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Prescription Was Cut Back
Amanda wrote:
I recently went to an optometrist for the first time in 5 years and she told me my prescription had changed quite drastically; specifically, my astigmatism had grown much worse in both eyes. I previously had OD CYL -2.50 and OS CYL -1.25, but she measured me at OD CYL -4.50 and OS CYL -2.75. However, when she was writing out my prescription she told me that that was too drastic a change and gave me a prescription for OD CYL -3.50 and OS CYL -2.00 and told me to come back in a year for another prescription update.
Why can't I get the full prescription now? Due to the severity of my nearsightedness (-10.25) and this astigmatism my lenses are quite expensive. I'd rather just by one pair and maybe take a little longer to get used to them than have to buy two pairs of lenses in two years.
Dr Carol Doman's response:
Cutting back the glasses prescription when there is a big change is quite common. The problem with giving the full prescription is that it could be very hard for you to get used to it. It could take longer than a month to adjust and you may have severe headaches. Not something that most people are willing to tolerate. In your case specific reasons that would make it hard to adjust to the new prescription is the amount of time you’ve had your old prescription and the type of prescription that you have. The longer you have had your current prescription the harder it is to adjust to a new prescription. As well astigmatism (cyl) correction is the hardest type of prescription change to get used to. The amount that they are cutting it back by likely won’t affect your vision significantly. I would have done the same thing that your optometrist is suggesting.
Dr. Doman
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Prescription Swimming Goggles
Larry wrote:
I am short sighted with a sphere of -5.75 (OD) and -3.25 (OS). OD is my dominant eye.
I'm looking to purchase swimming goggles. What Power should I buy? i.e. should I be buying based on my OD or OS given that the goggles I'm looking at only comes with one (sphere) Power. Thanks.
Dr Henry Smit's response:
Dear Larry
If your only option is to get swimming goggles with the same prescription in both eyes, I would opt for the -3.25 lens, provided you have good vision in your non-dominant eye. This would potentially give you good vision for distance in your left eye and still reasonably good close up vision in the right eye. If you wear a -5.75 lens in both eyes, you would have blurred vision at all distances in your left eye.
If the goggles you are planning to purchase have a detachable bridge, you could consider buying a pair in each prescription. You could then dissemble each pair and reassemble them with a lens of each power in both pairs of goggles. It would be twice the investment, but you might be able to provide yourself with two pairs of goggles with the correct prescription for each eye.
Best of luck
Dr. Smit
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Can You Change a Prescription?
Shane wrote:
I wanted to order glasses online.My OS Cylinder is -4.00 but the online site only goes to -3.75 would that work? Is it possible to change that number and see clearly?
Dr Joan Hansen's response:
Shane,
Any prescription with cylinder is best fitted by a qualified dispenser who can make sure that the finished glasses are fitting properly so that you can get the ultimate vision from your lenses. No you cannot change your prescription…. can you change a drug prescription when you go to a pharmacy?
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