Poor response to a question?

[Goggleplex]

I can't believe I'm wasting more time posting to this site but I feel I should at least say something about the response I got to a question I posted a few days ago.  I wasn't asking if  I should have an operation or take a certain medication or anything like that.  The response I got was "ask your doctor."  I asked if a doctor might actually over-correct for an astigmatism in some cases.  I kind of expected an answer like, "some might, some might not... or as far as I know, it's never done."  I was just curious.  I'd like to know what kind of question would get a response other than "ask your doctor?"  Obviously, as soon as my power wheelchair is repaired, I'll go to a doctor, "unarmed"... without the information I was looking for if I can't find it anywhere else online!  I've already experimented with distorting things a bit more than happens with the glasses I have now, and I can read more on an eye chart when I do that.  

Anyway, I was rather upset.  I just wonder why this site even exists if I'm supposed to go and ask my doctor instead of...  aaah forget it!  :)  Nuff said.

[Sandra M Brown, MD]

Eye-MDs (ophthalmologists) and optometrists have different philosophies towards correcting astigmatism.  Optometrists are more likely to deliberately undercorrect it.

Adults who have spent many years with spectacles that undercorrect their astigmatism can be disoriented by a sudden change to full correction.  Things seem sharper yet 'warped'.  Depending on the degree of change, most people's brains gradually adapt to full correction.

The very best way to have your glasses prescription measured, if you are concerned about an error, is AFTER you have had your pupils dilated.

[OD_who_teaches_MDs]

What a totally ignorant comment you made, "optometrists are more likely to deliberately undercorrect it" when referring to a patient's astigmatism correction!  You definitely have a chip on your shoulder pertaining to the OD vs MD thing!  Isn't it amazing that almost all ophthalmology departments use OPTOMETRISTS to teach them how to refract?

Also, it is not wise to refract through dilated eyes!  Advising this...good way to get a prescription that doesn't work or just doesn't "feel right."  

Yes...I am an optometrist, and yes, I train ophthalmologists!!!