Need help with ordering glasses (astigmatism issue)

[zakf]

I am 27 years old. Here is my refraction as determined 3 months ago:
* As manifested during regular check-up:
OD: -5.25, -1.00 cyl, 5° axis
OS: -5.25, -1.25 cyl, 170° axis
* In cycloplegia:
OD: -5.00, -1.25 cyl, 175° axis
OS: -5.50, -1.00 cyl, 177° axis

Six months ago I went to an eye doctor just to determine my refraction, and she prescribed me with this:
OD: -5.25, -0.75 cyl, 180° axis
OS: -5.25, -0.75 cyl, 180° axis
I think she did a really bad job there, because I afterwards ordered glasses from Mister Spex based on her prescription and had to return them as they were too strong and my head ached the moment I put them on. :(

I currently wear contacts 90% of the day:
OD: -5.00 sph, -1.25 cyl, 10° axis
OS: -5.00 sph, -1.25 cyl, 170° axis
They're alright but not perfect, I can't see sharply with them, but I don't really care to have 20/20 vision.

At home/at night, I wear my 3 years old pair of glasses for which I have no idea what the refraction is.

I would like to order a new pair of glasses. Can you please help me with choosing the most appropriate prescription? I don't know which values for astigmatism should be used. Also, is 5° axis for the right eye compared to 175° in cycloplegia only 10° difference (seeing as 180° is max) or is it a 170° difference? Sorry if the question is silly... I'd just like to know how much of a mistake I can make when choosing one of those values...

Sorry for the lenghtly question... Thank you for your help!

K

[KayakerNC]

If money is an issue, you may want to see if you have a Walmart Store with a vision center nearby.  

[JohnHaganMD]

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[chazas]

I've had great luck with Internet glasses. You need to be comfortable with your refraction first, though. I don't think you can just guess what's wrong with the current one. Get a new refraction from a different optometrist.

[JohnHaganMD]

Gambling is all about luck. Some have good luck; many not so much. We are willing to stand behind any glasses RX from our office even if purchased for any area optician or chain. We won't even exam an internet pair of glasses or adjust them since we have had so much problem with people bringing them in.

[chazas]

I understand your position, but it's hard not to gamble given the cost difference.  I bought one pair of progressive glasses from my eye doctor's practice.  I subsequently bought over the internet 4 extra pairs of progressive glasses and 2 pairs of prescription progressive sunglasses for less than the cost of the one set I bought from the eye doctor.  One of them didn't work right and i returned it.  They said the prescription was correct, so I chalked it up to the lens being too short for the progressive corridor and replaced that pair with a different style, which is fine.  Even if I had completely lost out on that one I would be way ahead.

[JohnHaganMD]

Understand. New attachments to iphones will allow you to refract yourself at home and order directly from the internet. Of course you have had a refraction, of sorts, but not a medical eye exam.

[JohnHaganMD]

No can't help you.  Don't believe in internet glasses PLUS when you wear contacts it causes the glasses RX to change and often not see well.

[zakf]

As much as I would love to not have to ask the internet and just go and get it done and over with, where I live, both the doctor's check-up and glasses are quite expensive, and while I can't really afford them right now, I need a proper pair of glasses to wear at home when my eyes get tired of contacts...

[JohnHaganMD]

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