Do I really need glasses?

[HarperElla]

Just had an eye test. Haven't had one prior to this for years. They were very hard sell on the glasses, but I've never noticed a problem with my eyes and the prescription seems quite low:

Right eye
SPH 0
CYL - 0.50
AXIS 95

Left eye
SPH 0
CYL - 0.75
AXIS 85

They semi explained what this all means but not really in layman terms. I think they just wanted me to buy the glasses.

WIBU to just not get the glasses unless I feel like I need them?

Looks like very mild short-sightedness. It’s possible that it could correct itself as you get long-sighted with age. You need to make sure you are legal to drive and watch out for headaches, but I’m not sure I would bother with glasses if my prescription was that low (I’m -9 and -8.5 so in a totally different category!)

Did they give you any sample lenses to try so you could see the difference?

I also have very mild astigmatism with similar figures and I do have a couple of pairs of glasses for when I'm doing detailed work - it stops me getting headaches. I do notice when I'm wearing them that everything is sharper and clearer but I have good ordinary vision anyway. I'd say I don't wear glasses about 95% of the time!

If you don't feel like your vision is a problem then you may not need them.

They asked if I drove and told me I'm well within the limits for safe driving thankfully.

They didn't, no. They just tried to get me to buy a pair.

At that prescription I really wouldn’t bother. I’m a -9.50 (!) in both eyes with astigmatism and if I didn’t wear glasses or contacts everything looks like frosted glass, but at your prescription if you can see fine as you are I wouldn’t bother. (My daughter aged 20 has a similar prescription to you if slightly worse and never bothers)!

I have been shortsighted since I was 7, well until I had laser correction surgery when my prescription was about -7.5. I honestly would not bother with glasses with your very mild prescription, I would just keep having an annual eye test or something.

I do not know how that dog got in my last post. 🧐

Buy online. Glasses Direct for example. Can get glasses made to your prescription very cheaply rather than £200 at opticians.

You have mild astigmatism in both eyes.
I would generally prescribe too for a -0.75 CYL. But you'll be within driving standard, so completely up to you. That prescription will make things a little clearer at distance, reduce glare when driving and reduce eye strain especially if you're doing lots of computer work.

You can ask them to put the prescription into a trail frame (which takes about 20 seconds) and see the difference with and without.

I wouldn't recommend glasses for a prescription that low unless you described having any issues. If your vision feels fine...don't bother! Sounds very hard sell to me.

Was it Spec Savers?

I’m -1 in one eye, I wear glasses most of the time...

I got them because I’m legal to drive with both eyes, but I’d gone for the eye test because the short sighted one was blurry alone and I was thinking, well if I get something in the good eye while driving I’d be a bit stuffed. Really was only planning to wear them for driving.

But things are so clear with them on!! 😂

If you get a pair online they’re pretty cheap.

Yes...