Hugely Conflicting Eye Test Results!

seanparkin

Earlier this week I went for my first eye test, ever. I'm 25 and have over the last couple of years seen my vision go not quite as good as before (I can see a main image, and a second faint image just above the first when looking at high contrast things at a distance, EG road signs when driving at night sometimes cause a problem).

So I saw a sign for a free eye test on Monday at a local opticians (Optical Express) where after a few tests the optician gave me a prescription.

As I'm slightly worried about having glasses etc, I went for a second test this morning to confirm it at D&A. But... The results of this one are massively different to the first and make out my eyes are much worse than the first one did.

During the second test, at first I felt less secure that she knew what she was doing, but by the end I began to trust her more as she seemed to take her time, and seemed more interested in giving me advice as opposed to the first that seemed more bothered about getting finished.

The second prescription I have infront of me is:

R -2.50 +1.75 75
L -2.00 +1.00 110

But the first prescription from memory was:

R -0.75 -0.75 180
L -0.75 -0.25 180

Can anybody tell me what these mean? and have any idea why they are so different?

I'm really not sure what to do - as explained this is the first time I've ever been told I need glasses.

Should I take a third test to confirm eithers findings? What if the third is different again? Could it be something that I'm doing wrong? They both did fairly different tests as well which confused me more.

Thanks for your help in advance!

Jake'sGran

These prescriptions indicate two different strengths of lenses. Both the people who did the tests should be accredited opticians and I am surprised that they differ so much. I think I would go for a third test - try and find another that will do it for nothing. Go to an old fashioned type of optician as I think some of the big chains are not as good as they should be. One of the broadsheet newspapers did a survey about this glasses or not subject. They sent a reporter out and she reported that althogh her eyes were perfectly alright she was told by quite a few that she needed glasses. You could always ask your GP to refer you to the eye hospital. They will give you a correct diagnosis.

pavlovs_dog

ive been wearing glasses for nearly 10 years now. i recently switched to boots opticians, after years with my local independant optician. and what a difference! i have never had such a thorough eye exam in all my life. and as if that wasnt enough, the boots staff were lovely too.

their normal charge for an eye test is £18, but if you go on the advantage card machine there should be a voucher on there for a half price eye test. i am a very satisfied customer, and would highly recommend their service (even if you do later choose to buy your glasses from a cheaper source).

there isnt really a price you can put on your sight. please do get this sorted.

dont forget to take your two prescriptions with you as well, as the optician may be able to shed some light on why they are so different.

Savvy_Sue

I believe there are some conditions where your eyesight does vary quite radically, and I don't know if this would show up in a conventional eye exam. One of my colleagues, about the same age as the OP, says that her eyesight varies from day to day - sometimes she needs her glasses, sometimes not. And I don't think it's vanity!

Did you mention the eye problems you've been having?

seanparkin

Thanks all.

I've been for a third eyetest today at Vision Express (I have a colleague who goes there and says they are excellent), and... Different results again! They have given me the following results:

L: -1.00 -0.75 20.0
R: -0.75 -1.50 160.0

Right. I'm now really really confused I showed my other two results to the person at vision express, she said her results show roughly the same as D&A's (although aslightly lower prescription) results except they are written differently (!??!?). She said the Optical Express results (the first one) were miles out.

I tried to describe the problems I'm having as accurately as I could.

I realise that looking after my sight is important, thats why I'm spending so much time/money on trying to get it right. Can the results be written differently? If so, which ones should I quote when I get my glasses made?

TNG

OK, I'll say it.

Are you sure you're reading them right?

;o)

seanparkin

yes, my eyes aren't that bad (yet) that I can't read anything! They're fine for up to a couple of metres away.

I've shown the results to my glasses wearing colleagues who are also shocked and confused about what could be happening.

DO_Jo

Hi
I work in an independant Opticians as a dispensing optician. I will try to explain:
The VE test results are similar to the D&A results. There are two different ways of writting a prescription out (+ cyl form and - cyl form) the cyl is the second number, you will notice that the D&A prescription says +1.75 for the right cyl. There are certain calculations to change a prescription from one form to another. The way in which it is written depends on where and by whom the optometrist learnt from. Also with the VE prescription you have put the left eye first, the others are right eye first which is correct. I hope this puts your mind at rest, if you have any others questions i'll be happy to answer them.
Jo

pavlovs_dog

DO Jo

why is it that a universal/uniform system hasnt been adopted to avoid such confusion? any ideas?

seanparkin

Ahh, that makes more sense!

So if the Cyl value is positive, the entire prescription is written is calculated differently to when the Cyl value is negative.

As pavlovs says, why can't they just use a universal system as its confusing enough

DO_Jo

Not entirely sure why, something to do with spectacle lens forms and the way they are made.

You really need details of your visual acuity, that is which line on the test chart you can read. If you could read the bottom line on the chart (smallest letters) with each of the different prescriptions I'm not sure what is going on. A full sight test should take 25-30 mins, I know that some are shorter!

HTH