Question About Visual Acuity Jargon

[mmmmpppp]

Hi,

I was wondering what the differences are between "uncorrected," "best corrected," and "distance corrected" visual acuity?  Can't seem to find basic definitions via Google.

I believe "uncorrected" simply means without glasses.  But from there it is all downhill for me.

What does "best" mean in "best corrected?"  Does it mean "best correction for distance using glasses?"  Or is it using glasses to get the best of whatever distance is under discussion: "best corrected near" uses reading glasses but "best corrected distance" is best corrected using distance glasses?

Is "distance correction" done with glasses?  Or does that refer to the way that an IOL is set in the eye?  (I came to this question reading about my cataract surgery.)

Where the question comes up the most for me is when I read about "uncorrected near" visual acuity vs "distance corrected near" visual acuity."  Is distance corrected near visual acuity the near acuity one has when wearing glasses for distance?  Or, again, does that refer to the near acuity one has when one's IOL has been set for distance and one is not wearing glasses?  Or I guess it could even be one's near acuity when one's IOL was set for distance but one is wearing reading glasses.

Can you tell I'm confused?

Thanks in advance.  MedHelp is the best!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

"corrected" means with glasses   "uncorrected" without
Best means exactly that
Near means at 18 inches, distance means at 20 feet

JCH MD

[mmmmpppp]

Thanks!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

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[OldNavy966]

How do I get my distance vision measured?  My opthamologist says I'm 20/20 yet everything is very blurry beyond 6ft.  I do well in the exam room but the real world is much different.  

My appoligies to you if I offended with some of my posts regarding my feelings on refractive opthamologists.  I should direct my displeasure towards the ones I have
actually have experience with.  4 out of 4 where bad but I have hope. Purely
statistically speaking, there must be good ones also.

[OldNavy966]

What is the standard post op care/management that opthamologist cover for their "premium" lens patients.  I went to a high cost opthamologist as I was not
worried about the money yet now I feel shortchanged by his service.  I was seen by
him for 2 minutes the day following surgery.  No other visits were scheduled by his office.  I asked to see him again after two weeks to discuss the problems I was having and he then had seen me for 4 minutes.  I was charged for that visit. Is this normal?
Thanks,

[JodieJ]

Old Navy, try googling "download free eye chart."  The results I've gotten at home with a free 10' chart are very consistent with the "professional" results I've gotten during office visits.  You can test your vision at home under different lighting conditions.

Dr. Oyakawa has impressed me with his expertise at getting the Crystalens HD to perform.  His posts suggest that he spends considerable time with his patients post-surgery to achieve good results with this lens.  It's my understanding that the fee for cataract surgery includes follow-up care.  It seems that your surgeon has no interest in providing this care, and he probably lacks Dr. O's skills and expertise when in comes to resolving problems with the Crystalens.  By all means, see another Crystalens surgeon!  I'm not convinced that you won't ultimately be happy with this IOL, with some adjustments by an expert.

[mmmmpppp]

I printed out a chart made for 20 feet and it also had another page with a 16" near chart.  You had to measure the size of the big E to verify its accuracy.  With this chart, I test exactly as in the office where they must be using a 10' chart.

Of course we only hear your side of it, but your doctor makes me sick.

Why are you hesitating?  Go to Dr. O or my doctor ASAP!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

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