I am an Optometrist, Ask me Anything.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

A couple of years back I was diagnosed with neovascularization (sp?).

I've taken my regular visits to the cornea specialist and he said I can never wear contacts again. That's fine by me because I almost went blind. On my last visit he said my eyes will never be 100%, but they are looking 100% better than when I saw him the first time. He also said that eventually I'll be able to get laser eye surgery if I wanted, but I can't remember how long he said I should wait. I think it was 5 years, but maybe he said 10. I'm not sure.

My question is: How long would you suggest I wait until I get laser eye surgery?

I also want to add, he said it was one of the worst cases of neovascularization he's seen in 25 years.

Stability is the key with laser. Has your prescription and condition been stable for 2 to 3 years ? If so, then it should be ok. I would get an assessment done at a laser center to confirm though.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Hesla

Stability is the key with laser. Has your prescription and condition been stable for 2 to 3 years ? If so, then it should be ok. I would get an assessment done at a laser center to confirm though.

It's only been stable for about half a year. I'm in no hurry to get it done, but I'm just wondering how long it might take.

Thanks.

[Jayems]

So I want to order contacts and glasses online. I got my prescription from the optometrist, but it's asking online for power (contacts).

But on the prescription, it's just a bunch of numbers that end in either x100 or x070. (I assume Sphere, Cylinder Axis?)

How do I figure out what my power is?

Underneath, it says:

K Readings
OD:
OS:

But both are blank.

As well, the contacts I want to order say BC 8.7 on my prescription, but online, it says BC 8.6 with no option to change. Is that an issue?

For glasses, it's asking for my PD. That's not on my prescription either. I know what it is, but the optometrists office doesn't want to give it to me over the phone, which is terribly annoying because I don't want to go back there just for that.

[Rathji]

The PD you need to measure yourself. Whatever website you are using should have a tool for this. I thinkbt is the distance between your pupils, off the top of my head.

The power should be something like -3.0 with separate numbers for left and right eye.

If the BC you need isn't there, I would talk to your optometrist. When I discussed ordering my glasses online with mine, he was very helpful. He also suggested that my wife avoid doing so, since her percription was one that could not be done online easily, and would have a good chance of being faulty when we got it.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by Jayems

So I want to order contacts and glasses online. I got my prescription from the optometrist, but it's asking online for power (contacts).

But on the prescription, it's just a bunch of numbers that end in either x100 or x070. (I assume Sphere, Cylinder Axis?)

How do I figure out what my power is?

Underneath, it says:

K Readings
OD:
OS:

But both are blank.

As well, the contacts I want to order say BC 8.7 on my prescription, but online, it says BC 8.6 with no option to change. Is that an issue?

For glasses, it's asking for my PD. That's not on my prescription either. I know what it is, but the optometrists office doesn't want to give it to me over the phone, which is terribly annoying because I don't want to go back there just for that.

First number is the sphere prescription, second is the astigmatism, third is the axis (location of the astigmatism).

Do not worry about K readings (shape of the cornea) as they do not have much effect on new contacts that are mostly one size fits all.

Honestly, if you switching brands of contacts i would recommend getting a proper refit done at the Optometrist. IT may cost a fee but it ensures you are in the proper contacts. Be upfront about the fact you want to buy online and bring in the quoted prices from the website. Most places will happily do the fitting and give you their best price. We as Optometrists care more that you are in proper fitting contact lenses, than where you got them from.

Finally, it is not a legal requirement to provide a PD with a prescription. You can usually pay a small fee to get a proper measurement done. Or, as Rathji said, try the online tools available on these websites.

[Jayems]

So I called my optometrists office, and they want $40 for the information I seek (specifically the power of the contacts)!

WTF did I just pay $160 for? Is that not part of the deal? Can they do this?

And yes, this is a new contact that they fitted for me when I got my eye exam done again.

[Knut]

Yes they can do it. They are only legally required to release your glasses prescription.

All offices handle it differently, but charging a fee is standard practice. If you feel the fee is high you should call around to other offices and see what they charge, which is your right as a consumer.

[Rerun]

Is it just me that keeps reading the thread title as : I am an Optomist, Ask me Anything

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Rerun

Is it just me that keeps reading the thread title as : I am an Optomist, Ask me Anything

I'm pretty sure it's just you.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

I'm pretty sure it's just you.

I thought so. Time to get new glasses I guess.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Rerun

I thought so. Time to get new glasses I guess.

Well, you're in the right thread for that, aren't you.

[ah123]

We recently took our 3-year old for an eye exam, and after the exam (during which my daughter was looking everywhere except where the doctor wanted her to look), we were told that she is near-sighted, but they want her back for a dilation exam (to help her focus on the chart).

Based on the test (e.g., asking her to read numbers, when she doesn't recognize all numbers and some other such anomalies), I am not 100% convinced that she really is near-sighted.

Are there tell-tale signs of near-sightedness that we can observe at home?

[Knut]

Originally Posted by ah123

We recently took our 3-year old for an eye exam, and after the exam (during which my daughter was looking everywhere except where the doctor wanted her to look), we were told that she is near-sighted, but they want her back for a dilation exam (to help her focus on the chart).

Based on the test (e.g., asking her to read numbers, when she doesn't recognize all numbers and some other such anomalies), I am not 100% convinced that she really is near-sighted.

Are there tell-tale signs of near-sightedness that we can observe at home?

At the age of 3 near-sightedness is really hard to pick up as their is mostly up close.

Moving closer the TV is a big one, but many kids do that anyway. Try and get her to point to a plane flying high up in the sky. Sometimes that helps.

Finally, the drops that she will be given are the real determining factor. Little kids often have fluctuations in their focus, so the drops will relax that and give more accuracy. I would wait until after the appointment with the drops to determine a need for a 2nd opinion, however it is in your rights to get one.

Honestly, it sounds like the Optometrist is doing the right thing by having her back for the drops.

[Buff]

I would love to get eye surgery done so I don't have the hassle of dealing with contacts or glasses ever again.

However my Optometrist described the process to me (a couple of different processes, I think). This was bad because I'm a fainter, and I was fighting with all my might to not faint as he was telling laser surgery entails. My wife's friend had it done, and she told me about it, in much less detail, and it still seems like something that I cannot handle... while awake.

Can I be knocked the $^(# out to have this process done? Otherwise I'm fine dealing with contacts and glasses for the rest of my life.

[Knut]

They will not put you under for it as you need to be alert enough to look at one spot. Also, being put under really increases your risks during surgery.

They do give you an Ativan though to keep you calm.

[MoneyGuy]

What does a typical pair of perscription glasses cost? Around $200-$350?

[Knut]

Wide range of costs.

It depends on the frame, your prescription, if you need progressives and the quality of material.

Anywhere from $129.50 to $1200 in my office

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Hesla

Wide range of costs.

It depends on the frame, your prescription, if you need progressives and the quality of material.

Anywhere from $129.50 to $1200 in my office

But what is typical? Eliminate the 10% highest and lowest costs and what is the range? About $200-400 or so? No progressives. Your answer is like the range of house prices is $150,000-$2 million when a typical range might be $300-500K. I want good frames. I don't know the prescription.

[Knut]

Haha.

Basically. Good frames are going to set you back at least $150. Basic good quality lenses start at $150/pair. If you want transitions it is more. High index lenses for higher prescriptions also adds to the cost.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by Hesla

Haha.

Basically. Good frames are going to set you back at least $150. Basic good quality lenses start at $150/pair. If you want transitions it is more. High index lenses for higher prescriptions also adds to the cost.

That's better. Thanks.