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Re: Amblyopia and Reading Glasses
Marsha wrote:
I am 43 and have amblyopia. Despite patching & surgery as a child my sight in my "bad" eye is 20/200. I find when I read I get eye strain in my bad eye. My good eye is not quite ready for reading glasses - I find I am tending to look under my glasses to read but 1.0 reading glasses are too strong. What can I do for the eye strain? Would patching the bad eye help when I'm reading? Thanks, Marsha
Dr Henry Smit's response:
Dear Marsha When a person enters their “forties” they usually become aware that they are losing their ability to focus their eyes for near tasks such as reading. Based on the fact that you look under your glasses to read it would appear that you are slightly myopic (nearsighted). If you are in fact nearsighted, as I assume you are, you do not need to focus as strenuously to see things up close when you take off your glasses, or look under them as you are doing. Wearing a pair of +1.00 readers makes your eyes focus even less, and coupled with the benefits of taking off your distance glasses, this may result in an over-correction for your close vision. You might try reading without your glasses and no reading glasses to see if that makes you more comfortable. If it does not, you should consult your optometrist for a thorough assessment to determine what prescription would be most suitable for your needs. I would not recommend patching the bad eye. Hope this helps. Dr. Henry Smit
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