Normal deterioration of eyesight?

[JustLaura]

I have an eye exam every 2 years.

Last exam showed my eyesight in 1 eye has changed from +2 to +5. Other eye is unchanged.

Is this something to be concerned about?

I can definitely tell the deterioration is correct - is this just an age related issue?

I queried it with the Optician who was a 'visiting Optician' which I believe is someone who stands in for the Optician at times - they didn't seem concerned about it and ushered me away when I started asking further questions.

I am late 40s.

I'd say that's a massive jump, whether it's usual I couldn't say. Mine went from -3.25 to -3.50 in 5yrs. Same age.

Yes I can tell. Previously it's been 0.25 to 0.5 changes.

I'm an optometrist, that's a huge change. That's not normal at all.
Could you post your previous prescription and your new one and I'll have a look.

Thanks @theeyeofdoe

I got my figures a bit mixed up as I was shocked when the Optician read them.

2022 test:
Right eye: -2.75 Sph. -0.50 Cyl. Axis 70.
Left eye: -2.25 Sph. -0.25 Cyl. Axis 120.

2024 test:
Right eye: -4.25 Sph. -0.50 Cyl. Axis 65.
Left eye: -3.00 Sph. -0.25. Axis 120.

I can definitely notice the deterioration in my right eye.

Does that seem alarming?

I am late 40s.

Also, when I'm not wearing my glasses (I only wear them to drive and watch TV) my right eye feels really tired and heavy in the evening. My left eye feels fine.

Is this normal late 40s?

Do you use a high street opticians with multiple franchises?

Are you perimenopausal? Did you have your eye health checked thoroughly? Both eyes have changed a lot and I would have thought that some causes like retinopathy or glaucoma would have been spotted.

My prescription is less than yours and I wear my glasses all the time. I'm amazed if you can function without them at your prescription tbh. Maybe that's why your eyes feel tired and heavy, because they're working harder to try and see. I'm not an optician btw

Yes and I go to the same place each time - though it is a different Optician each time

Yes definitely Perimenopausal.

I did query it as I was shocked at the difference. I was basically ushered out as I kept asking why. The Opticians closing line to me was that she's "not concerned at my age".

Thanks @Kamek I am trying to wear them more this week as I had wondered if I'm causing this myself. I'm OK looking at the computer/reading but I wouldn't be able to drive/watch TV without wearing glasses.

Is it normal that when you wear glasses for the majority of the day, when you take them off, your eyes are worse than they are usually?
It seems like my eyes have got too used to seeing and then when I remove them its a shock.

The Optician at my last appointment was very young and a bit dismissive, not wanting to speak/explain etc. I was probably one of her last appointments of the day too.

I'm not an optician and will obviously defer to their judgement. I will tell you my experience. I started wearing my glasses all the time because there was a big difference in the vision in each eye. So whilst I could see OK for every day (not driving) without them, it was only because my left eye was working extra hard to compensate for the right. In the end, I was getting headaches or my eye muscles were feeling strained, by the end of the day. I also don't have problems reading, etc, without my glasses - although with age that is changing.

There is a difference between your eyes so when you don't wear glasses one is working extra hard. When you wear your glasses that isn't happening and your eyes are getting used to both working at the same rate (if that makes sense). So, when you take your glasses off again, it's going to take the 'good' eye a little while to get itself doing the compensation again. I know when I forget to put on my glasses I tend to feel a bit sick!

Anyway, if you're concerned about the big change - and the expert upthread did comment on it - contact your optician and ask for a second opinion.

Thanks @ForPearlViper

If only that could've been explained like you have done at my eye exam.

That makes sense to me. Thanks.

Hoping @theeyeofdoe may still reply too.

Because you are worried and don't feel like you had a proper explanation I would ring the optician and say you want another appointment with the head optician for free as you weren't satirised with the initial appointment. It's not acceptable that you left without being reassured and all your questions answered.
Another alternative if you have the £30/£40 is the go to a different optician completely with a
Copy of your older prescriptions. Get some recommendations of some good ones.
Maybe also go yearly for a while to keep an eye on any changes.

I was transferred to annually when there was a big change

It is a big jump. Go back and ask to speak to your usual optician. I can’t see why you should have to pay so I wouldn’t be demanding an appointment “free of charge“. I know my optician would speak to me free of charge, although I have been a patient there for many years. Even so, in these circumstances you are entitled to a bit more of an explanation, especially as you paid in the first place. I would expect the same service from any optician.