment. I wonder if bifocals also help to take some of the pressure of your retinas as well. maybe that's why opticians recommend them to high myopes too.

Sal 10 Jun 2009, 12:22

Rachel:

Yes my sis does have problems with peripheral vision. It is true with high myopes and hyperopes too. I have the same problem and have to look through the very center of the lens, and it will get worse when my prescription increases. The prisms make it even more pronounced, my lenses are thick in the middle and at the edges.

Our eye doctor thinks bifocals are required for myopes over 10 dpt, that's why Jen got them when she was 12, and why Jim got them at 18. Also the doctor says hyperopes over +6 need them so I started again with them when I was 14.

I have an eye exam scheduled at the end of the month and will probably be into double digits myself.

Rachel 10 Jun 2009, 05:56

Sal. Wow, Sal your sister's myopia is real bad for 16. I'm the same age but my latest rx is only RE-11.75 and LE-12.50 with some astigmatism. Poor girl having to get bifocals at 12. So far I have been ok with single vision lenses and don't have any probs reading small print even with my high minus rx. maybe one day I'll need them though, which I have now reluctantly come to terms with. Some people think bifocals look pretty cool, especially if the have a straight line across the middle of the lenses. I reckon they could take a bit of getting used to, especially coming down stairs and things like that. Like you may not be able to see the stairs clearly through the bifocal part especially if it is quite a bit weaker. I suppose its just one of those things you have to adapt to with wearing glasses. Does your sister have difficulty with her peripheral vision at that rx like i do? Mine looks really curvy unless I turn my head and look directly though he centre of my lenses.

Dave 09 Jun 2009, 18:25

Thanks Sal

Maybe a slight increase will help the spelling!

Dave

Sal 09 Jun 2009, 12:51

I am embarrased, can't spel meteorology and I are won.

Sal 09 Jun 2009, 12:50

Dave & Clare

Sory to be slow in posting. I got glasses very young, about 9 months. I was born very cross eyed, followed by 3 surgeries in18 months. First glasses were +3, then +4 with +2 add in kindergarten. About 3-4th grade the bifocal went away and then had about +3.5. In high school I was +5 and back to a minimal bifocal and started with prisms. Since then over about 10 years I have seen a slow but steady increase to where I am now.

I have a pair of glasses about 1dpt stronger for computer and they seem to work well for distance, so I think I need a change soon & trifocals.

As for my family, everyone else is myopic. Mom & Dad -6 and -8 respectively with bifocals. Brother Bill is 23 and an Army officer, was -6 but got lasik, now he has to wear +1.5 for reading. Brother Jim is 19 and in college, he has -11 and just got bifocals. Sister Jen is a 16 yo high school student, wears -17 glasses and got her first bifocals at 12 yo.

My fiancee is 1 year behind me in a graduate program (doctorate in meteriology), she is very myopic at -14, wears trifocals and lost an eye in an accident as a kid.

Yavanna 08 Jun 2009, 07:17

The three pairs of glasses (-1.25, -1.5, -1.75) I ordered after posting here about a month ago finally came in a couple weeks ago, and I've had some time to play with switching around between them.

The first thing I noticed was that without the anti-glare coating my regular glasses have, there were lots of annoying reflections, so I wouldn't be settling for any of these, they'd just be good for backup and checking what prescription I need.

First I wore the -1.75s for awhile, when driving and to a concert. Things do seem a bit clearer with them. But I think that even though I could wear them (if they had anti-glare) comfortably, they're a bit stronger than I really need, since if I totally relax my accommodation it blurs a bit even in the distance. Surprisingly, in comparing the different prescriptions, the biggest difference that was really helpful was between my old glasses (OD -1.25, OS -1.25 +0.25 057), and the prescription I was given last month (-1.25). I hadn't thought that -.25 of astigmatism correcting being swapped for an extra -.25 spherical would make much difference, but it does, even if it's subtle.

Now I'm getting ready to get a new "real" pair of glasses, with all the coatings and stuff that I want, and frames that I'm sure I really like. My insurance covers transitions lenses, which is probably enough on its own for me to want to go with a place that takes it (VSP). The big chain places don't take it, only optometrist's offices do.

If I could get anything I wanted without verification, I'd probably get -1.5, just for a bit of extra sharpness, but I don't know if I can get away with faking my prescription. I've already scanned it, and could easily enough make it look like what I want (as a graphic designer it's part of what I do for a living, after all). But I wonder if they'd be likely to call the place that gave me the prescription to verify? Especially if I have to go the optical shop at an optometrist's office, and not something like Walmart or Lenscrafters. I'm thinking I'll probably just go with my legit prescription of -1.25 to save myself the hassle. That would be more a bit more comfortable for near vision when I'm tired, anyway. But slightly more minus would be nice for driving, especially at night. I might order sunglasses online, since I'm less picky about how they look, and insurance won't cover them anyway, and get them in -1.5, or even -1.75.

Rachel 06 Jun 2009, 23:02

Hi Ricky. I'm glad to hear you like extra minus as much as I do and love the sharpness and clarity it gives you. I suppose my eyes are still at the stage where they can focus at all distances with single vision lenses. Like you say the thought of bifocals seems like a sign of ageing!! I suppose no one who is pretty myopic ever wants give in and admit that they can't see to read with strong glasses. It's like admitting you don't really need all that minus! I don't know if you have chatted to Emily in Lenschat but she is around -14 now and when her optician pescribed her bifocals she didn't really like them or need them so now she has gone back to single vision lenses with an even higher rx. Even so if I get to a situation where I eventually need them I'll definitely give them a whirl. I suppose having the line right across the middle of your lenses does look pretty cool when you're quite young.

Ricky 06 Jun 2009, 05:50

Good day Rachel. I started wearing glasses at age 10. My teacher saw squinting and called my parents. Since all my brothers were wearing glasses, it was expected that Ricky would follow suit. Like you, I enjoyed getting stronger glasses on a regular basis. The sharpness and crispness was (and is) always great. My presccription reached -13 in one eye and -14.50 in the other. At about age 28, a co-worker of mine asked why I was looking over the top of my glasses to read up close. I really had not noticed I was doing that--but thought it must be normal. Then I saw on ths website that some others were taking glasses off for close-up work. When I mentioned this here, I was told that I probably needed bifocals---but my immediate response was that I was too young for the bifocals. After thinking about it, had my eyes examined and the eye doctor told me that I should not have to remove my glasses to read up close. Prescribed bifocals---a +2 add. Felt strange wearing bifocals at age 28, but no one even noticed. About two years later, began to have difficulty with mid-range vision---you guessed it--trifocals. A +1 in the midrange and +2.25 in the add. Trifocals at 31 (my age now). Looking back on it--I think if I had not been pusing for a stronger and stronger minus, I would not now be earing trifocals But, anyway, bifocals/trifocals normally arrive at age 40---mine just came early. So Racchel, I think with your prescription, you will be a premature bifocal babe. Men will love it.

Rachel 06 Jun 2009, 01:50

Puffin. You can see what I've written to minus 5 who luvs girls with glasses. Before my last test I've been having increases of around -1.00 every six months since I was 15, but at Easter this year I really went for it in a big way. Dr. Quinn that usually tests me was away on holiday and I had her new optician Chris. He seemed really sympathetic with me and when we had got to what I knew was another -1.00 I asked him if he could just go a little bit stronger. He notched it up another -0.25 and asked me if that was better, so I said "Please could you just go a bit stronger still," and to my surprise he did!! If it had been Dr. Quinn she would have told me, "No, we have gone strong enough for now Rachel."

Rachel 06 Jun 2009, 01:42

minus 5 who luvs gwgs. (continued) Everything looked really minified and I simply couldn't read the card the receptionist put in front of me but I lied to her and said I could. After that she adjusted the ear-pieces and when my new glasses were back on, she said stand up and walk around in them for a while in here, as they may take a bit of getting used to with having such a big increase. I did as she said and then told her they were fine and when I walked out of the opticians the doorway sides looked kind of curvy!! Once I was outside in the street the pavement looked miles away, so I walked all the way back home trying to get used to it. Luckily by the time I got home my eyes seemed to be adjusting quite well to the extra minus and I manged to help my mum prepare supper without any problems. It felt really weird though, because everything looked so small and my mum kept looking at me a lot. I think she was shocked at how much stronger my lenses were, but all she said was, "Can you see a lot better with your new glasses Rachel" and I simply answered, "Yes they're fine mum." That was over two months ago now and my new glasses are still brilliant. Everything looks so crisp and clear and I don't have any problems reading even quite small print. It's simply great.

Rachel 06 Jun 2009, 01:26

minus 5 who luvs gwgs. Hi, the extra minus you wear sounds great. I'm not sure what my rx was at 7 when I first got glasses but I think it must have been quite a bit over -1 because it made such a difference. I kept telling my mum I needed glasses because I was having problems seeing the blackboard at school but at first she didn't believe me. She thought I only wanted glasses because another girl had got glasses. In the end my teacher suggested she take me for an eye-test and after it I ended up with glasses and I can remember how much better I could see with them. After that I needed stronger lenses each year and by 12 I had reached RE-5.25 and LE-5.75 (That's when I started saving all my prescription forms and trying to fake my tests.) Since I was 15 I've been going for check-ups every six months which has probably helped to push my rx up even higher. The last increase I got was at Easter (-1.50 in each eye.) I think this was about -0.75 more than I needed because I got quite a shock when I went to collect my new glasses and first tried them on.

Puffin 05 Jun 2009, 17:56

Hey Rachel, how much does your prescription go up by each time? And how much do you over-estimate your inability to read things?

btw you've got some way to go before you're forced into myodisks, usually between minus 20-25 or so, depending on high index lenses and small frames.

minus 5 who luvs gwgs 05 Jun 2009, 11:07

Thanks Rachel I started with my right eye at the lowest I believe it was -0.50 my left eye was -1.00 by the time I was 16 I was up to -1.50 and -3.00 with slight astigmatism it progressed to about -3.00 and -4.00 by the time I was about 44 it then jumped to about -3.50 and -5.00 in a few months it now seems stable but to get the sharp vision we both love I now wear -5.00 and -6.00 As regards the higher prescriptions just look at Sandra from Germany a lovely lady with very high minus So what did you start at ?did you realise at 7 you needed glasses or was it a teacher or doctor What had you got to by age 12 By the way on another thread you mentioned swimming you can get prescription swimming goggles which would be better than wearing your glasses

Rachel 05 Jun 2009, 08:18

minus 5 who luvs gwgs. Thanks, it interesting to hear about your progress. Urm,, I really took to minus in a big way at about age 12 or 13. Like you I just love the crispness it gives when you first have an increase. The problem is with me it never seems to last long. I suppose it all to do with my age and stuff. My eyes keep changing and all that. I never know if getting extra minus makes them change quicker, or if they would just change anyway. I suppose its anyones guess! All I know is I like it... more minus I mean. I don't want to get to the myodisc stage though!! ...no way! I hope not anyway if I can possibly manage without. Love to hear back from you.

Rachel 05 Jun 2009, 08:06

Ricky. No, never. I just keep my glasses on for everything. When did you first get glasses and how old are you now? (If you don't mind saying lol)

minus 5 who luvs gwgs 05 Jun 2009, 07:47

Rachel I wore glasses first at 8 years old unlike you although glasses fascinated me I was very shy about wearing them and like a fool tried to do without however from about 12 when I became interested in girls I have always been attracted to gwgs the stronger the better i have been out with two girls who were around minus 15 my first wife was about minus 4 my current wife is a minus 2 with significant astigmatism while my girl friend is minus 6 when I saw her cut in and power rings I could not resist!!! I suppose i like someone who has something in common so hyperopes do not float my boat there is just something about a nice powerful minus lens with the cut in power rings minification and that lovely glint like diamonds they really are like face jewellery Myself I just like the super crisp vision that slightly increased minus gives me thank goodness you are a proud gwg just like my gf who would never consider contacts or laser Please do not worry about any eye problems a relative of my wifes got to 89 and she had myodiscs i think around minus 25 and apart from extreme myopia had no other eye problems

Ricky 05 Jun 2009, 05:32

Interestingly enough Rachel, your prescription is very close to the same strength as mine. Do you ever take your glasses off to read small print up close?

Rachel 04 Jun 2009, 22:36

Ricky. Well thats probably me Ricky. Another Rachel mentioned bifocals, but that definitely wasn't!

Ricky 04 Jun 2009, 22:33

Rachel, your postings are eerily similar to another Rachel. Talking about your mother trying to keep you from wearing glasses all the time; your strong obsession with glasses--all sounds hauntingly familiar. I guess that many Rachels love their glasses.

Rachel 04 Jun 2009, 22:19

minus 5 who luvs gwgs. Well I got my first glasses at 7 for school. I was so surprised how much better I could see I kept them on as much as I could even though my mum kept telling me to take them off. Then my eyes just got worse every year, so I always looked forwards to getting stronger lenses. By 12 I was really into strong glasses and my obsession with them has just gone on from there. I can't help it but I simply love it each time I get another increase now, than I need if I possibly can. What do you like about minus glasses best?

minus5 who luvs gwgs 04 Jun 2009, 07:15

Well I am a guy Rachel who would love to hear of your myopic progression and at what age you first got glasses and how you found out you needed them

Rachel 04 Jun 2009, 03:17

Dave. Are you interested in myopes as well? At the moment I'm wearing glasses with RE-11.75 and LE -12.50 with quite a bit of astigmatism. I'm happy with my rx at the moment but I reckon that in another six months I'll probably be gagging for more. lol.

Dave 03 Jun 2009, 14:06

Hi Sal

Welcome!

Would love to hear more about your glasses "story". Starting wearing, progression, your feelings towards your glasses, funny stories, contacts experiences, etc etc etc.

Best Wishes

Dave

Clare 03 Jun 2009, 12:50

Sal - welcome. I'm sure someone here will be able to answer your questions.

Sal 03 Jun 2009, 08:34

I found this site a few days ago looking for info about prisms which i have had for years due to esotropia. I am a 25 yo grad student. My prescription is R: +9.50 +2.25 x105 12.00BO; L: +8.75 +3.50 x090 12.00BO add +2.50.

Cactus jack 30 May 2009, 14:58

GarethUK,

That is a judgement call that only you can make. I think I might be strongly tempted to order the new Rx from Zenni to see if I liked the Rx enough to spend more money. I don't know what the price would be where you live, but in the US it would be under $10 for the cheap frames plus shipping.

If you like it, then you could have the Rx filled where ever you wanted to.

All you need is the Rx, your PD, and a credit card. Let me know if you want to try it and need help.

GarethUK 30 May 2009, 14:18

Thanks for the response Cactus Jack, given that it's only a small change is it worth getting the prescription made into a new pair of glasses?

I'm 28 and it's been two years since my last test

Cactus jack 30 May 2009, 02:32

GarethUK,

Your old Rx was written with + cylinder and your new one is written with - cylinder. I have converted your old Rx to - cylinder so you can make a more accurate comparison:

Old

R. -4.50, -0.25, 0

L. -4.25, -1.25, 175

New

R: -5.00, -0.25, 5

L: -4.50, -1.50, 175

Some practitioners use phropters or trial lenses with + cylinder and others use - cylinder. The results are the same with either, they just look different. When a lens maker gets a + cylinder Rx, they convert it to - cylinder and make the glasses. Looks like you have a =0.50 sphere increase in your right eye and a -0.25 sphere and -0.25 increase in astigmatism in your left eye, Not very much, really. May I ask your age and how long it has been since your last exam?

GarethUK 30 May 2009, 00:08

Hi,

I went for my eye test yesterday and due to my old optician retiring I went to a different one. My old prescription was:

R: -4.75, +0.25, 90

L: -5.50, +1.25, 85

According to the optician I saw my eyesight has got worse and I they have recommended that I get a new pair of glasses but when I got the prescription it looks like one eye has got a lot better. My new prescription is:

R: -5.00, -0.25, 5

L: -4.50, -1.50, 175

Can anybody please explain as i'm a little confused as to whether my eyesight has actually gotten worse or not

Clare 29 May 2009, 11:39

Last post from me!

29 May 2009, 11:39

father of gwg - Aubrac is right, people 'see' things differently. I also think that, at lower levels of myopia, how much people want/need to wear their glasses depends on how comfortable they feel with how they look in them.

New 28 May 2009, 12:14

Test

father of gwg 28 May 2009, 08:12

Thanks to all for your informative posts. From everything that has been said it seems as if our eyes are an inexact science when it comes to how they change over long periods of time. I now realize that it is impossible to know how bad my daughter's eyes may get over the next 10-15 years. All we can do is make sure we continue to follow-up with our eye doctor every year or so and see what happens. Thanks again to all. I have really enjoyed learning about this subject. I will keep everyone updated on future developments of my daughter or anyone else in the family who may have problems seeing.

Aubrac 28 May 2009, 07:53

Father of gwg

I have posted before to you but would like to add an anecdote that shows every individual situation is different.

Years ago one of my house mates was a lovely bare-eyed girl in her mid-twenties. We got around to talking about glasses one evening and she said she had worn glasses since was 12 and then moved to contacts fulltime as she did a lot of stage work. She remembered being about -2.00 and at an eye test at age 22 was told she no longer needed contacts as she could read all lines on the chart without lenses, she went for a retest six months later and result the same – no need for glasses!

One the other hand, I used to have French lessons with a lovely French lady in her late twenties. One day I arrived and she was wearing les lunettes – glasses! We got to talking about them and she said had always had glasses for a small amount of astigmatism, and wore them very little for reading when she was tired. However she suddenly realised that she couldn’t read road signs or see the titles of books on her shelf, and an eyetest showed a -2.25 scrip plus cylinder. She was now almost FT dependant and that was within only one week of getting them.

Opposite sides of the coin show anything can happen.

Rachel 28 May 2009, 03:16

RL. Thanks for the info on myodiscs. Sometimes I feel pretty daunted at the prospect of needing them eventually but maybe they won't look too bad. Even cool from what you say!

Clare of 27 May 2009, 12:37

father of gwg - my prescription was stable (around -1.25) for the first few years. Then I had a jump to -2 (both eyes, I think), then -2.25 both eyes, after that they seemed to change at different rates before I got to my current prescription a couple of years ago. I always wondered if I didn't quite see as well as I should - when I took my driving test at 17 I had to have a couple of attempts to read the car number plate, very embarrassting!

I started to wear contacts regularly when I got into the -2s, before that I managed just wearing glasses when I needed to. At -2 I never felt my eyesight was bad.

Compared to others my eyesight isn't bad now either. At home I need glasses to watch TV but can roam around the house without. Outside is alot different although I'd go for a walk without, could go shopping assuming I don't want to read signs in the aisles, but would probably ignore a few people along the street! I don't do it often but certainly could if I had to. At my prescription I think the reality is that most people choose not to, which is understandable.

I read bon's post in Acuity and Prescription and their optician recommends wearing glasses fulltime at a much lower prescription.

Clare of 27 May 2009, 12:37

I started to wear contacts regularly when I got into the -2s, before that I managed just wearing glasses when I needed to. At -2 I never felt my eyesight was bad.

I read bon's post in Acuity and Prescription and their optician recommends wearing glasses fulltime at a much lower prescription.

RL 27 May 2009, 07:56

One more thing; I find the field of vision to be great because the myodiscs fit really close to my eyes. The edges don't dig into my face like my full-field glasses. And having them fit closer improves the vision as well. Every so often I'll get a comment or question about them, but like I said; they're exotic.

RL 27 May 2009, 07:53

Rachel,

The best thing about myodiscs is that they are thin and light especially if you can get them in plastic. Mine have 30mm bowls (that's the circle in the center of the lens where the prescription is) with a slightly plus carrier (that's the outer portion of the lens.) The fronts are slightly concave, about a -2 and the edges are thin enough that they don's stick out of the frames at all. My full field glasses by comaparison are 11 mm thick at the outer edge. There is very little edge distortion because there is no thick edge. The only thing is that you have to get used to keeping your eyes looking through the center of the bowl. I don't find this bothersome at all. Mine are in black plastic frames and I think they look pretty cool. The power rings are mimimal and it's hard to detect the unusual lens design unless you know what you're looking for. Since the outer portion of the lens magnifies the edge of your face and your eyes look really small through the bowls, there is quite a contrast. I've decided they're exotic, and I like them a lot. Hope this helps.

Rachel 26 May 2009, 23:36

fatherof gwgw. Clare is probably right. If your daughter can read without her glasses comfortably encourage her to do so. Sometimes doing a lot of close work wearing glasses can make myopia increase more rapidly. It's probably because your eyes get used to focussing on close things through correction and then they need more correction to see at a distance. Look at my post to Catcus Jack on Hyperopic progression to see the physical implications of myopia. You will probably find it helpful. Tell me how your daughter re-acts.

Rachel 26 May 2009, 23:30

RL. Thanks for your latest post. You are right once you get into the habit of looking trhough the centre of you glasses everything is OK. Like when you cross roads, you need to turn your head instead of just glancing sideways. Myodiscs fascinate me actually. Tell me more about them. How much field of vision do you actually get with them and is the distortion as apparent? It looks as though I will probably end up with some by the time I'm in my mid to late teens. They can look pretty cool I reckon if you get the right frames.

father of gwg 26 May 2009, 18:34

Clare,

At what rate did your myopia increase? When your perscription did increase say by .50 or so did it make a noticeable difference in your vision? Did you realize that your eyes weren't very good prior to finally being diagnosed in your twenties, or do you think that's when your eyes started to deteriorate? Also, when you were -2.00 can you describe how you saw things without correction to give me a better understanding of what my daughter sees uncorrected? Lastly, now that you are -3.00 what is your uncorrected vision like?

Clare 26 May 2009, 13:56

father of gwg - I've been in the -2s for quite a few years and am now at -2.75 and -3 with a bit of astigmatism (-0.50). Although I wear contacts lenses 90% of the time it's not impossible for me to go without correction, especially for reading so your daughter may easily be able to accommodate for that despite her astigmatism. I have a friend who has a prescription of -3.75 with -0.75 of astigmatism who is happy to read without glasses but at her prescription she has to hold material quite close to her eyes.

I was in my early 20s when my myopia was discovered, I am now in my late 30s and expect that my prescription has stabilised. I think that it's likely your daughters prescription will increase but it may not be much more than mine, and that's not too debilitating so don't be concerned. Apparently I'm unusual in that I developed myopia relatively late and reached a moderate prescription (so my optician tells me).

It seems to make sense that she doesn't wear them if she doesn't need to for close work but she will decideas it's a very subjective thing.

RL 26 May 2009, 11:41

Rachel,

Yes, there is some distortion at the edges of my lenses, but I've gotten used to looking through the centers, and I currently have two pairs of myodisc glasses in the old Rx that help since the prescription is confined to the center 28mm of the lenses. I thought I would try the new Rx in a full-field lens first, but I will probably get it done in a myodisc as well. It keeps the lens much thinner at the edges. I think the new ones will be over 10mm thick at the edges even in hi-index plastic. We'll see. I'll keep you posted.

Rachel 26 May 2009, 10:05

RL. Sure. My rx make things look smaller when I first get an increase. However it goes it the sharpness and clarity which I really like. Do you get quite a bit of distortion with your peripheral vision now, like I do? It can be a real pain until you get used to it and concentrate on looking through the centre of your lenses all the time.

RL 26 May 2009, 09:26

Rachel and Puffin,

The Doc said long ago said that I have "high resoultion retinas" which allow me to see small things at a distance. It's just the optics of my eyes that are off. Actually I see about the same in both eyes, though things in the left (stronger Rx) eye appear slightly smaller. Not a problem since I've worn glasses since I was ten and have adapted quite well. At one point when I was in college, the difference between my eyes was 5.25 D. That was a little weird, but then my right eye "caught up." Current Rx is R -11.50 +.50 X 106, L -14.00 D/S. So I'm only up by 1D for the new one, not too bad for waiting two years.

Cactus Jack 26 May 2009, 09:04

father of gwg,

It might be useful for your daughter to consider wearing some glasses with a reduced Rx for reading and close work. The lower Rx will reduce her accommodation stress while reading and studying and could slow her myopia. I would suggest 1 diopter lower in the sphere correction. The cylinder and axis should remain the same. The small reduction in sphere Rx will still require her to accommodate some, just not as much.

If she has contacts that correct both her sphere and astigmatism, a pair of +1.00 or +1.25 reading glasses worn over the contacts will accomplish the same thing.

You could order glasses with a lower Rx on line at considerable savings, if you wish and we can help you with the order.

Puffin 26 May 2009, 08:55

RL, 20/15 is really good with that rx. is it better with the -12 eye or no difference?

Rachel 26 May 2009, 08:41

father of gwg. I agree with Aubrac. Wearing glasses for girls is no big deal these days. I for one love looking at all the trendy frames that keep appearing at my opticians. I can never resit going in when i pass and trying some on even when I'm not due for my check up. I reckon she could get to around -6.00 and by then she will be pretty dependent on glasses but the fact that I'm totally dependent never stops me having fun. Like Aubrac says all she needs is her confidence boosting about wearing glasses fulltime and help in choosing some really cool frames. It's no good her missing out on seeing a lot of stuff.

Rachel 26 May 2009, 08:26

father of gwg. I know astigmatism can be a problem when reading, that's why I always wear my glasses for reading as mine is quite bad.

Something that may interest you though about myopic progression is that when my aunt was in the sixth form she decided to try wearing hard contacts, because another girl told her they would stop her myopia increasing as quickly. Her optician was non-committal on the subject but was willing to prescribe her some. In fact they did, because for about six years her rx only increased by about -0.50 every year. Then after she gave birth to her little daughter Sophie she decided to go back to glasses again because of problems with dry eyes. As soon as she did her myopic progression really took off and after 6 months she was desperate for an increase which was -1.25. Six months later she needed another -1.00 but thankfully her eyes have now settled down again to a steady -0.50 more per year. So probably specs4ever is right in saying that constant wear, especially contacts, does make myopia progress more rapidly.

Aubrac 26 May 2009, 08:12

father of gwg

It is pure speculation on anyone's part as to when and at what level a prescription will stabilise. However it is unlikely that myopia will stabilise at age 17.

From the wide experience of the many people on this site, we can only base estimates on what we know, which may be different for any particular situation.

Your daughter's rate of increase does not seem very high and so she is less likely to finish with a scrip of say above -6.00. However, it is quite possible to expect an increase of -0.50 every two years for another ten years or so. This is why people have speculated that her final scrip could be about -4/-5.

Your concern is obvious from your posts, but may I suggest that regrettable though it may seem, wearing glasses/contacts is no big deal - millions of people do so.

I suggest you just take it in your stride, and help her choose some nice frames as an occassional alternative to wearing contacts - buying online will greatly reduce the cost of this.

At -1.75 without correction she will miss out on a lot of detail, texture, etc, find signs difficult to read, and wont pass an eye test for a driving exam. The most important thing is for her not to be worried about this and enjoy good vision with either glasses or contacts.

Rachel 26 May 2009, 08:05

RL. Wow that's really good. I can only ever get down as far as the 20/30 line after I've been prescribed my new rx. And when I get to it my optician tells me I've done really well. Your eyes must be miles better than mine, lol.

RL 26 May 2009, 07:35

Rachael, I'll let you know when they come in. It will be nice to see really clearly again. I was able to read the 20/15 line with the new prescription, much to the surprise of the opthalmologist.

father of gwg 26 May 2009, 07:00

Thanks to all for the informative posts. Is there a chance that my daughter's eyes stabilize now and she never becomes full-time dependent on her glasses and contacts? If so what percentage would you put it that her perscription stays below -2.00? Also, I've spoken to her about not using the glasses for near work, but the doctor told her that the astigmatism affects work at all distances.

Rachel 26 May 2009, 01:19

Father of gwg. I think Aubrac is correct regarding inheriting myopia via the female line. Like his sister's kids needed glasses and not his. Similarly I needed them because my mum's sister younger needed them and now her little girl who is only 5 needs them. Aubrac's sister's progression from the age of 12 has not been as great as mine from the age of 7, resulting in her only having about half the rx I have. Like Aubrac I'm pretty sure your daughter will only reach around -4.00 or perhaps -5.00

Aubrac 26 May 2009, 01:04

Father of GWG

There have been many useful contributions but may I add a couple of points.

You did mention the hereditary angle. I am not a geneticist and do not know how this works, I can only say that my parents and all relations had, as far as I know perfect eyesight, and none of them wore glasses. My Mum was shocked to find at about 12 my sister needed glasses, she has since progressed to about -7 and I am at a well stabilised -5. My ex had perfect eyesight and we have 3 kids all with perfect eyesight, whereas my sister (her husband has perfect eyesight) has four kids with scrips ranging from -2 to -6.

From observation it seems a couple with highish scrips will have a child who will also have a high scrip. From what you said about your daughters new prescription and age, it is quite possible your daughter may eventually go to -4/-5 but maybe not more than that.

Hope this helps rather confuses the issue.

Rachel 25 May 2009, 23:14

Wow RL that sure is some rx!! I bet you can't wait to try your nw glasses on when they arrive at your opticians! I'd love you to post to your first reactions in another week.

Rachel 25 May 2009, 23:10

father of gwg. I think what specs4ever has posted about kids is probably quite true. When I first got glasses at 7 I was so thrilled with how much better I vcould see I fell into the trap of "leaving" them on most of the time even though my mum kept nattering me to take them off. Watching TV was much better, and seeing things clearly when I was out, and as I had no problems reading with my glasses on, I couldn't see the point of keep taking them off and risking forgeting taking them to school. In fact I once did and my teacher had to phone my mum to ask her to bring them for me and you can imagine how embarrassed I felt when she walked into the classroom in the middle of a lesson to hand them to me! So I supposed I've paid the penalty for being a full-time wearer from a very early age. As my mum's younger sister, who is also very myopic, told me recently "Once you start on the slippery slope there is no going back!" However like Specs4ever I am convinced your daughter's rx will get no where near as high as mine is now as she only started with glasses in her mid-teens.

RL 25 May 2009, 13:32

Got a new Rx last week. Up a little to: R -12.00 +.50 X 106, L -15.00 D/S.

Ordered the new glasses in 1.67 High index lenses, black plastic frame. Should have them in a week or so.

Andrew 24 May 2009, 11:32

I realize that contact lens technology has changed a lot in the last few years but I wore my contacts most of the time from the age of 18 until about 25, when I was told I had to stop wearing them for a while to give my eyes a break. For a while after that, I was only allowed to wear them for 5 hours a day. Now (I'm 43), I can wear them most of the day if I need to, but if I'm indoors and not doing sport, or it's not raining really hard, I go for the glasses option.

father of gwg 24 May 2009, 07:54

Specs4ever, thanks for the reply and the detailed explanation. Would anyone else care to comment on this subject. This information is very helpful to me and my family. I don't know if the doctor commented on any of these things as my daughter went by herself for her exam, and I'm sure she didn't ask any questions at all. If anyone else has knowledge on this subject please share it.

specs4ever 24 May 2009, 06:14

Father of GWG, I am again just a layman, but I will try to answer that question as to if your daughters eyes will ever become as bad as Rachel's I would suggest that it is not very likely. In most cases a high prescription has already manifested itself by the age of 17. She has worn contacts without giving her eyes a break for long enough that if she was really succeptible to myopia, her myopia would already have started to climb. Most parents don't know, and most kids don't care at the time, to realize that one of the worst things they can do to their eyes is to wear a low(and yes, even with the increase your daughter's prescription is still very mild)minus prescription full time. The hours spent doing schoolwork and the other nearpoint visual tasks our kids are faced with at a young age tend to mean that kids are more likely to become nearsighted. If they are slightly nearsighted, wearing a correction for their myopia full time means that they are looking through a lens designed for distance vision even while they read.

You will find confirmation of what I just told you if you search the web. But I can almost guarantee you if you were to ask your daughter's eye doctor if her prescription will get worse or not, he, or she, will be unable to answer you, and will give you a statement something like "Well, no one can really tell. We will just have to wait and see what happens." That is because the doctor doesn't know for sure, anymore than I do. However, I am basing my thoughts on years of observation and research.

I would suggest that your daughter should remove her contacts when she return home from school. She should do her homework, or any other close visual tasks without wearing any correction. This is even more important for when she gets to college.

Until her prescription reaches -4D or greater, she should be able to read comfortably at a reasonable distance. After -4D - if she even reaches that, she could consider bifocals for her around home glasses, even though a dioctor would be reluctant to prescribe them.

Rachel, on the other hand, is likely destined for a prescription in the low -20's, and there really isn't much she can do about it.

Sorry I am so long winded, but this is a favorite topic of mine.

father of gwg 24 May 2009, 03:10

Rachel, back in the 7th grade it was very dramatic when my daughter was perscribed glasses. She got both glasses and contacts that first time and wore her glasses some, but when she got comfortable enough with the contacts she turned to them everyday. When she took them out at home she didn't find it "necessary" I guess to wear her glasses. As a matter of fact, I don't remember seeing her wear her glasses since she had gotten into high school 3 years ago. Until this most recent increase she only kept up with the contacts (saving me a pretty penny)which she religiously wore everyday for school and going out. At her exam on Monday the doctor told her that only relying upon contacts on an all day everyday basis could be harmful to her eyes in the long run so she was encouraged to get new glasses as well for the first time since her original visit 5 years ago. Now that she realizes her vision is worsening she has accepted the fact that glasses are going to be necessary some days, actually probably everyday for at least part of the day. She has been wearing her new glasses around the house almost exclusively for the past day or two. I paid good money for a nice black plastic Armani stylish frame, and we all think she looks great in the new specs, including herself. She has noticed the increase and has commented how clear her new vision is. I have shared with her your answers to my questions, and I think she has accepted the fact that her dependence will only become greater with time. The thing she keeps saying is how unfair it is that my wife and I and our freshman and fifth grade son all have very good vision and how the heck did she get stuck wearing glasses. I'm sure she will continue to wear her contacts most of the time, but as a concerned father I hope she accepts the advice of the doctor to give her eyes a rest from her contacts sometimes. She also has expressed some fear that her eyes could keep increasing to a perscription of your magnitude. Is that possible?

Rachel 23 May 2009, 23:20

Can anyone tell me about the rate of increases someone with a plus prescription can expect, if they start wearing glasses at about the age I did? i.e. aged 7.

Rachel 23 May 2009, 23:10

father of gwg. Hi, I got my first glasses when I was 7. I'm not sure what prescription they were now, but I remember they made an enormous difference to my vision when I started wearing them. I reckon they must have been getting on for -2.00. Probably RE-1.50 & LE -1.75 or something like that. My mother didn't like me wearing them as much as I did because she thought hey would make my eyes go worse, but they went worse anyway,so she was obviously wrong. After that I had increases every year until I was 13 and since then I've been getting them every six months. I hope this helps. I think you daughter should stabalize at around age 21 or 22. By the way, does she like wearing glasses or prefer her contacts?

father of gwg 23 May 2009, 11:54

Rachel, thanks for the reply. When did get your first pair of glasses and what was the script? Do others agree that I can expect my daughter's eyes to worsen to about -3 or -4 based upon her age and the increases she has had thus far. At what age can we expect her eyesight to stabilize?

Rachel 23 May 2009, 05:53

father of gwg. An increase of only -0.50 in her teens is pretty good for your daughter. I'm 16 and my last increase was quite a lot more. With a prescription of under -2.00 still, she will not be totally dependent on her glasses or contacts yet. However with such a low prescription and increase of -0.50 will improve her distance vision considerably. She will probably end up eventually at around -3.00 or -4.00 and by then she will definitely need glasses or contacts fulltime. I hope this helps. For comparison my latest prescription is RE-11.75 x -1.50 x 120 and LE-12.50 x -2.00 x 180

father of gwg 23 May 2009, 00:08

Today my seventeen year old daughter got her new glasses and contacts. Her perscription increased in the last year from R-1.25 -0.50 L -1.00 -0.75 to the new script of R-1.75 -0.75 L-1.50 -0.75. Her first perscription back in the 7th grade was R-1.00 -0.50 L-1.00 -0.50 and that seemed to stay pretty steady until this latest increase. Will she notice a big difference in her vision? She recently had made comments about not seeing as well. Is this a normal increase in a year's period for someone this age? Will this move her a lot closer to full-time dependence? When can we expect her vision to stabilize because I just spent a pretty penny on anti-reflective lenses. I've been following this site for a few months, so I know there are many out there who can help answer these questions. Thanks.

Clare 21 May 2009, 09:43

ph - good luck, be audacious. It's hard to go from no glasses to full time even at the best of times, so good luck and let us know how it goes!

ph 20 May 2009, 20:13

No, I wasn't wearing them full time. Mostly in private or out of town... nobody knows about them except for my signifigant other. She is cool with me going full time though, I guess I'll just "go get an exam" and come home with glasses (already been checked though..20/20). We'll see, they shouldd arrive soon!

A. 20 May 2009, 17:55

Hello,

What a nice site!

My prescription is -6 for both eyes. I sometimes wear glasses, but mostly I wear contacts.I'd love to wear glasses all the time,because I like the feeling,but contacts are simply more comfortable.And besides,I hate when strangers ask what my prescription is..it's so sexual and private :P

Clare 20 May 2009, 02:23

ph - so were you wearing the -2.25s full time before they got scratched? And how will you introduce the new ones to friends and family? Good luck!

Rachel 20 May 2009, 01:11

ph. To be honest even at 31 I think you eyes would comfortably accommodate -3.50, especially if you stick strctly to wearing glasses all the time. Who knows then, you could easily end up permanently short- sighted, which is obviously what you really want. I say definitley go for it.

ph 19 May 2009, 18:58

thanks for the words of encouragment. though I'm actually 31... I've been using some -2.25 glasses with and without contacts, I can compensate fine but I prefer using contacts as it creates a need for the glasses and I don't have any trouble reading when tired. I just ordered a pair of -2.5 which will hopefully wind up being my "introductory pair" (the -2.25 pair got scratched). hopefully they won't look too strong -yet strong enough!

Rachel 18 May 2009, 09:12

ph. I am certain that at 21 your eyes will easily accommodate -2.00 without wearing any contacts at all. Just get some glasses made up at that rx and wear them all the time. Once you feel entirely comfortable with them then you can go for more.

Clare 17 May 2009, 22:50

ph - I wouldn't say -2 is too strong, an ex of mine got glasses at 21 and went straight to fulltime wear. I don't remember that they were very strong so they were probably slightly less than that. Some people might not wear glasses fulltime at -2 but many would so go for it!

ph 17 May 2009, 18:56

I've been doing GOC off and on for a couple years but I've never "gone public", However now with my wife's approval I'm ready to go full time.So what would be a good Rx to start doing full time GOC with? I'm thinking about -2.5 (the weakest combo I have), anyone think that's too strong for a "first pair of glasses"? Also I've been working with online eyeglass stores but would love to get a fake Rx so I could actually go in a store and pick out my glasses but unfortunatley my vision is perfect. Anyone got any blank Rx forms or perhaps a simple Rx of around -2 that we could just change the names on??

Thanks!

eyespy 16 May 2009, 04:03

Michael - I presume that you have -3.5 sphere in one eye and -1.75 sphere -0.50 cyl in the other. It means you're moderately shortsighted in one eye and mildly shortsighted in the other. In one eye you also have half a diopter of astigmatism (that's the -0.50) at 90 degrees. The angle (or degrees) of the astigmatism can determine how noticeable it would be. The astigmatism effectively adds another half diopter to your overall prescription.

I'd expect that you notice a big difference in what you can see with each eye. I imagine you've been recommended to wear glasses fulltime. A friend of mine was prescribed -2 and -3.5 and that's what she was told. Hope that helps!

Rachel 16 May 2009, 00:51

Michael.

Yes it is strong for your first glasses. There should be an rx for both your right eye and your left eye. Usually it says R.E. then 3 sets of numbers and then L.E. and three sets of numbers. The first numbers are the amount of dioptres you need, then the astigmatism then the cyl.

Guest 15 May 2009, 13:51

That's a strong prescription for a first timer Michael. Were you told to wear them full time? How do you find your uncorrected vision now?

Michael 15 May 2009, 13:07

I just got glasses for the first time and was was written on -3.5 and then -1.75 -0.50 and 90 anyone help me in explaining it?

Rachel 15 May 2009, 08:54

I just got an increase of -1.75 to RE -11.75 and LE-12.50

Bela 15 May 2009, 08:36

Hi, my prescription is:

OD -0.75,-2.25x065

OS -1.00,-2.25x170

Age:24

Location: South Africa ;-)

Phil 13 May 2009, 04:53

Aubrac,

I think fulltime wear for Maria is on the horizon, if not overdue. If she can't read the Snellen chart without correction, she shouldn't be driving bare-eyed. And the fact that she wears them throughout her time at work (not only to read, but to perform middle-distance tasks) is another indicator.

She looks gorgeous in her new frames. And she likes them herself. She also likes her chap to wear specs. So maybe we'll rather readily convince each other that we are both now fulltime wearers. She's getting me to have a new test and is going to choose me some frames.

Aubrac 13 May 2009, 04:25

Phil

Even different people in their forties with the same plus prescription will have diffwerent use patterns.

In a restaurant the other day a mid-forties couple came in, he was wearing about +2 glasses while she was bare eyed, she took out a pair of at least +3 glasses to look at the menu and then kept them on to look at the view from the window. When the food arrived he took his glasses off and put them in his pocket. When they left, he was bare eyed and she was still wearing her glasses!

You would think +3.50 indicated FT wear but this isn't always the case.

Phil 12 May 2009, 01:40

Her rx only increased slightly. But is it plausible that someone with +3.50 and 0.50 cylinder, in her 40s, can survive without wearing glasses fulltime? How much hyperopia can someone cope with bare-eyed at that stage of likfe?

aubrac 12 May 2009, 01:23

eyespy

I don't profess to be a great expert on astigmatism but believe that at .75 and above, it does start to give real problems, also the angle of correction i.e. from 10 to 180, can seem to make a difference.

I had an ex-girlfriend who had sligh hyperopia but high astigmatism, she said that without her glasses it was a bit like looking in a distorting mirror, which made the proportions and angles of things look different.

Vertical lines would appear at an angle and squares would appear to have different length sides

eyespy 11 May 2009, 13:47

Aubrac

Astigmatism is a weirdly wonderful thing isn't it?

I've got -0.50 of it but on top of my Rx I can't really tell if it makes a difference or not! When I take my glasses off the world's blurry anyway.

Guess that -0.50 only makes a difference if you're bordering on full time wear. Would you agree?

eyespy 11 May 2009, 13:45

Phil

What was her previous Rx?

Phil 11 May 2009, 07:20

Aubrac, After Maria got her rx of +3.5 I questioned whether she is safe driving bare-eyed. She revealed that she can only see with "heavy frowning"! She has just picked up her specs. I plan to flatter her and urge fulltime wear. I hope I am pushing at an open door.

Aubrac 11 May 2009, 07:14

LT Lurker

A very similar story, my wife is 40 and wears R+1.50, -0.50, 30 L+1.75, -0.75, 130. The astigmatism makes reading letters difficult at all distances.

Like yours and Onlooker's wife, she is rather touchy about discussing her vision, and when I last suggested a re-test, it was met with a rather tetchy 'nothings changed and I'll know when it's needed'.

However she does wear her glasses much more these days, and always makes sure she has a pair with her. FT wear will eventually become a need.

Cactus Jack 08 May 2009, 16:14

John11,

-1 astigmatism isn't "bad", but it is enough to be really annoying for reading small print at any distance and it needs to be corrected for comfortable vision. Check out and experiment with the simulators listed on the Hyperopia and Presbyopia Progression Thread. A picture is worth a thousand words.

john11 08 May 2009, 15:46

is a -1 a bad astigtism?

LT Lurker 07 May 2009, 15:09

Hi Onlooker, It appears that your wife is in a similar situation to my wife.+1 with astigmatism, although a very small amount -0.25.

If your wife is over 40 , mines 41 then it is most likely that the +1 sphere will start being a hinderance to daily tasks.

My wife wore her glasses for computer and religiously for reading in the evening.All of a sudden she has dropped the reading useage.As,like yours,she refuses to sensibly discuss her vision,Iam of the belief that she is entering into the final phase of denial.Reading without them means she reads for a maximum of 10-15 minutes where as before she read for 1-2 hours.

This will no doubt become more tiresome as will watching TV.When she first got her specs 2+ years ago she was advised by someone to watch TV whilst doing a near task ie crotchet so as to keep changing focus.This she tried the other night and it seems that doing this is only possible for 10 minutes now. I think she should have an eyetest as she is due but she says she knows when she needs new glasses!

So I guess the bottom line is, that like me you just have to wait.But I think I will happen.+1 is difficult to overcome at 40+.Was your wife cyclopleged? if not she may be a bit more than +1.

Cactus Jack 07 May 2009, 06:48

On Looker,

Also, what is her complete Rx? Just saying she is +1 with some astigmatism doesn't tell me much.

Cactus jack 07 May 2009, 06:45

On Looker,

What is your Rx for distance?

Yavanna 07 May 2009, 06:27

I ordered a few cheap pairs from Zenni Optical, in -1.25, -1.5, and -1.75. Now I just have to wait, hopefully it won't take too long for them to get here. From what I've read it sounds like ordering from them might be a gamble, but I figured it was cheap enough to be worth it. Once I figure out what works best for me, I'll get something nicer.

OnLooker 07 May 2009, 04:32

My wife has just been found to be +1 with astigmatism. Now i'd love to know what it looks like to be +1 especially that she is in denial phase and doesn't want to talk about her vision at all. She keeps saying that she can see fine at a distance and that she needs glasses for closeup to avoid eye strain and ehadache. She says her vision is still OK without glasses. Is this true? A question for hyperopes.

Filthy McNasty 06 May 2009, 21:54

I would have guessed somewhat into the mid-teens. Perhaps it is wishful thinking. She is certainly lovely.

Tim 06 May 2009, 20:48

About -10, methinks, certainly in the right eye.

antonio 06 May 2009, 13:09

How strong might the glasses be, she wears ?

best regards,

antonio

SZ6 06 May 2009, 07:51

Oops, that should have gone in "Seen on the web" - sorry!

SZ6 06 May 2009, 07:50

Cute 20ish brunette with strong minus glasses:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4y9OIOWSu_Y/Segyeeb87TI/AAAAAAAAAI4/bA_nkl-WQfM/s1600-h/IMG_1212.jpg

Yavanna 05 May 2009, 09:30

Cactus Jack,

Actually that had occurred to me, that my accommodation might get better if I started using it. When I first got these glasses, I found them uncomfortable for close work, so I always took them off, and usually left them off during the day at work. It was annoying not having them when getting up and walking around though, and also annoying taking them off every time I sat down to eat or something. So a few months ago I started wearing them more, and now I'm comfortable with them either on or off when I'm at my computer. Reading is still more comfortable without them, but I'm okay with them, too. I figured if I never really had to accommodate, I might end up dealing with presbyopia sooner than I otherwise would, though I'm not sure if it really works that way. I understand that it has to do with the stiffening of the lens, but I'm not sure how much ciliary muscle strength has to do with it. But I suppose the less the lens is flexed, the sooner it might lose its ability to do so.

Cactus jack, 05 May 2009, 08:14

Yavanna,

Your vision without glasses is close to ideal for the working distance of most computers. -1.25 without correction focuses at about 31 inches (80 cm) so you only have to accommodate a little more (+0.25 to +0.50) to focus on the display without your glasses.

At 26, you have plenty of accommodation so you can probably wear a bit of over correction without problem for distance. If you work without your glasses very much, you may not be exercising your ciliary muscles enough and they may be getting slightly de-conditioned because they are almost fully relaxed most of the time.

Cactus Jack 05 May 2009, 07:55

Yavanna,

You need only a ruler marked in mm and a mirror.

Look in the mirror and note the distance from the center of your nose to the center of each pupil individually. While you do this, one eye will be turned slightly inward and the other will be looking straight into the mirror. They will alternate as you check each eye. The distance you want is the one looking straight ahead at the moment.

Do this three times for each eye and average the readings for each eye. Add them together. You should get a number in the 55 to 65 mm range depending on the spacing of your eyes. That is your PD.

Yavanna 05 May 2009, 06:37

Cactus Jack,

I'm 26, and a graphic designer, so I spend a lot of time in front of a computer.

I think if I had something like -1.75, I'd end up taking them off a bit more often for near work than I do now, but I would like the sharpest distance vision I can get, especially for long drives.

I'm not sure what my PD is. What would be the best way to measure that myself?

Cactus jack 04 May 2009, 23:59

Yavanna,

Low levels of astigmatism are extremely hard to determine accurately because to quite a large extent, it depends on your ability to discern relative degrees of blurriness as the examiner tries to bracket the axis of the astigmatism and the amount of cylinder. You could get another exam tomorrow, by a different examiner, and likely not come up with the same exact Rx.

Your plan is a good one. You might be able to discern a small difference between your old glasses and new ones with -1.25 in each eye, but you will likely find -1.50 or -1.75 provides much sharper vision especially at night. I suspect you will settle on the -1.75s, but only you can judge.

One factor that will affect your preference is your accommodation (age related) and occupation. May I ask your age and occupation? Also, do you know your PD or how to measure it?

Yavanna 04 May 2009, 19:31

Hello,

I had an eye exam today, and was a little bit confused/ surprised by the results.

My old prescription, as of a year ago, was:

OD -1.25

OS -1.25 +0.25 057

These glasses were the first that I wore a majority of the time, though sometimes taking them off to read or just for around the house. Before that, I had a -.75 pair that I only wore for things like driving and concerts.

Since I first got my current glasses, I feel like I've gotten a bit nearsighted. My vision without glasses seems somewhat worse, though I know that could just be me not being as used to dealing with a bit of blur as I was before. But my distant vision with glasses doesn't seem quite as crisp either, as I've noticed when driving, especially at night. And when I try putting my sunglasses, which are the same prescription, on top of my regular glasses, things seem a bit crisper, though I know the total of -2.5 is too strong, since I have to accommodate a bit even for distant vision. So I figured I'd end up somewhere between -1.5 and -2, probably either -1.5 or -1.75.

The prescription I was given today was -1.25 in both eyes, no astigmatism in either. So the right eye is the same, and as for the left eye, as far as I understand I'm just swapping a very small amount of astigmatism for an equally small amount of myopia. I wouldn't be likely to tell much difference if any if I got glasses in that prescription, would I? I think either I was slightly over-prescribed last time, or slightly under-prescribed, because I don't *think* it's just my imagination that I'm a bit more nearsighted than before.

I haven't ordered new glasses yet, I didn't see any I *really* liked (I'm pretty picky about what glasses I like on myself), and they were all kind of expensive, along with me not being sure about the new prescription. What I was thinking of doing was getting a couple cheap pairs online, one in the prescription I was given, and one or two that are slightly higher, just to see how I like them. Though if I do end up liking how I see in one of the higher ones, but don't like the frames, I might have some trouble getting what I want locally (and covered by my insurance, which is mostly only accepted by private practices, not Lenscrafters, Walmart, ect.)

Does it sound like I might be better off with something a bit stronger than they gave me, or would the small change in the left eye make for a noticeable improvement? Thanks for any advice.

Cactus Jack 02 May 2009, 20:39

Guest,

It is sometimes difficult to determine the reasons for very low prescriptions. Low plus reading glasses will make extensive reading more comfortable because they reduce the amount of accommodation you have to supply to read and do close work, but there could be other things going on with your vision. It is not unusual for a person who wears low power reading glasses and has plenty of accommodation, to find that very low power minus glasses will make your distance vision sharper and clearer, but if you try to read with them you will likely find that your eyes gets tired more quickly than without the either the reading glasses or no glasses.

It is also possible that if you tried your friends glasses after doing a lot of reading and close work that you had developed a little pseudo myopia which would go away after a few hours of not reading. Of course, a combination of very low minus glasses with a low reading add in progressives or bifocals can be the best of both worlds, particularly in a classroom environment where you are constantly switching from the board to your notes, even for a person of 18. Many university students find that combination very useful.

Ideally, you should consider getting a dilated exam if you want to find out exactly what is going on, particularly if your distance vision is not as sharp and clear as you would like. But at this point, it would be strictly up to you.

guest 02 May 2009, 14:12

Hi,

I am 18 and got prescribed +0.75 and +.5 glasses for reading a few month back, as after working for a full day my eyes would get really tired.

However, yesterday, I tried a friend's glasses, and her prescription was -0.5 in both eyes and this actually improved my distance vision, thing that doesn't happen with my glasses.

Can I have been wrongly prescribed ?

Thanks

Cactus Jack 27 Apr 2009, 07:59

Sam,

A person, like your wife, with low myopia, has in effect, built in reading glasses. Her glasses correct that problem for good distance vision and the add helps with near when she is wearing her glasses because she (and you) have some presbyopia like everyone else your age. In your wife's case she is likely reading with her -2.00 eye when she is not wearing her glasses. Her -1.00 astigmatism fouls things up a little, but apparently not enough to bother her. Ideally, what she should do is order some low cost prescription reading glasses on line. They are really great if you like to read in bed. We can help you/her with an Rx for readers if needed.

Sam 27 Apr 2009, 06:53

My wife is 55. She is nearsighted and has worn glasses since high school. I was always curious to know her prescription and what she can and can't see without them. About a year ago she got bifocals. She now has:

-2.00 -1.00 x 12

-.75 -1.25 x 1.25

add is +1.25

She always puts them on first thing in the morning, and takes them off after she is in bed and puts them on the night stand. What I don't understand is that often reads "bare-eyed". I have readers I have offered her for reading but she doesn't need them or like them. She says that even though she is 55 she can read perfectly without any glasses! I sometimes ask to borrow them, but the -2.00 is too strong for me...but I can see perfectly through the -0.75. She seems to have a fairly weak scrip, but cannot function without them. Can someone tell me how her eyes function?

Clare 24 Apr 2009, 22:30

Thanks Cactus. My complete prescription is -2.75 and -3 -0.50 x 140. I don't generally notice it when reading, more when at the computer or viewing things further away. Is the convergence thing happening too do you think? Many thanks.

Cactus Jack 24 Apr 2009, 18:09

Clare,

Astigmatism usually causes the most discomfort when trying to read small print. It can become a problem both close and distant, but it is most annoying when trying to read up close. A lot depends on your tolerance. I think more than )0.25 uncorrected astigmatism is usually a problem.

I'm sorry, but I don't recall your complete Rx so I can't answer your question about the pulling sensation, but I suspect the astigmatism is playing a significant role. You can compensate in most instances for incorrect minus sphere by changing the distance, but you can do nothing about astigmatism because no distance is the correct distance.

Another factor could be the degree of myopia. If you have myopia above about -3, you may also be converging excessively to read clearly and fuse the two images. The excess convergence could be triggering increased accommodation which has the effect of making you more myopic which makes you bring the text closer, which makes you converge more, which triggers more accommodation, etc.

As the King of Siam said, "Its a puzzlement"

Clare 24 Apr 2009, 14:09

Cactus - is it -0.50 cyl that you believe is the point at which astigmatism becomes noticeable?

I ask because I have that amount in just one eye and I sometimes feel what I'd describe as a pulling sensation bordering on headache after a while not wearing my contacts.

Is that astigmatism or myopia? Thanks

Sean 24 Apr 2009, 13:36

Oops - forgot to ask..does the astigmatism affect near vision as well as far? Should I get the bifocals at this time?

sean 24 Apr 2009, 13:34

Cactus-

Thanks for your help. Are you suggesting that I don't buy over the counter readers because of the small amount of astigmatism?

Cactus Jack 24 Apr 2009, 07:53

Sean,

That is enough cylinder (astigmatism) to cause trouble - especially with close work and small print. I strongly suggest that you stick with either Rx readers or bifocals. That decision is yours. I happen to like sharp comfortable vision at all distance