Which Reading Glasses Should I Get?

This post is somewhat long, and I apologize for the inconvenience.

I am a 33-year-old male. Prior to 1997, I wore glasses that were -4.25
in the left eye and -4 in the right eye.

In 1997, my eye doctor said that my eyesight was -5, -5. So, I started
wearing -5, -5 glasses for driving, seeing movies in a theater, etc. I
continued to use my -4.25, -4 glasses as reading glasses - for reading,
computer use, etc.

By 2004, the -5, -5 glasses were becoming too weak for driving. My eye
doctor said that my eyesight was now -5.25, -5.25. So, I started
wearing -5.25, -5.25 glasses for driving, and I continued to use the
-4.25, -4 glasses for reading, computers, etc.

For the theater, the -5.25, -5.25 glasses were too strong, and the
-4.25, -4 glasses were too weak. So, for the theater, I used the -5, -5
glasses.

----------

During the last few months of 2006, some weird stuff started happening
to my eyesight. The -5.25 glasses started feeling inadequate when I
drove, but these glasses did not produce a headache. I tried driving
with the -5 glasses, and I could see a LITTLE less well with the -5
glasses than I could with the -5.25 glasses. Also, the -5 glasses
produced a headache. The headache made the -5 glasses feel STRONGER
than the -5.25 glasses.

Another weird thing that happened is that, on two occasions, the -5
glasses were too strong when I used them to view a movie in a theater.
I had to alternate between the -5 glasses and the -4.25, -4 glasses.

In late 2006, I explained these weird things to my eye doctor, and he
gave me an eye exam. He said that my eyesight is currently -5.125,
-5.125. He said that my eyesight is fluctuating between -5 and -5.25.

He said that, for driving, theater, etc., I could use either the -5, -5
glasses or the -5.25, -5.25 glasses (my choice).

For reading glasses, he said that I could use -4, -4 glasses or -4.25,
-4.25 glasses (again, my choice).

He said that .25 diopter wasn't much of a difference. However, he did
recommend that I use the -4, -4 glasses for the reading glasses. He
said that the -4.25, -4.25 glasses would be too much like a "crutch"
for me.

----------

Here is the dilemma. The most recent eye exam showed that, with the
-4.25, -4 glasses, I see well in the -4.25 (left) eye, and the image is
somewhat blurry in the -4 (right) eye. Also, lately, I started noticing
that, when I am wearing the -4.25, -4 glasses, I have been getting some
strain or minor headaches in my right eye. So, perhaps that is because
my right eye is struggling to see as well as my left eye is seeing.

So, while I don't want to use -4.25, -4.25 glasses as a crutch, I also
don't want to wear glasses that are so weak (-4, -4) that I have to
struggle to see. I have read that BOTH, using glasses as a crutch AND
struggling to see, are bad for your eyesight.

So, which prescription do I get? -4.25, -4.25? Or -4, -4?

----------

Also, if the -5 glasses are producing a headache, and the -5.25 glasses
are not producing a headache, does that mean that I have "gotten used
to" the -5.25 glasses? Are the -5.25 glasses my "crutch"?

Thanks for any information, and I apologize for the long post.

i don't think the -525 are a "crutch". If your correction is -5.25
according to your doctor than these are what you need to wear. Do you
have accommodative insufficiency? Why does a 33 year need reading
glasses? why the need to switch glasses all the time? perhaps there is
a reason (ask your doc) but otherwise you should be wearing your -525
most of, if not all of, the time. Constantly switching pairs may be
part of the problem. IMHO.

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> This post is somewhat long, and I apologize for the inconvenience.
>
> I am a 33-year-old male. Prior to 1997, I wore glasses that were -4.25
> in the left eye and -4 in the right eye.
>
> In 1997, my eye doctor said that my eyesight was -5, -5. So, I started
> wearing -5, -5 glasses for driving, seeing movies in a theater, etc. I
> continued to use my -4.25, -4 glasses as reading glasses - for reading,
> computer use, etc.
>
> By 2004, the -5, -5 glasses were becoming too weak for driving. My eye
> doctor said that my eyesight was now -5.25, -5.25. So, I started
> wearing -5.25, -5.25 glasses for driving, and I continued to use the
> -4.25, -4 glasses for reading, computers, etc.
>
> For the theater, the -5.25, -5.25 glasses were too strong, and the
> -4.25, -4 glasses were too weak. So, for the theater, I used the -5, -5
> glasses.
>
> ----------
>
> During the last few months of 2006, some weird stuff started happening
> to my eyesight. The -5.25 glasses started feeling inadequate when I
> drove, but these glasses did not produce a headache. I tried driving
> with the -5 glasses, and I could see a LITTLE less well with the -5
> glasses than I could with the -5.25 glasses. Also, the -5 glasses
> produced a headache. The headache made the -5 glasses feel STRONGER
> than the -5.25 glasses.
>
> Another weird thing that happened is that, on two occasions, the -5
> glasses were too strong when I used them to view a movie in a theater.
> I had to alternate between the -5 glasses and the -4.25, -4 glasses.
>
> In late 2006, I explained these weird things to my eye doctor, and he
> gave me an eye exam. He said that my eyesight is currently -5.125,
> -5.125. He said that my eyesight is fluctuating between -5 and -5.25.
>
> He said that, for driving, theater, etc., I could use either the -5, -5
> glasses or the -5.25, -5.25 glasses (my choice).
>
> For reading glasses, he said that I could use -4, -4 glasses or -4.25,
> -4.25 glasses (again, my choice).
>
> He said that .25 diopter wasn't much of a difference. However, he did
> recommend that I use the -4, -4 glasses for the reading glasses. He
> said that the -4.25, -4.25 glasses would be too much like a "crutch"
> for me.
>
> ----------
>
> Here is the dilemma. The most recent eye exam showed that, with the
> -4.25, -4 glasses, I see well in the -4.25 (left) eye, and the image is
> somewhat blurry in the -4 (right) eye. Also, lately, I started noticing
> that, when I am wearing the -4.25, -4 glasses, I have been getting some
> strain or minor headaches in my right eye. So, perhaps that is because
> my right eye is struggling to see as well as my left eye is seeing.
>
> So, while I don't want to use -4.25, -4.25 glasses as a crutch, I also
> don't want to wear glasses that are so weak (-4, -4) that I have to
> struggle to see. I have read that BOTH, using glasses as a crutch AND
> struggling to see, are bad for your eyesight.
>
> So, which prescription do I get? -4.25, -4.25? Or -4, -4?
>
> ----------
>
> Also, if the -5 glasses are producing a headache, and the -5.25 glasses
> are not producing a headache, does that mean that I have "gotten used
> to" the -5.25 glasses? Are the -5.25 glasses my "crutch"?
>
> Thanks for any information, and I apologize for the long post.

Just from what you have indicated here, your prescription seems to be
less in a dark room? What prescription works best when driving at
night? You may have a situation in which the prescription changes as a
function of your pupil diameter. You may also want to have a
cycloplegic refraction (with dilating drops) to see if there is
something funny going on with your accommodation.

DrG

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> This post is somewhat long, and I apologize for the inconvenience.
>
> I am a 33-year-old male. Prior to 1997, I wore glasses that were -4.25
> in the left eye and -4 in the right eye.
>
> In 1997, my eye doctor said that my eyesight was -5, -5. So, I started
> wearing -5, -5 glasses for driving, seeing movies in a theater, etc. I
> continued to use my -4.25, -4 glasses as reading glasses - for reading,
> computer use, etc.
>
> By 2004, the -5, -5 glasses were becoming too weak for driving. My eye
> doctor said that my eyesight was now -5.25, -5.25. So, I started
> wearing -5.25, -5.25 glasses for driving, and I continued to use the
> -4.25, -4 glasses for reading, computers, etc.
>
> For the theater, the -5.25, -5.25 glasses were too strong, and the
> -4.25, -4 glasses were too weak. So, for the theater, I used the -5, -5
> glasses.
>
> ----------
>
> During the last few months of 2006, some weird stuff started happening
> to my eyesight. The -5.25 glasses started feeling inadequate when I
> drove, but these glasses did not produce a headache. I tried driving
> with the -5 glasses, and I could see a LITTLE less well with the -5
> glasses than I could with the -5.25 glasses. Also, the -5 glasses
> produced a headache. The headache made the -5 glasses feel STRONGER
> than the -5.25 glasses.
>
> Another weird thing that happened is that, on two occasions, the -5
> glasses were too strong when I used them to view a movie in a theater.
> I had to alternate between the -5 glasses and the -4.25, -4 glasses.
>
> In late 2006, I explained these weird things to my eye doctor, and he
> gave me an eye exam. He said that my eyesight is currently -5.125,
> -5.125. He said that my eyesight is fluctuating between -5 and -5.25.
>
> He said that, for driving, theater, etc., I could use either the -5, -5
> glasses or the -5.25, -5.25 glasses (my choice).
>
> For reading glasses, he said that I could use -4, -4 glasses or -4.25,
> -4.25 glasses (again, my choice).
>
> He said that .25 diopter wasn't much of a difference. However, he did
> recommend that I use the -4, -4 glasses for the reading glasses. He
> said that the -4.25, -4.25 glasses would be too much like a "crutch"
> for me.
>
> ----------
>
> Here is the dilemma. The most recent eye exam showed that, with the
> -4.25, -4 glasses, I see well in the -4.25 (left) eye, and the image is
> somewhat blurry in the -4 (right) eye. Also, lately, I started noticing
> that, when I am wearing the -4.25, -4 glasses, I have been getting some
> strain or minor headaches in my right eye. So, perhaps that is because
> my right eye is struggling to see as well as my left eye is seeing.
>
> So, while I don't want to use -4.25, -4.25 glasses as a crutch, I also
> don't want to wear glasses that are so weak (-4, -4) that I have to
> struggle to see. I have read that BOTH, using glasses as a crutch AND
> struggling to see, are bad for your eyesight.
>
> So, which prescription do I get? -4.25, -4.25? Or -4, -4?
>
> ----------
>
> Also, if the -5 glasses are producing a headache, and the -5.25 glasses
> are not producing a headache, does that mean that I have "gotten used
> to" the -5.25 glasses? Are the -5.25 glasses my "crutch"?
>
> Thanks for any information, and I apologize for the long post.

In article <(E-Mail Removed). com>,
(E-Mail Removed) wrote:


> Here is the dilemma. The most recent eye exam showed that, with the
> -4.25, -4 glasses, I see well in the -4.25 (left) eye, and the image is
> somewhat blurry in the -4 (right) eye. Also, lately, I started noticing
> that, when I am wearing the -4.25, -4 glasses, I have been getting some
> strain or minor headaches in my right eye. So, perhaps that is because
> my right eye is struggling to see as well as my left eye is seeing.
>
> So, while I don't want to use -4.25, -4.25 glasses as a crutch, I also
> don't want to wear glasses that are so weak (-4, -4) that I have to
> struggle to see. I have read that BOTH, using glasses as a crutch AND
> struggling to see, are bad for your eyesight.
>
> So, which prescription do I get? -4.25, -4.25? Or -4, -4?


I can't imagine that there is a significant difference. I find that
when I'm not seeing well while reading, I just move the book up or down
my lap until vision is better. When using a computer, move your chair a
few inches. At the theater, see whether sitting in front or in back
helps.

To translate what Dr G posted, perhaps you need to use a more powerful
light.

michael toulch wrote:
>Why does a 33 year need reading
> glasses?

I use the -5 and the -5.25 glasses for driving, watching movies, and
other "long-distance" activities. I use the -4.25, -4 glasses for "up
close" activities like reading a newspaper, using a computer, etc. If I
used the -5.25 or the -5 glasses for reading a paper or using the
computer, I would get major headaches, and I would probably suffer a
decrease in my eyesight.


>why the need to switch glasses all the time? perhaps there is
> a reason (ask your doc) but otherwise you should be wearing your -525
> most of, if not all of, the time. Constantly switching pairs may be
> part of the problem. IMHO.
>

Actually, I recently went to LensCrafters, and I found out something
interesting. My -5.25 glasses have plastic lenses, but the -5 glasses
have polycarbonate lenses. According to LensCrafters, once I got used
to the plastic lenses, wearing the polycarbonate lenses started causing
discomfort. I used the -5.25 lenses (for driving) much more often than
I used the -5 lenses (for watching movies). So, the difference in lens
material may be the answer to the question of why the weaker -5 glasses
were causing a bigger strain than the stronger -5.25 glasses.

Dr. Leukoma wrote:
> Just from what you have indicated here, your prescription seems to be
> less in a dark room? What prescription works best when driving at
> night? You may have a situation in which the prescription changes as a
> function of your pupil diameter.

>From early August to late October, I worked in a place where I had to
use a flat-screen computer monitor. I had used flat screens before, but
this monitor seemed defective. I used my -4.25, -4 glasses in the
workplace. This monitor seemed to have a blurry image, and I felt that
I was straining my eyes to see the image. It was during this period
that I started feeling that my -5.25 glasses were inadequate for
driving.

In particular, I noticed that I was having some trouble driving at
night. So, I started using my high-beam head lights. I explained all of
this to my doctor.

When you say that my prescription seems less in a dark room, are you
saying that my eyesight should be better in a darkroom? A lesser
prescription = fewer diopters?



>You may also want to have a
> cycloplegic refraction (with dilating drops) to see if there is
> something funny going on with your accommodation.
>

During my last few visits with my eye doctor, he dilated my eyes to
test me for glaucoma. All tests showed that everything was good.

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) oups.com...
> Actually, I recently went to LensCrafters, and I found out something
> interesting. My -5.25 glasses have plastic lenses, but the -5 glasses
> have polycarbonate lenses. According to LensCrafters, once I got used
> to the plastic lenses, wearing the polycarbonate lenses started causing
> discomfort. I used the -5.25 lenses (for driving) much more often than
> I used the -5 lenses (for watching movies). So, the difference in lens
> material may be the answer to the question of why the weaker -5 glasses
> were causing a bigger strain than the stronger -5.25 glasses.

There are several types of plastic material:

1.50 regular plastic (CR-39)
1.53 Trivex
1.54 Spectralite (Sola/AO only)
1.59 Polycarb (a type of plastic)
1.60 Plastic
1.67 Plastic
1.71 Plastic
1.74 Plastic
and a few others

Polycarb (like Trivex) has very high impact resistance and high tensile
strength. But it has the horrible optical properties (primarily measured by
abbe value). Trivex has very good optical qualities, but is a bit thicker
(lower index) for a given Rx.

I will give you one piece of advice. If you know exactly what you are
getting from Lenscrafters, and you are happy with it, then fine. But don't
ever believe the BS they tell you. Even when they are not lying, the sales
people rarely know what they are talking about.

on Fri, 05 Jan 2007 14:04:10 GMT, "Dr. Leukoma" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> You may also want to have a
> cycloplegic refraction (with dilating drops) to see if there is
> something funny going on with your accommodation.

Would uveitis cause this type of problem? I ask because I have a similar
problem to the OP, but my vision seems to fluctuate with changes in the
health of my eyes. I have uveitis and have been using Lotemax for 2 years
now (low daily dose at this point, and for the long term). On days when I
am having increased pain, redness and dryness, my vision is very blurry.
Even on good days, I know I need new glasses again.

I dread the ordeal because it's so difficult to get the prescription right.
Does dilation help reduce problems determining the best prescription? I
usually go to my opthamologist for my eye test, but for now just want to
get a quickie eye exam from the optometrist at the eyeglass place since my
next opthamology appointment is 6 months out.

--
Lynne