I am an Optometrist, Ask me Anything.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

My mother in law has an eye condition called Anisometropia Amplyopia (sp?) Which has left her with severely impaired vision in one eye. My wife and I had our first child two weeks ago and were wondering when to get his eyes checked first. My mother in law was told that my son should get checked early as early treatment can correct it if it turns up. Any advice?

Her eye condition is basically having two very different prescriptions between her two eyes, which makes one eye lazy. Have an exam at 6 months old, 1 years old and 3 years old to determine how the prescriptions are changing. Putting glasses on a child at a very young age will prevent the Amblyopia (lazy eye) from developing, if necessary. I am going to make the assumption that your mother-in-law did not have her vision corrected at an early enough age.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Hesla

Her eye condition is basically having two very different prescriptions between her two eyes, which makes one eye lazy. Have an exam at 6 months old, 1 years old and 3 years old to determine how the prescriptions are changing. Putting glasses on a child at a very young age will prevent the Amblyopia (lazy eye) from developing, if necessary. I am going to make the assumption that your mother-in-law did not have her vision corrected at an early enough age.

Correct, but how dare you make that assumption!

Thanks, man. Her Mom made it sounds like a crazy deadly disease, that makes it sound better.

[Knut]

Also it is not commonly genetic in nature, but rather an error in development.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Hesla

.

He quite often goes cross eyed or one eye goes in a different direction, though that is quickly stopping. He's only 2 weeks old and I'm told that's how all babies are, so I'll stop my paranoia now.

[Knut]

That is a normal part of a baby trying to focus on things and getting their eye working. if it continues at 6 months then it should be checked out.

[wooohooo]

I was on vacation and my contact lens fell out and I forgot my glasses back at home. So I bought a pair of contacts online which got delivered to my hotel room the next day (crazy service!). However, they didn't have the exact brand I was fitted with, and I'm using ones with a different BC.

Will this affect vision in my eyes or anything? Or will I need to get my eyes re-checked? I just got them checked 4 months ago so I would like to avoid paying the fee again

I also noticed after a full day of wearing my contacts, they're slightly red, is this a huge cause of concern? Or just eye fatigue after a day? I'm not an experience contact lens wearer either so not sure what's normal or not.

[Street Pharmacist]

Sorry, I guess she also has/had high hyperopia (sp?) or severe far sightedness. Is that genetic, and could that also have contributed to her vision loss?

[nik-]

I haven't got new glasses or an eye exam for about 10 years, I'm assuming my vision has gotten worse since it's a little blurry at distance. I'm thinking of getting lasik or the like but I've heard you're supposed to make sure your eyes haven't changed in a while. Should I get new glasses and then wait a year or so, or can I get laser surgery right away?

[Knut]

Originally Posted by wooohooo

I was on vacation and my contact lens fell out and I forgot my glasses back at home. So I bought a pair of contacts online which got delivered to my hotel room the next day (crazy service!). However, they didn't have the exact brand I was fitted with, and I'm using ones with a different BC.

Will this affect vision in my eyes or anything? Or will I need to get my eyes re-checked? I just got them checked 4 months ago so I would like to avoid paying the fee again

I also noticed after a full day of wearing my contacts, they're slightly red, is this a huge cause of concern? Or just eye fatigue after a day? I'm not an experience contact lens wearer either so not sure what's normal or not.

BC is the shape of the back surface of the lens. Most likely it is not fitting right. However it should work until you get home, as long as you do not get discharge or a vision decrease from the lens. May be a good idea to pop into the Optometrist when you get home for a quick check. If you are in Alberta iit would be a health care covered medically necessary exam.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Sorry, I guess she also has/had high hyperopia (sp?) or severe far sightedness. Is that genetic, and could that also have contributed to her vision loss?

That can be genetic and is likely the cause of the poor vision. The number one sign that a child has high hyperopia is either an inward turn of the eye or a head tilt down (ie. they tilt their chin towards their chest when they look at objects). High hyperopia should be picked up by 3 yrs old and corrected to prevent poor VA

[TurnedTheCorner]

Which reply looks better? 1?

[TurnedTheCorner]

Or 2?

2?

[TurnedTheCorner]

Or 3?

[Knut]

Originally Posted by nik-

I haven't got new glasses or an eye exam for about 10 years, I'm assuming my vision has gotten worse since it's a little blurry at distance. I'm thinking of getting lasik or the like but I've heard you're supposed to make sure your eyes haven't changed in a while. Should I get new glasses and then wait a year or so, or can I get laser surgery right away?

Get an eye exam by an Optometrist and have them go over your options for you. Ten year old glasses may just be warped and causing a decrease in your vision. Most likely there is minimal change. Lasik is not for everyone and it is a good idea to speak to an Optometrist about it before you decide what to do. Besides, you are due for an eye health examination.

[Hanna Sniper]

Ok I have a different question

You have a pretty good understanding of my eye condition. For those of you that are reading along, I've been a steady patient of two Ophthalmologist (one for 8 years, 2nd for two). When I say steady we are talking every 3-4 weeks average over that span.

If you were my Optometrist, how often would you like for me to step into your office? While it really isn't needed for me to step into my Optometrist office at the moment as I'm being cared for, I just figure that one day down the road if I'm ever cleared and released back to him that it would be better that he also knows my history first hand

[Knut]

For now every two years for prescription check and update on the health history.

Once you are discharged, every 6 months.

In all honesty you will likely be seeing Ophto's for life as early treatment is key for flare-ups, even if it never returns.

[jar_e]

I have a glasses question.

I recently found out that my optometrist recommends I wear glasses. I have a pair of Oakley flak jackets sunglasses that are currently without any prescription, just the regular black iridium lenses. Is it possible to just get new sunglass prescription lenses for them? Or is there a special "prescription" frame for Oakley sunglasses?

[Nammer403]

Originally Posted by jar_e

I have a glasses question.

I recently found out that my optometrist recommends I wear glasses. I have a pair of Oakley flak jackets sunglasses that are currently without any prescription, just the regular black iridium lenses. Is it possible to just get new sunglass prescription lenses for them? Or is there a special "prescription" frame for Oakley sunglasses?

To my knowledge I am pretty sure you can get the prescription lenses made and just pop them in. I think if your prescription isnt that bad then you should be fine. Im just thinkin back to my old Sunglass Hut days.

[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.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by jar_e

I have a glasses question.

I recently found out that my optometrist recommends I wear glasses. I have a pair of Oakley flak jackets sunglasses that are currently without any prescription, just the regular black iridium lenses. Is it possible to just get new sunglass prescription lenses for them? Or is there a special "prescription" frame for Oakley sunglasses?

Some Oakley sunglasses can get Rx in the
, while others can not. Unfortunately I do not know enough about Oakley to you of those specific ones can have Rx lenses put in them.