confused about eye test results

[Flat Eric]

I had an eye test yesterday at Boots but I dont feel confident that my eyes have been tested correctly or throughly enough :confused:

Having worn glasses for 23 years, I have had quite a few eye tests and am used to being sat in the chair for ages while the optician faffs forever with those silly little glasses, swapping lenses / covering one eye, sticking a magnifying glass over one eye, is it better this side, that side etc. Also not only having to read the letters but doing a variety of other tasks as well. which image is sharper, red or green. Cant remember all the tests Ive done in the past but my eye test yesterday took less than 25 mins.

Im also confused with my prescription because from an eye test result I had back in 2005, it would appear the axis for my right eye has changed 180 to 5.0? This I understand relates to the astigmatism but Im still none the wiser and confused about how it can change so much?

Can anyone offer any pointers???

[tidus]

An eye examination can seem at vary an awful lot from the point of view of the patient, so its hard to compare them.
With an experienced practitioner, lots of high tech equipment, a patient whos requirements are not complex, it may well only take 15-20mins. In fact many appointment shedules are every 20mins.

An axis change of 180 to 5 is only a 5 degree change - 180 is the same as zero.

I'd stop worrying. If you have any problems with new glasses, just return, they will re-test you if needs be. At the end of the day, if you were happier with previous opticians, go back to them next time.

[Flat Eric]

An eye examination can seem at vary an awful lot from the point of view of the patient, so its hard to compare them.
With an experienced practitioner, lots of high tech equipment, a patient whos requirements are not complex, it may well only take 15-20mins. In fact many appointment shedules are every 20mins.

An axis change of 180 to 5 is only a 5 degree change - 180 is the same as zero.

I'd stop worrying. If you have any problems with new glasses, just return, they will re-test you if needs be. At the end of the day, if you were happier with previous opticians, go back to them next time.

Thank you very much for this. I hadnt appreciated that - 180 also meant zero so feel less concerned now.

Like you say, the more fancy equipment they have, the less time it will take and it has been a few years since my last eye test. thank you very much for your reply. much appreciated. :D

[Flat Eric]

As mentioned above, I had my eyes tested in Boots. I have now had them re-tested in a small independent opticians and the results differs as follows: -

Right Eye

Sphere -100
Cylinder. -050
Axis: 10

Left Eye

Sphere - 300
Cylinder. - 050
Axis 5

and

Right
Sphere - 0.50
Cylinder - 1.25
Axis 5.0

Left
Sphere -2.25
Cylinder - 1.00
Axis - 180

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between the two prescriptions?

[nedmundo]

One Prescription corrects a lot more astigmatism. Was there a difference in test charts used i.e. was one a box in a mirror and another projected onto a screen?

[Flat Eric]

One Prescription corrects a lot more astigmatism. Was there a difference in test charts used i.e. was one a box in a mirror and another projected onto a screen?

yes one was (me looking in a mirror) to read letters and the other was (IIRC) a screen with letters projected on it. What difference does this make? and which prescription corrects my astigmatism more??
Right Eye

(eye test a)
Sphere -100
Cylinder. -050
Axis: 10

Left Eye

Sphere - 300
Cylinder. - 050
Axis 5

and
(or eye test b)
Right
Sphere - 0.50
Cylinder - 1.25
Axis 5.0

Left
Sphere -2.25
Cylinder - 1.00
Axis - 180

thank you

[nedmundo]

Eye test B corrects the more astigmatism (although marginally less myopia) and I would hazard a guess that was the one with the box and mirror, which in my experience tends to produce more accurate results and less margin of error (longer working distance and maths which I won't bore you with!).

[Flat Eric]

Eye test B corrects the more astigmatism (although marginally less myopia) and I would hazard a guess that was the one with the box and mirror, which in my experience tends to produce more accurate results and less margin of error (longer working distance and maths which I won't bore you with!).

Thank you for your replies. Eye test A was done today and was a small private local optician with the box and mirror. Eye test b was the boots test and was done with stuff projected on screen.

Eye test a is what my new prescription will be. its interesting how different testing methods can produce different results.

thank you very much for your help.

as an afternote, previous to this my eye test (with vision expess) was

right
sphere - 0.25
cylinder - 1.00
axis 180

left eye
sphere -2.25
cylinder -1.00
axis 180

does it matter that the eye tests differ? (i guess all would differ slightly?) and my prescription I will be having doesnt correct my astignitism so much? thanks

[nedmundo]

It would be really interesting if you could get someone to show you the difference between the 2.

[Flat Eric]

yes that would be interesting!!! thank you for all your help. much appreciated. :D

[Toots]

as an afternote, previous to this my eye test (with vision expess) was

right
sphere - 0.25
cylinder - 1.00
axis 180

left eye
sphere -2.25
cylinder -1.00
axis 180

does it matter that the eye tests differ? (i guess all would differ slightly?) and my prescription I will be having doesnt correct my astignitism so much? thanks


Well this previous one is more in keeping with eye test B which just shows a small deterioration in the shortsightedness in your right eye and no change in your left (apart from difference in astigmatism in both eyes).

I would be a little concerned at the difference between eye tests A and B that you have had recently. Personally I am more inclined to think that eye test B is more accurate as you have regular tests but because of the difference would go and get another one to ascertain which is more accurate. Perhaps try another at a large opticians like D&A. My eye tests usually take 30-45 mins in all as they do field vision tests and eye pressure (the puff of air thing) etc as well as the usual. D&A also offer to photograph the optic nerve (you pay extra for this) every so many years so that they can judge over time whether there are any problems with that.

[Flat Eric]

Well this previous one is more in keeping with eye test B which just shows a small deterioration in the shortsightedness in your right eye and no change in your left (apart from difference in astigmatism in both eyes).

I would be a little concerned at the difference between eye tests A and B that you have had recently. Personally I am more inclined to think that eye test B is more accurate as you have regular tests but because of the difference would go and get another one to ascertain which is more accurate. Perhaps try another at a large opticians like D&A. My eye tests usually take 30-45 mins in all as they do field vision tests and eye pressure (the puff of air thing) etc as well as the usual. D&A also offer to photograph the optic nerve (you pay extra for this) every so many years so that they can judge over time whether there are any problems with that.

hello thanks for your reply. yes it is concerning how the tests differ but as the other poster queried (correctly), they were done differently i.e. one was the letters reflected in a mirror and the other test was more hi tech with it being a screen.

If I had had only one test done then I would be none the wiser and you can bet your bottom dollar that if I had them tested again, I would get different results again!

test a was the "old fashioned mirror test" how does this compare with the vision express test(my old (current I think) prescription)

[sillyvixen]

eye tests are subjective and depend on understanding in both ways between the optomertrist and the customer (ie what is ment by the question and what is ment by the answer) the chart and mirror relys on a set room length, whereas the projection chart can be callibrated to the room size. sorry i cant help with the difference between the 2 tests!