Doubt my new prescription

[Stefanie2009]

I got a comprehensive exam recently and doubt the prescription a lot. I kept all my previous prescriptions, and my vision has been stable since 2007:
R - 4.5, 0, 0,
L -2.5, - 0.75, 50
Though there is variance time by time, for my left eye, for example, I got axis 45, 52, 50, 46, 47 different time, they seem to be in the same range.
Last October I did an exam and got a prescription in one store:
R -4.75, 0, 0
L -2.5, -0.75, 45
but I decided no new glasses at that time.
Three weeks ago, I went to the same store for glasses, but got an exam from a different OD (the one I saw in October left) and got another new prescription:
R -5.5, -0.5, 100
L -4.00, -0.75, 50
Immediately I got the new glasses, I told him that I got double image and he retested and found no astigmatism in the right eye. So he retested and redid the glasses. Today I got the new glasses, with
R -5.5, 0, 0
L -4.00, -0.75, 50
but I still feel not good that vision is blurry, especially when doing reading. The new glass is far worse than my old one. I was told by the OD that I got used to my old glasses for so long, that I need time to adjust to the new prescription. I put it on for the rest of the day but it did not get better. I plan to go back to the OD next week. But how could I prove that the prescription is off? Should I see another OD somewhere else and compare the prescriptions? Could I ask the store for an refund?


This discussion is related to Poor eye lens or incorrect prescription.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

No a 28 year old person with your history should not need two pair of glasses one for distance and one for near.''

If you can get your money back and head off to an Eye MD ophthalmologist near you that might be a good plan. You also need what is called a cycloplegic refraction, that is a glasses test done after dilation to be sure your distance glasses are not too strong.

JCH MD

[Stefanie2009]

Hi Doctor, thank you for asking. The prescriptions I listed above are for my framed glasses.

Doc, you mind I asking another question? Do people with myopia need two pairs of framed glasses, one for distance and the other for reading? The reason I ask is that I was told just now by the store manager who called to complain my lenses change (long story and bad experience).

When last week I got my new framed glasses, I can't read and got double images. The doc changed the prescription and sent for new lenses. Minutes ago I received a phone call from the manager getting very mad about the change. And then for the first time, I learned that I may need two pairs and the one the doc prescribed is for distance only. What confused me is that the doctor never told me that; actually he asked me to read a journal when he adjusted the prescriptions. I got really confused whether people do need two pairs, and whether my doc should have told me that one pair may not solve my problem.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Stephanie if you look at this again let  us know if you wear contacts. If you do that would explain a lot
JCH MD

[Stefanie2009]

Thank you so much Dr. Hagan!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

While some of those RX are very close to the same there are large differences that would be abnormal in a 28 year old female. If you wear contact lens that most common cause would be "spectacle blur" which is changing glasses RX due to contact bending cornea. It is a common problem and would explain everything.

If you do not wear contacts there are diseases that can cause this: diabetes, birth control pills, estrogens, pregnancy. Also eye disease: early cataracts, corneal diseases, macular diseases.

I'm assuming you are a reasonable observer. There are some people that are such poor observer they cannot make consistent choices in the glasses testing (refraction) and the results are "all over the place" even when done the same visit.

In a situation like this you don't want to end up paying for a pair of glasses you don't like and can't wear.  you might want to see if you can get your money back. If you can't you can see if they will put the "old" RX in your new frames.

I would suggest you see an Eye MD ophthalmologist for a detailed examination of your eyes to determine this (unless you wear contacts which can account for all of this)

JCHMD

[Stefanie2009]

Dear Dr. Hagan, I learned from other Q&A that you are an expert in eye care. Do you mind giving me some suggestions? I would appreciate your help a lot. Thanks,

[Stefanie2009]

One thing that puzzles me is why my left eye got worse so badly within six month (October 2013 - April 2014)?