eye exam and contact prescription question

[as985]

Hello,
I had my eyes examined today, and I visited a new doctor (I have moved since my last visit with my regular eye doctor). For the past 6 years my contact prescription has been -4.00 in my right eye, and my left eye has gone from a -1.75 to -2.00. The doctor did a refraction test (I think that is what it is called- it was a machine that i looked into with each eye for about 30 seconds each). When he examined my eyes visually he noted that they were irritated and very dry.
My exam did not go well- even with the different lenses infront of my eyes I could not read the bottom lines during the vision test. The doctor did the refraction test again. He said that my right eye was stronger than my left eye, which is opposite of anything that I have heard in all the years I have been wearing contacts and glasses. He seemed baffled and frusterated by the results of my  vision exam. He said he could not give me a prescription today, because my eyes were irritated. He did give me a trial pair of contacts, and said to come in next week for a follow up. The contacts he gave me were a prescription of -3.00 for my right eye, and -4.25 for my left eye. I mentioned to him that my right eye had been at -4.00 for the last 6 years, but he told me he couldn't get an accurate perscription strength today because of my eye irritation/ dry eyes.

I know that maybe my left eye could have gotten worse in the last year and a half, but is it odd for the doctor to give me a -3.00 contact for my right eye? Can having dry/irritated eyes greatly effect the prescription of contacts? The doctor also put some kind of yellow dye numbing eye drops in when he was looking at my eyes. I think these may have made my vision more blurry (I have never had those drops put in during an eye exam before). Should I go to my follow up appointment, or should I just go see a different doctor?  

I am now using Ssytane lubricant eye drops and Opti-Free rewetting drops to combat the dry eye problem.

Thank you for any input!

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

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[as985]

Thank you for your input Doctor.
I know my situation is not ideal. I did not mention in my original post, but in addition to the contacts I also went to the doctor to get a new eyeglass prescription (as my old pair are no longer wearable due to damage to one of the lenses). I would love to go w/o wearing contacts for 7-14 days. But until I get a new pair of eyeglasses that is not an option, at least for not when I am driving (I cannot see well enough to drive w/o glasses or contacts). I am only wearing my contacts when neccesary, and keeping my eyes as lubricated as I can. As soon as I do get a new pair of glasses I do intend to shelve the contacts for a while.

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

Your contacts are likely the cause of the eye irritation and the vision being down.  One approach that has proved successful for me is to leave the contacts out for 7-14 days then remeasure the eye for both glasses and contacts.

I really can't endorse the route you are taking.

JCH III MD

[as985]

Sorry! I just wanted to add that I do have an astigmatism in my right eye.

[as985]

I am uncertain about the terms I used. When I said "refraction test" I am referring to the computer like machine where they look at each eye for about 30 seconds. When I mentioned "vision test" I am referring to the part of the eye exam where the doctor says " Which is better? Lense one or lense two?".