If worse comes to worse

Posted , 2 users are following.

Since missing the target is a known risk, I've been thinking about what would happen if my second eye settled at plano rather than -1.0D.

I assume glasses would be the fix although I've read that explantation would also be an option.

Does anyone know how glasses would work to reduce or eliminate a troublesome difference between the eyes?

Many thanks.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Edited

    The first problem in making a prediction about the future is that all you have for refraction on the first eye is what was taken 1 week after surgery. I would be surprised if that is accurate. But if it is, and you end up with distance at plano you will have eyeglasses free very good distance vision. You will have very good to excellent near vision and a slight dip to 20/23 at about 2 feet. That is not a bad outcome, and I think I would take it over a -1.0 D outcome, which will leave you needing glasses for distance. It may be a little more difficult to get used to, but I suspect most people will. And, of course you can get glasses which will correct both near and far for both eyes.

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    This said, if you use the same surgeon and he corrects his formula based on the outcome with the first eye, he should not miss by 0.5 D again. A maximum miss of 0.25 D would be more realistic.

    • Posted

      Thanks Ron.

      I'll be having the refraction on Monday. I'm thinking ahead because my surgery is scheduled for Dec 7 and there's not much time to make a decision after the refraction. I'd like to have a plan ahead of time.

      The surgeon said nothing reassuring about the next surgery. He seems to have no doubt about the final result however. I'm considering having 2 refractions, one independent and the other affiliated. I'd be interested to know if others have had more than one refraction in close order and if it was helpful in determining the true final result.

      How would it work to get glasses to correct both near and far for both eyes?

      Many thanks.

    • Posted

      I have had refractions from different optometrists and find that if your actual refraction is between two numbers, it can bounce back and forth between the two. A phoropter does not have a smaller resolution than 0.25 D. I also find that sometimes I pick more cylinder and less sphere, and other times the reverse. It is just an outcome of the 0.25 D steps and what you see on the particular day of the test.

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      The easiest way to get eyeglasses for both eyes is to get progressives.

    • Posted

      Thanks Ron. My purpose in having one or more refractions is to ascertain my true final result. Does what you said mean I would or would not know if my result was -2.0 or -1.5 after having a refraction?

      Many thanks.

    • Edited

      A standard eyeglass refraction should be accurate within 0.25 D so yes you will know whether you ended up at -2.0 or -1.5 D. If your two refractions differ by 0.25 D, that would not be surprising, and I would take that to mean that the true refractions is likely somewhere between the two numbers.

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      When you get the number be sure to calculate the spherical equivalent which is the sphere plus 50% of the cylinder. Targeting for IOLs is based on the spherical equivalent.

    • Edited

      Thanks Ron! Will share asap!

      On another note, could you explain what you meant in terms of how glasses would work to reduce or eliminate a troublesome difference between the eyes? In other words, how would it work to get glasses to correct both near and far for both eyes?

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