Should I Tell My Eye Doctor? And If So How?
February 8, 2010 by admin
Filed under FAQ on advance for astigmatism
I went for an eye exam in December 2006 because I was having problems with the distance vision in my right eye especially while driving at night. I know the vision in my right eye has been a little blurry for some time. I just assumed I was mildly nearsighted and may have to do something about it eventually and it did not really bother me much until recently. The vision in my left eye seemed fine.
To my suprise, I was advised I was farsighted and was given the following prescription. Keep in mind, I had not been having any issues with seeing near objects.
Right Eye sphere +1.00 cyl -1.50 axis 60
Left Eye sphere +.75
I know the spherical numbers indicate that the farsightedness was mild, but the astigmatism was in the moderate range based on what I have read about it. It was the reason I was having problems with my distance vision. I chose to get glasses and contact lenses and the prescriptions are same except the cylinder on the contact lens is -1.25.
Continued on update…
Excellent reply from Willow 9…
And that last paragraph gives you the perfect answer of how to approach the Dr.
I would only add that I commend you for your intelligence to have done the research to solve your problem.
It maybe isn’t the perfect Rx for you , but if it works and you are comfortable with it….that’s what counts in the end.
Definately advise him – the more info the better, some people don’t cope well with their full prescription. He is unlikely to be upset.
If you don’t think your doctor is providing the correct care for you, then it is definitely time to find a new one. However, honesty is also the best policy when it comes to medical conditions. Wait until your next exam and tell him what you did. He’s supposed to be a professional, so if he takes it personally run, don’t walk, to a new doctor who will be better able to work with you.
The bottom line is, do what is best for your health. It may be a hassle, but it will be worth it later on.
I am curious, but really don’t need to know, how you could modify your prescription and have it filled.
In my office if a person does not begin to adjust comfortably to a new prescription after two weeks, I modify the prescription. Not knowing how old you are makes it difficult to explain your symptoms. The important point here is that you were not comfortable with the full prescription for your far-sightedness (hyperopia), so modifying your prescription by cutting back on the hyperopia or astigmatism or both would be indicated. Note that far sightedness indicates that it is EASIER for your eyes to focus far away. It does not mean that you can’t see at near. Note, also that you’ll NOT go blind from being far-sighted,
You asked about the cylinder being -1.25 in contact lens. Many of the available astigmatic (toric) contact lenses come in limited parameters, and we will generally use a lens equal to or less than the cylinder prescription of the spectacles. If your spectacle cylinder is -1.50 and the contact lenses you’re wearing only comes in -1.25 and -1.75 then the lower -1.25 would be used more often.
Should you tell your doctor? Of course you should. Let him know how happy you are with your latest lens arrangement. He’ll learn something from it, and know what to do if your vision is not adequately corrected. For him to change your soft lenses or leave them as is, he has to know where he is starting, so be sure to have the numbers associated with your contact lenses handy.
First of all, your doctor only prescribed you what you saw best with in the office. However, that is in a controlled atmosphere. That doesn’t take in account what you would see on the road, at work or what have you. If you feel that you cannot handle telling him the truth about what you did (and honestly, nobody should have sold you glasses or contacts without a faxed and signed rx from your doctor) tell the doctor you saw a family optometrist out of state that was willing to change the rx to your specifications…and it worked well. Just tell the dr. what you have been using that worked so well and s/he wlll likely work with you.
Working in the business so long has taught me that the doctor is not always supremely right. We, as patients, know what helps us the most.