The company I work for used to offer a program which allowed for one free annual comprehensive eye exam and discounts on glasses and contact lenses. This year that has been reduced to a discount on the exam and a smaller discount for eyewear but you have to use a facility in their network.

Barb needed new contacts so we made an appointment for this morning. After we filled out the requisite paperwork, the optometrist came out to take us back for our exams. He was a very nice gentleman who appeared to be in his mid 80's and the lenses in his glasses were about the same density as the bottom of a 6 1/2 ounce Coke bottle.

About 10 minutes into Barb's exam, he seemed quite puzzled and asked if she had her contacts in. She replied "yes" as he hadn't asked prior to beginning the exam. So she removed her contacts and the exam resumed.

Shortly thereafter it was my turn. We went through the standard flip the dials, is that better or worse routine for about ten minutes and that was it.

The results:

Not only has my vision improved slightly in the last year and a half, I no longer suffer from astigmatism. My eyes apparently reshaped themselves without surgery! Funny though, distant objects are still just as blurry without my glasses on as before the cure.

Unfortunately Barb, who has never had astigmatism, now does in her right eye.

So now I'm wondering if perhaps there should be an age at which doctors and other health professionals should have to be recertified. Optometry has always seemed to me to be more subjective than most medicine, but the results we got today seem very unlikely.

Anyone else had an experience like this?

btw - Barb's going to make an appointment next week with our previous optometrist and we'll just bite the bullet for going out of network.

 

My 'youngish' eye doc says as you get older your vision often gets better. A bit better. My prescription called for less correction last time.

 

I recommend a second opinion.

Neither age nor youth guarantee competence.

 

PM S2020 (Ninh). He's an opthalmologist -- A very good one, I understand.

 

I cancelled my vision insurance. Comparing the premiums with the piddly amonts they contributed towards my glasses, I was ahead without it. I ask for a discount since I don't have insurance, and they usually give me at least 10%.

 

Usually, as you reach a certain age your near vision requires correction. However, this change in the shape of the eye can cause those of us who have needed distance correction to see better at a distance.

I have always needed glasses to pass the eye test at the driver's license bureau: even the first one when I was 16. At my last renewal, I paseed without my glasses. A subsequent appointment with my optometrist (who is younger and seems competent) confirmed that my distance vision now meets Ohio standards without glasses.

 

ophthalmologist

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What Is an Ophthalmologist?



An ophthalmologist (Eye M.D.) is a medical doctor with additional specialized training in all aspects of eye care

 

 

I had a great experience with an ancient optometrist once. I got mad at my ophtalmologist I'd been seeing for over 10 years because he wouldn't prescribe contacts for me and gave me the dumb reason that mothers didn't have time to take care of contacts.

So I went to a place that sold contacts. They had their own in house optometrist. This guy must have been 90 years old. His diagnostic equipment was as old as he was and very percise. He found that I was slightly (12 degrees) cross eyed. Which is why I have trouble with double vision especially at night. He told me I could have contacts, they would be just as good as my current glasses, but I could get better vision with prisms to correct the cross eyed problem.

I tried the contacts and didn't like them; later I researched different kinds of eye doctors and found something called a behavioral optometrist. This guy has the regular college plus 4 years optometry college and then a two year residency in behavioral optometry. The best way I can explain it is like physical therapy for the eyes. These doctors correct problems like ambliopia and cross eyes by having patients do eye exercises. The good news is that he corrected the cross eyed problem without surgery. The bad news is that it is not totally permanent and now 15 years later I am slightly cross eyed again only 6 degrees this time. However if I had had surgery, that would probably not be permanent either.

My vision is so near sighted that I will always get cross eyed. I could not have the original lasix (radial kerotometry ) sp? but the surgery has improved now and people with my vision can be corrected by going through the surgery twice. I'm too chicken. Has anyone here had this done?

 

An opthalmologist is an eye doctor with a medical degree, unlike an optomotrist.