Get your eyes checked!

[mrs.b]

I've been told that a lot lately, because I've had to do a fair bit of night driving and it's become sort of apparent my night vision is not what it used to be. Once upon a time, I had 20/10 vision...and it did not feel as if my vision had changed all that much. I had my very first eye appointment in...an embarrassingly long time, though, and will receive my very first pair glasses of due to a minor astigmatism. That said, I should have asked more questions at my appointment, so can someone familiar with how to read eye Rx explain if I have an astigmatism in both eyes or just the one?

My script is:
Right: -0.25 - 050 x 090
Left: plano - 050 x 092

I looked up and see that the left eye means a plain lens, so does that mean I do not have any correction in that eye, or do the other numbers (the 50 and 92) mean it's correcting something? She said it was a very minor prescription and I do not need to wear them all the time, but since I spend so much time in front of computers, it would probably help with the headaches I also get.

(P.S. Pardon any typos. Eyes are still a bit fuzzy/weird from the eye dilation, so tried to proof but may have missed.)
(P.P.S. Just realized I typo'd the Rx. Fixed.)

[mrs.b]

Vision has cleared a bit more where reading some of the other sites didn't hurt (why are they all so bright?!) and see both eyes have the astigmatism correction, but only one has a slight nearsighted correction.

Answered my own question! Oddly, I'm looking forward to the arrival of my glasses. It's minor, but when she put on that "stylish" tester set to show me what the Rx would look like in glasses, everything got so crispy and clear! I did not realize I was seeing things a bit blurred until then. Well, aside from night driving when everything got fuzzy and oncoming headlights turned into blinding spheres that obliterated anything else until the opposing car passed.

[Getiton1]

Hi Mrs. B,

Yeah you have the idea. Many people (such as myself and evidently you…lol) get an astigmatism later in life. I never had one, and mine is only in one eye.

Here's a link that explains things and breaks down the Rx more specifically. You are so right that we need to make sure our eyes are healthy. Things like high blood pressure, diabetes and glaucoma can sneak up and cause serious eye problems. So GLAD you got some nice new stylish specs! Can we see a pic when you get the final product? (If you are camera shy you an just show the frames). I think glasses really add character to most faces! Plus it's very stylish not to walk into walls

Enjoy your new clear vision!

-T

Vision has cleared a bit more where reading some of the other sites didn't hurt (why are they all so bright?!) and see both eyes have the astigmatism correction, but only one has a slight nearsighted correction.

Answered my own question! Oddly, I'm looking forward to the arrival of my glasses. It's minor, but when she put on that "stylish" tester set to show me what the Rx would look like in glasses, everything got so crispy and clear! I did not realize I was seeing things a bit blurred until then. Well, aside from night driving when everything got fuzzy and oncoming headlights turned into blinding spheres that obliterated anything else until the opposing car passed.

[LaterBloomer]

It's funny how things sneak up on us. At a recent seminar on preparing for old age, I was a bit surprised at a point that was made. When you do wills, etc., you should review them after one of the....?five? "Ds" happen: death, divorce, decade,?,? After a decade has passed your view on how you want your end-of-life to be can change. It's funny, I figured as I got (even!) older, I'd be less likely to put up with things. Guess what? That's not the norm. Lessened vision, mobility, etc., sneak up so stealthily, that we become acclimated to them. As we get older, we're less likely to say, "pull the plug" when this or that happens when we're 80, than we would have been to say it when we were younger. Does that sentence even make sense? What I mean to write is we become used to things when they happen slowly, and we adapt. I remember in junior high a classmate saying she'd kill herself at 40. It's 15 years past that, and I wonder where she is.

[dewisant]

Currently I can only focus to read out of my R/H bifocal lens. Understand, my optometrist is very easy to look at, it's just that I haven't made an appointment in a very long time and need to read in order to write.

[sanantone]

My astigmatism has been coming and going since my teens. Both sides of my family have eye problems.

[ironheadjack]

I didn't know I had an astigmatism until the Army gave me an eye exam in basic training. And wowzers what a world of difference glasses make. I've considered getting LASIK but I'm very hesitant to allow someone to take lasers to my eyeballs.

[Johann]

I've considered getting LASIK but I'm very hesitant to allow someone to take lasers to my eyeballs.

LASIK isn't a good option in all cases of astigmatism. You may find this informative.

LASIK Eye Surgery for Astigmatism | CooperVisionÂ

Johann

PS - not intended as an ad or endorsement. I don't even know these people, but the info seemed relevant and helpful. My only reason for posting.

[mrs.b]

@ Getiton1 - Sure, I can snap a pic. We stopped by to pick up hubby's glasses today, and I took another look at the frames I selected while not seeing double and blurred. I'm not sure they're just right, and wished he'd been there with me to help decide, rather than relying on the assistant and squinting at the mirror. Hoping I'll like them better once I get the real ones and wear them for a bit.

@ Laterbloomer - Well, I didn't feel old until I read that! LOL. If you say the next step is wearing only sensible shoes, I'm done.

Dewisant, sanantone, ironheadjack - Glad to hear the glasses will help my little issue. I didn't realize I had a problem until the appointment, and was mostly certain I'd get a clean bill of health. (i.e., thought the night driving thing was maybe normal and I was just being a baby about the glare from oncoming headlights, or that headlights are just being made brighter...or something.) Since then, though, the doctor pointed out the little details that I am seeing incorrectly, so ever since the appointment, those little issues have annoyed me more. Looking forward to the new specs. They should be here next week.

[LaterBloomer]

mrs. b, the sensible shoes comment reminded me of a time in a sensible shoes store. This woman who had to be at least in her 80s was there with a younger woman (daughter?). The younger woman was being patient, and trying to direct the older woman to more sensible shoes. The older woman, who had been looking at high heels, etc., snapped, "At my age, I should be able to finally wear pretty shoes!" Well, I hope she has medical insurance!