To be disillusioned with the optical industry

[theeyeshaveitnow]

Haven't had my eyes tested in years because I suspected each time I was just been prescribed stronger glasses as a matter of routine. Experimented initially with just wearing old glasses and then my prescription got very slightly better. The next time, after the lesser prescription, when I went I spoke to the optician about eye exercises and he argued with me and prescribed a much stronger prescription and even said I had astigmatism then prescribed the strongest cylinder lens I have ever had.

Until recently that was my last visit. I cannot even see out of those glasses now. Went again recently because there were free eye tests available and I was curious. My prescription is 2 diopters weaker than my last visit. This is from years of wearing my older weaker prescriptions. I still think my slightly weaker prescription is better. Thankfully I don't drive but I want to be able to trust standard eye tests but how can I reliably?

Then when you read things like this from within the industry you really start to question it.

www.huntervision.com/blog/changing-prescription

You wouldn’t go to the garage and ask if your tyres are ok and leave the car at home so why do it with your eye care?

But we don't leave our eyes at home! I want an eye test not a glasses test. Maybe people would feel more confident about disclosing old prescriptions if this was done after the eye test and it's results are discussed and not before so any changes could be analysed completely openly and transparently.

I avoid Specsavers now. They recomended laser eye surgery. The consultant was 'you're way too bad for that, why did they refer you. The 2 independant ones I've had are honest:went 5yrs once with no change. Expensive frames tho so he does the test then I get frames off Superdrug online optician. Before that, 19 onwards, I had lovely old guy who knew my Dad before he died (drank in same local) so I got discount. :-)

Specsavers gave me a free eye test (promotion at the time) and said my prescription had changed so little that I didn’t need new glasses. If I hadn’t lost my existing pair they would have made no money out of me at all.

I’m not sure what this proves other than experiences must vary hugely between opticians!

. The 2 independant ones I've had are honest:went 5yrs once with no change.

That does seem to be the message here. However a recent 'Which' report actually rated SpecSavers. I think it is the whole industry's accepted practice that I have an issue with. Any optician could be guilty of being less than transparent concerning how they prescribe. Independents are generally much more expensive too. Does not seem fair, really.

I’m not sure what this proves other than experiences must vary hugely between opticians!

Yes, I am feeling like it is a bit 'pot luck'. This does suggest to me, though, that the eye test and subsequent prescription has quite a large subjective element to it which requires interpretation. If opticians were generally more open about this it would enable us to make better choices over the individual elements of the prescription range which might be most suitable for our own use.

Your prescription certainly can change. Your age may play a huge part in this. It is not uncommon at all for short sighted (myopic) prescriptions to reduce once you reach late thirties/early 40s. The reason being the method used to test glasses prescription can easily over correct young patients.
Personally I will always check your acuity with existing glasses or contact lenses. If a new prescription doesn’t improve that I am happy to tell you that. Also if you have a large prescription a 2 diopter change can be as simple as the glasses you wear sitting a different distance from your eye than the glasses used to test your eyes that day.

20/20 vision or 6/6 as it’s know in the uk is what was once considered normal vision. Many peoples vision can be corrected to a better standard than this (to 6/5 or 6/4) in a myopic patient the difference in prescription needed to see 6/6 and 6/4 would be approximately 0.5 dioptres (providing the eye is healthy and has the potential to see 6/4 - not everyone can) so yes patients are often corrected to see better than 20/20 by using stronger lenses.

I am happy to discuss exercises in more detail but it’s a whole separate thread. The eye is an optical system short sightedness occurs when the axial legnth of the eye is too great for the refractive power of the cornea and the lens. An exercise cannot reduce axial legnth or weaken the power of the cornea.
By leaving your glasses at home we are working without the full information. If I changed your glasses by too much in one go (regardless whether it was weaker, stronger or a change in astigmatism) there is a serious risk you would not tolerate the jump. If I know what your wearing I can warn you if I think there will be an adaptation period to the new glasses, and if I think the jump is too great I can let you know that an advise an in between prescription, letting you know that the glasses will need adjusting further once your used to that prescription.

I'm with Specsavers and like a previous poster they are v honest about no change so don't need new glasses! Although I know before my appt this friday there has been a huge decline!! Dreading visit

I’m also with specsavers and they’ve often said I don’t need to change prescription. I’ve worn glasses for 32 years and I definitely haven’t had to get a new pair at every eye appointment. I’m very shortsighted but as I’ve got older by eye sight is starting to get better because you get long sighted as you get older so my vision is correcting itself. Eye tests check for more than just vision though many diseases can be spotted first in the eye it’s really important to have regular checks.

Also if you have a large prescription a 2 diopter change can be as simple as the glasses you wear sitting a different distance from your eye than the glasses used to test your eyes that day.

Hoppybunny So are you saying there is not an absolutely direct correlation between visual acuity and the prescription given? Even a variation as much as 2 diopters on a prescription can be expected at the same visual acuity achieved in an eye test?

once your used to that prescription.

Hoppybunny What is actually happening, in terms of the way your vision works, when you 'get used' to a new prescription?

I can see better in one eye than I ought to be able to according to the optician, because years of not wearing glasses despite short sight has meant that eye has learnt to compensate using the muscles around the eye. The other eye which I was told as a child was "lazy" has never done this. I never bothered wearing glasses when I was younger despite being short sighted. Large University lecture theatres and driving meant I had to reluctantly give in and wear them.

Many peoples vision can be corrected to a better standard than this (to 6/5 or 6/4) in a myopic patient the difference in prescription needed to see 6/6 and 6/4 would be approximately 0.5 dioptres (providing the eye is healthy and has the potential to see 6/4 - not everyone can) so yes patients are often corrected to see better than 20/20 by using stronger lenses.

I have read that Pilots have trained themselves to be able to achieve better than 20/20 vision. How do they achieve this?

If you prescribe glasses for better than 20/20 vision do you discuss that with the patient, Hoppybunny?

Eye tests check for more than just vision though many diseases can be spotted first in the eye it’s really important to have regular checks.

I know. Hence the importance of feeling able to trust the optician.

The reason being the method used to test glasses prescription can easily over correct young patients.

Why is this, Hoppybunny?

I am with a chain. They left me with a weaker prescription even if I could have had a stronger one but only marginally. Recommended all possible discounts, didn't have an issue with kids frames (my head and face are really small and I look like a fly in adult ones) and I paid a third of the full price. Can't say I am unhappy or feel exploited as a result.

Hoppybunny, The eye is an optical system short sightedness occurs when the axial legnth of the eye is too great for the refractive power of the cornea and the lens. An exercise cannot reduce axial legnth or weaken the power of the cornea.

With regard to this, what do you think to this claim and increasing minus diopter frames being prescribed post 21 years of age?

"But at a certain age, eyes finish growing; that is 18 years old for 95% of people and 21 years old for everyone else. The same way your pants inseam doesn’t change in your twenties, neither does your eye."

( https://www.huntervision.com/blog/changing-prescription )

Can't say I am unhappy or feel exploited as a result.

Clandestino Sounds like this is type of service that people are happy with. I think I would be happy with that type of service. How do you know before you go in, though?

Just a thought but if you check the reason for the big change could be the cyls?

-4 / +1 x90 is exactly the same as -3/-1x180 some opticians use +cyl annotation others use -cyl annotation.

Myopia certainly can increase and even begin in 20's and 30's constant screen usage is one factor as the constant focussing for near could lead to elongation of the globe. Also it is well known that early cataracts can change your prescription if you are in your 50's onwards !

Recently hit the big 40 and an optician at a large chain recently prescribed varifocals. I’m sceptical —stubborn, and a tight arse—.

2madcats, both opticians used the same form of annotation for the cylinder. I had a full eye health check, no cataracts were detected and I am not in my 50s.

Myopia certainly can increase and even begin in 20's and 30's constant screen usage is one factor as the constant focussing for near could lead to elongation of the globe.

My myopia has got better by 2 diopters not worse. So are you saying the way we use our eyes can affect eye ball elongation and growth? So, then, it would follow there is the potential for relaxation techniques and eye exercises to affect this also....

I'm sceptical stubborn, and a tight arse.

And why shouldn't you be?

Op, yanbu. From my experience s, i agree.
For years i told my optician i was struggling to read signs, number plates when driving. For years i was told, nothing has changed, a stronger lens won't make much difference. Specsavers.

I happened to take my script into Costco for new glasses but their optician was not happy and insisted on a quick test at no cost.
He was horrified that i had been driving with my vision and confirmed that ss was wrong. He reissued a correct script and i nearly cried when i collected my glasses.....finally i could see.

I'm still grateful.

I cancelled my plan with ss and told them why. They didn't give a shite. Wankers.
How many others are out there like me? Driving with insufficient vision..

There isn't anything any poster can say to reassure you because you're researching to support your opinion. You're not unbiased and tbh I'm concerned about both your eyesight and your eye health because you're so distrustful of the profession. Perhaps attending a clinic attached to an university department would reassure you.

Theeyeshaveitnow

1. depending on the size of your prescription yes. Take a look at back vertex distance (bvd). The distance the lens sits from the eye changes the effective power which is why this distance must be specified on all large prescriptions. Doesn’t apply significantly below -4.00ds but On bigger prescriptions the difference can be huge. This is taken into account when your new glasses are fitted. 2)it’s a case of the brain getting used to the different optics. All glasses cause some element of distortion and magnification or minification. A big shift suddenly can make walking down stairs hard can give motion sickness. Doesn’t really apply in contact lenses however.
2. yes I do explain this to patients but I can’t say that everyone would, with regard to pilots it’s not a case of training yourself. The optical resolution of an eye is better than 20/20, it’s unusual for a young healthy patient to not correct to at least that level. 4&5) there’s a lot in that article to explain but in that article but in a nutshell unless we chemically relaxed the muscle inside the eye (a cycloplegic refraction) there is always an element of listening to your preference when selecting between glasses lenses, cycloplegic refraction would leave most patients unable to function for 12 hours so is only used when absolutely necessary.
3. The eye doesn’t stop changing at 21. Yes the axial length largely stops growing but the crystalline lens in the eye continues to change. These changes eventually lead to cataract and this process can cause glasses prescriptions to continuously change throughout life.

my short sight has got a bit better over the last two years. not eye exercises , not unicorns, it just happens sometimes.

opticians on here are telling you the science, which as always is unaffected by belief. As happily you dont drive, it is your funeral.