Apparently, for some people going to the eye doctor to have their vision checked is a stressful experience. It’s not that dreaded air puff test even. Or even having the eyes dilated with eye drops. It’s the refraction process where we determine the prescription for glasses. You know, where the doctor puts up that big pair of glasses that the doctor flips different lenses and says, “Which is better, one….or two?
I think it’s probably harder for some when they are afraid of getting something wrong. Perhaps a little high-strung, Type A personality or someone with some OCD tendencies that needs perfection so it’s hard to commit to an exact answer. And engineers. Not there is anything wrong with being a perfectionist, I appreciate things being in order and perfect as possible. But it’s not anything to stress yourself over because there are multiple double checks to make sure everything is perfect as possible.
You see, when we say “which is better?” we are adding one step more power in the number one lens and one step power less in the number two lens. Much like if your radio was on 92.5 FM and you went to 92.4 or 92.6 to see which sounded more clear. We bracket back and forth until the power is just right. So we start from a certain prescription, either your old prescription or from a computerized reading of what the prescription power is and refine it with your help by adding more or less power until there is no change ideally. Sometimes the answer keeps going back and forth and so by that we also have reached our endpoint. Then looking at the vision from the old glasses and it’s prescription, the preliminary prescription reading and the final refraction reading, we can make sure it makes sense to prescribe exactly what you need to see 20/20 or hopefully even better than that. So don’t get worked up about getting something wrong or saying the wrong answer.
So the correct answer is ideally……SAME.
Courtesy of Dumas Vision Source, PLLC and Dr Tory W. Moore, Optometric Glaucoma Specialist and Diplomate of the American Board of Optometry. Serving the Dumas, Texas, Moore County and upper Texas Panhandle area for 23 years. Call (806) 935-2020 for appointment or visit our optical gallery without an appointment. Visit our website www.visionsource-dumas.com for more information. Like our Facebook business page: Dumas Vision Source and you can also connect on Twitter @eyedocdumas
Tory Moore, OD – “A Hometown Eye Doctor You Know and Can Trust!”