Need help getting glasses and exam

Well, thought before I would take the vision test for attempting to get my drivers license, I would get my eyes examined and maybe a new pair of glasses since these are about 16 years old.

One problem I have, well except for being nearly blind is that my eyes are different shape. I currently have a -17 and -21 diapotor prescription. THey are unable to measure a stigamitism. It was discovered later on one eye could be given some limited vision with a positive 3 lens. But it gave me tripple vision.

Well, during the eye test, when they ask which is better, I often cant tell which is better, 1 or 2. Any advice here?

Also, Ive wondered about things to enhance my vision. For example I have a zoom lens from a pentax camera, pc35af. Its about the diameter of my glass lens and it makes stuff larger and easier for me to read. Why isnt my prescription better than that lens in the first place and how would I incorporate that in a future pair of glasses?

Thanks for any advice.

Hi Cobb.

There is a device used by some optometrists that does the measurements using a scanning device. You look into it and it reads the distortion somehow. I think it does it by looking at the image on your retina. The optometrist uses it to confirm the "is 1 better or two" device. So far it's been accurate. That's at Costco, by the way.

I suspect that he only does the longer exam to justify the cost of the exam. If yiou walk in and have the correct prescription in 30 seconds it does not seem to be worth the $35.

I went to a different optometrist a few years back. I gave the wrong answer on one of the "is this better" questions and he never asked me if I could actually see clearly. I ended up with a bad prescription that was just plain wrong. I learned from that to tell the doctor when both 1 and 2 are blurry in addition to which is better. I also tell him when it's getting worse. It can't hurt and only adds a few minutes to the process.

Good luck.

Daniel

They can scan your eye? Is that that thing they have you look through before they pick out a frame? Or are we talking about some laser scanner or something? Can a pearl vision work for me or do I need to see a specialist?

I've had that scanning procedure to "confirm" my prescription for Lasik. I don't know how it's accuracy compares to a good manual exam with a cooperative patient.

cobb said:

They can scan your eye? Is that that thing they have you look through before they pick out a frame? Or are we talking about some laser scanner or something? Can a pearl vision work for me or do I need to see a specialist?

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Yes, It scans the eye. I don't know how well it determine's the astigmatism. I imagine that if they project an image of known content they should be able to scan your retina and see the deformations.

As for needing a specialist, I don't know for sure. You might try calling a variety of omtometrists (including perlvision) and ask if they have a computerized scanner for determining your prescription. The omtometrist at my Costco (like Sams club)has one, and he's hardly a specialist.

Daniel

Talk to an eye glasses store, they referred me to an eye doctor. Talked to an eye doctor. Said i had to get my retina examines, eyes dylated, etc then the actual testing of different lenses to find my prescription. 59 bucks for the exam. Said he did not to a low vision, referred me to a specialist.

So, got a docs appointment later next month. I was told i could wave the retinal exam and just jump to the glasses one.