I just got an eye exam today and the optometrist said that my prescription changed "only very slightly." However, when I got home and compared it against an old prescription from two years ago, I noticed some large differences. Old prescription OD: Sphere = -1.75, Cylinder = +1.25, Axis = 14 OS: Sphere = -1.75, Cylinder = +1.00, Axis = 155 New prescription OD: Sphere = -0.50, Cylinder = -1.25, Axis = 100 OS: Sphere = -1.00, Cylinder = -1.00, Axis = 67 Seems pretty different to me. For some reason, I went from a plus rating to a minus rating on the cylinder section, and my axis numbers are completely different. Is this cause for concern? I'll be ordering glasses online for the first time and will be keying in this prescription. It would really suck to get back glasses that don't work. Also, does anyone else hate the new eye exam system of continually having to choose which one looks clearest out of the two options? Eventually you always get to a point where they look pretty much the same, and I'm always worried about picking the "wrong" one. Anyway, I know this place is a plethora of knowledge, so I was hoping to get some advice. Should I just stop worrying trust this new optometrist's prescription?
i'm no optometrist, but before I had LASIK, I had a similar prescription with similar variation. For me, it depended on the particular day. How much sleep I got was a big factor I decided, as was stress level, caffeine intake, etc. I could never pin it down, but those were my best guesses as to what was influencing my eyes. I will tell you my new potential theory that most likely has nothing to do with you. I came to find out this year (you know, 15 years after I first got glasses) that I've had an underlying eye muscle issue for who knows how long. It causes me to lose focus at times. I'm working on it now.. but I'm wondering if that also caused some day to day variation in my prescription since I never knew
Interesting. What I found strange was that before he conducted the exam, he took my current glasses (which were made from the old prescription) and examined them with some machine. From that, I assume he was able to determine what my old prescription was. So it struck me as odd that he claimed my prescription didn't change much when there seems to be some key differences in the numbers on each slip.
I've worked for an optometrist for about 7 years now (and am also an optometry school reject) and here's breakdown: Your vision got slightly worse if you transpose the old RX. What does this mean? Here goes: OD: Sphere = -1.75, Cylinder = +1.25, Axis = 14 OS: Sphere = -1.75, Cylinder = +1.00, Axis = 155 Becomes OD: -.50 -1.25 x 104 OS: -.75 -1.00 x 65 Reason being? Whoever gave you the old RX (I'm assuming it was an opthalthmalogist) refracted your eye from the front instead from the back. What's the difference? Not much, it's just the way the doctor was taught in school. So if you compare that RX: OD: -.50 -1.25 x 104 OS: -.75 -1.00 x 65 To your new one: OD: Sphere = -0.50, Cylinder = -1.25, Axis = 100 OS: Sphere = -1.00, Cylinder = -1.00, Axis = 67 Only your left eye got worse and by worse it's not even much of a difference. If you have glasses from your old RX, you can continue to wear them. Of course the new RX will give your left eye a sharper clarity, but it's not an end of the world thing. This is not a new system by any means since it's been around for decades and decades. The reason why doctors as you which one looks better is because the eye is always changing since your eyeball is a fluid-filled ball. The "one or two" is essential because you're telling the doctor what's comfortable for you.
steddinoyato is correct. While it looks like your prescription has changed. it's actually very identical. What happened is you went to your ophthalmologist the first time and he gave you that prescription. This new prescription is from an optometrist. They use different conventions of Cylinder power. Ophthalmologists use Plus Cylinder (+1.25/+1.00) whereas optometrists use Minus Cylinder (-1.25/-1.00). However, when the math works out, it's the exact same prescription and you shouldn't notice any significant changes.
None that I know of. Just long histories of using these conventions for their respective professions. Either side also refuses to change conventions due to hatred for the other profession stemming from politics.
Pretty much hit the nail on the spot. In med school, they teach you one way and optometry school teaches you another way. I did a summer program at Pennsylvania College of Optometry and I asked the professors and basically got an answer that opthalmalogists are ass backwards. This came from a long-time OD professor so take it with a grain of salt.
Awesome. This is exactly the type of explanation I was hoping for. Thanks so much. +repped. The first prescription was from the Sears guy. The second was from an eye clinic.
Hmm...the doctor at Sears must either be really old or he got his degree from another country because I rarely see any optometrist right prescriptions with + cyl. Have you tried Walgreens, Walmart, or CVS? Sometimes you can even find them at a Dollar Tree. If you are just using this exclusively for reading books or magazines, I'd suggest just holding the book or mag a little bit further away from where you normally have it set at since it's a very minute add.
I also have a question My left eye is all blurry but my right eye is nearly perfect so if I go take my eye exam at the DMV (to renew my license) will I be told I can’t because of my left eye?
It depends. I haven't had to renew my license in quite a while so I forgot how they administer the vision test. I remember it used to be a small machine and you look into it and read the letters out loud. If they test your vision one eye at a time, you'll definitely need to get an eye exam and probably some glasses. If they test you with both eyes open, you might be able to wing it depending on how bad your vision is. Some people are 20/20 in one eye but are 20/40 or 20/50 in the other and that can definitely affect your vision (with both eyes open) on an acuity test. My advice: get an exam. :grin:
Whoever is cheaper :grin: I've worked for Vision Source, TSO, Eyemasters, and a few private practice doctors and they all get the same degree. An optometrist at Walmart is just as qualified as an optometrist working at the Houston Eye Associates. I've seen doctors at TSO perform a 4 minute exam while another doctor can perform a thorough 20 minute exam. The only two things that separate eye doctors from eachother are cost and whether or not you like him/her.
Dude wow. Thats amazing, I just uncovered my contact lens problem after all these years. I guess it was destiny for you to hear this. But my optometrist screwed up, and he screwed up big for 4 yrs. When I first got contacts is when I started getting some problems, only that I wasn't able to link it to my contacts. He had most of my numbers right but there was something from with his machine apparantely and he had my left eye at an axis of 10 instead of 180...A HUGE difference. Over the 4 yrs my vision was perfect but I was experiencing nuerological problems such as coordination problems and terrible headaches and bouts of confusion. I didn't realize this until I went to my uncles office in maryland, he is an opthamologist. He's like wtf is wrong with your contacts they don't fit well. He didn't know what my previous prescription was but when I compared them the axis numbers were completely different. The new contacts felt SOO much better on my eyes. I was just so pissed off about all the problems I had been experiencing for so long, and all the symptoms disappeared in a week. My best advice is to get a 2nd opinion. Both axis on my eyes are the same and he had them totally different, meaning that the astigmatic cylindrical number I had of 2.00 was HURTING me just as much as it was supposed to help. Get a 2nd opinion, its not going to be bad all of a sudden, it was extremely gradual to a point I couldn't link it to.
The vision test at the DPS is extremely simple to pass. You should be able to pass it no problems with your visual acuity. However, I do not want to be on the road with someone who cannot see clearly, nor do I think your passengers would be comfortable riding with you. Be a responsible person and get an eye exam to see better. I think you need at least 20/30 to drive. And True Beaner, the optometrist who refracted you didn't do a good job. With a cylinder of 2.00 D, your axis should be at least +/- 2 degrees or you'll lose some clarity. I don't think it's necessary to get a 2nd opinion. Your local eye doctor, be it an optometrist or ophthalmologist, should be able to competently assess your vision and eye health. Sometimes people do make mistakes, but if you discuss your symptoms with your doctor, you should be able to walk away a happy healthy patient.
