Help me figure out this eye prescription

[8circles]

We found out DS3 needs glasses today and with all the questions I asked, I still didn't ask enough lol.  Can you help me figure out what this means?  The vision center is closed ATM so I can't ask them.

 

 

I don't understand the Cylinder entry for the right eye.  It looks like SPY or SP4 or something but I can't figure out what that means.

 

Thanks!

[Occasionally]

It says "SPH" It means there is no astigmatism in that eye. HTH http://www.gogglesnmore.com/what-does-sph-appearing-under-cylinder-on-my-prescription-mean/

[8circles]

It says "SPH" It means there is no astigmatism in that eye. HTH http://www.gogglesnmore.com/what-does-sph-appearing-under-cylinder-on-my-prescription-mean/

 

THANK YOU!  That seems too simple lol.  So simple I wouldn't have figured it out on my own.

 

Mystery solved! :)

[OneStepAtATime]

THANK YOU!  That seems too simple lol.  So simple I wouldn't have figured it out on my own.

 

Mystery solved! :)

:laugh:

[8circles]

Ugh.  Found a vision simulator to figure out what his vision might be like uncorrected - I've always had 20/20 so I was curious.  I feel bad.  I had suspicions about his vision but he never said anything about it & I never said anything about it because he is very suggestable.  Now I wish I had taken him in much sooner.

 

Feeling pretty crappy about it.

[Jan in SC]

Ugh. Found a vision simulator to figure out what his vision might be like uncorrected - I've always had 20/20 so I was curious. I feel bad. I had suspicions about his vision but he never said anything about it & I never said anything about it because he is very suggestable. Now I wish I had taken him in much sooner.

 

Feeling pretty crappy about it.

Unless I'm reading it wrong, those are very mild glasses. Don't they say +1.0? You certainly don't need to beat yourself up about that. When my ds was three, his was (and still is) +4, which still isn't that bad.

[8circles]

Unless I'm reading it wrong, those are very mild glasses. Don't they say +1.0? You certainly don't need to beat yourself up about that. When my ds was three, his was (and still is) +4, which still isn't that bad.

No, overall it isn't that bad. But the vision simulator makes it seem bad enough to me. I mean, he really can't see very well. He can't see the buttons on the remote. I guess I'm just realizing that I expected more than he possibly could have done, because he just couldn't see and I thought he could. I feel bad about that.

 

One eye is 20/60 and the other is 20/70 - which is on the low end of moderate vision impairment, so although it isn't that bad, it isn't that low either. Not to someone who has always been 20/20.

[vonfirmath]

My son (8 years old) just got his first glasses today.

 

I've had my eyes on his vision because I got my first glasses in 3rd grade and I still managed to be surprised. Last year, when I asked the nurse, he was fine. This year he failed the vision test at school the same week I'd become aware he couldn't see things I could.

 

 

He has -1.00 in one eye and -1.25 in the other. (DS under Cylinder for both)

 

I want to find this site you mention. My own prescription is -9-ish for both eyes so I'm beyond being able to go without glasses.

 

[8circles]

My son (8 years old) just got his first glasses today.

 

I've had my eyes on his vision because I got my first glasses in 3rd grade and I still managed to be surprised. Last year, when I asked the nurse, he was fine. This year he failed the vision test at school the same week I'd become aware he couldn't see things I could.

 

 

He has -1.00 in one eye and -1.25 in the other. (DS under Cylinder for both)

 

I want to find this site you mention. My own prescription is -9-ish for both eyes so I'm beyond being able to go without glasses.

This is the site:

http://www.billauer.co.il/simulator.html

 

Yes, I know what you mean.

 

For me, It isn't that I think OMG, he's blind. But I wish I hadn't pushed him as hard as I have, because he just cannot see (IMO) nearly as well as I can & he needed help, not harping. BTW, he never failed any eye test, he has been able to focus through enough to get by. I only took him in because he started complaining and using my readers for schoolwork. It was only through dilation that it showed-up. Now it's like - No wonder he has such trouble reading, he can't see clearly! No wonder his handwriting is atrocious - he can't see clearly!

 

Eta: ds3 is also 8

[vonfirmath]

!!I had not even thought of the affect on handwriting. It will be interesting to see!

 

[scoutingmom]

Well, my kids saw the eye doctor just yesterday, so I punched their prescription in there, and honestly I'm sure that simulator shows things much worse than it would be.   Now mind you I don't have my prescription to check if it does look like what I see.

 

But if it makes you 'feel better' - 2 of my kids have prescriptions that were too strong for the simulator....

 

My youngest first got glasses when she was about 18 months.  One of the things that I had noticed, the optician (when getting her glasses filled) said was definitely from her eyesight.  Anytime there was a transition in the floor, say in colour or something, she would hesitate before crossing.   My dh was not convinced about glasses that young (although it was obvious there was a problem) because he couldn't see how they could possibly figure out a prescription, and that she wouldn't be able to say if it was wrong or something.  (I told him the procedure, and that even if it wasn't a perfect procedure - that if it was close (and not in a way to make it worse) that it had to be better.   Well, on the day she had her glasses and had been wearing them for a bit - he had us take them off for a 'rest' from them and we went to the park.  Well, she was playing, and there was a shadow from a tree making a line in the grass (and she was on the other side from where we were sitting, with the other kids.)   She wouldn't cross the line to come to us... she was playing but then wanted to come to us, but was stopping at the shadow.    I mentioned the conversation with the optician, so he said - 'ok, put her glasses on'.   So I went over to her and put her glasses on.... and she was playing, and would cross the shadow no problem.   He was convinced.

 

So - not sure you wanted to hear all that - but I have some big doubts about that simulator, and I wouldn't beat yourself up for not finding problems that had a light prescription...

 

[8circles]

Well, my kids saw the eye doctor just yesterday, so I punched their prescription in there, and honestly I'm sure that simulator shows things much worse than it would be.   Now mind you I don't have my prescription to check if it does look like what I see.

 

But if it makes you 'feel better' - 2 of my kids have prescriptions that were too strong for the simulator....

 

My youngest first got glasses when she was about 18 months.  One of the things that I had noticed, the optician (when getting her glasses filled) said was definitely from her eyesight.  Anytime there was a transition in the floor, say in colour or something, she would hesitate before crossing.   My dh was not convinced about glasses that young (although it was obvious there was a problem) because he couldn't see how they could possibly figure out a prescription, and that she wouldn't be able to say if it was wrong or something.  (I told him the procedure, and that even if it wasn't a perfect procedure - that if it was close (and not in a way to make it worse) that it had to be better.   Well, on the day she had her glasses and had been wearing them for a bit - he had us take them off for a 'rest' from them and we went to the park.  Well, she was playing, and there was a shadow from a tree making a line in the grass (and she was on the other side from where we were sitting, with the other kids.)   She wouldn't cross the line to come to us... she was playing but then wanted to come to us, but was stopping at the shadow.    I mentioned the conversation with the optician, so he said - 'ok, put her glasses on'.   So I went over to her and put her glasses on.... and she was playing, and would cross the shadow no problem.   He was convinced.

 

So - not sure you wanted to hear all that - but I have some big doubts about that simulator, and I wouldn't beat yourself up for not finding problems that had a light prescription...

 

IDK.  You could be right about the simulator.  It did seem to be accurate regarding which lines he could read & which he couldn't, so I'm inclined to believe it's at least close.

 

It's not so much an I should have known, more of a I thought there was something but I didn't think it was so significant, so I waited.  I shouldn't have waited & should have trusted my gut.

 

I'm always amazed when I see little ones with glasses - how do they diagnose?  

 

ETA:  I also found it interesting that when DS3 looked at the screen (so the simulated blurry on the left & clear on the right) he said both sides looked almost the same.

[OneStepAtATime]

:grouphug:  :grouphug:  :grouphug:

 

DD didn't complain about eye sight much but she did start getting some headaches.  Then one day (not too terribly long ago) she was watching TV with DH.  He asked her about some text on the screen.  She couldn't read it.  He thought she was joking.  She wasn't joking.  I took her in.  Astigmatism and near sighted.  The eye doctor said she had probably needed glasses for at least 2-3 years.  Total Mom fail.  Ugh!

[Junie]

Dd5 just got her second pair of bi-focals this week.  The doctor is still tweaking her prescription because it is too strong to give her all at once.

 

Dd7 just got her glasses last year.  I had no idea that she needed glasses.  (I took her for an eye exam because we got vision insurance last year.)  Without glasses, she can read the big E and then only one of the two letters on the second line.   :svengo:

 

And a few years ago, I couldn't figure out why dd11 could tell time in her workbook, but not a real clock.  I didn't realize that she couldn't see the real clock.

 

Don't feel bad, OP.  You are not alone.

[Junie]

Here is a different vision simulator:

 

http://eyedock.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73&Itemid=65

 

 

[scoutingmom]

 

 

I'm always amazed when I see little ones with glasses - how do they diagnose?

 

 

Well, obviously I don't know the details, just what I observed. And it was a few years ago (she is 5 now)....

 

He looked at her eyes.... I think he had her look at a few things in a book (I think the 3 D test.... touch the butterflies wings.). I am trying to remember if he projected pictures for her to identify that would be similar to reading letters. Then they put drops in her eyes to dialate them (they obviously sting... the room they put the drops in always ends up with crying kids....) and you wait for a while.

 

Then we went back in the room, and he looked through her eyes through various lenses with a light... I think to get the prescription the light has to focus correctly through the lense onto the back of the eyes.....

 

I assume the real babies mostly just get the drops and exam through lenses.

 

And with the strength of my dd's prescription, she has always (after a day or 2) happily worn her glasses. It was harder with my son who got glasses at age 3 and has a weaker prescription.... and harder for the other dd who got glasses at 5 or 6 with a weak (for us) prescription... she is horrible at wearing hers! (And to round it out, yet another dd doesn't need glasses - only one in the family!

 

Sent from my SM-T530NU using Tapatalk

[Kiara.I]

I'm always amazed when I see little ones with glasses - how do they diagnose?  

 

I can't tell you that, fully.  But I can tell you *some* of what they did during the eye exams on my 6-8 month olds (age of first exam varied from child to child.)

 

There was a bunch of looking at them through lenses while the opt. waved light-up shiny toys around and watched baby follow them around.  I'm sure the lenses do all kinds of cool stuff I can't identify.  LOL

 

But the part that I found the coolest was to replace the letter chart, or even a picture chart, with a pre-verbal baby.  The have tan-coloured rectangles that are much like dominoes in shape.  They're positioned vertically.  Each one has a picture on it, on either the top half or the bottom half, in white.  They can tell if baby sees the picture because their eyes focus more on the half that has the picture, versus wandering around over the rectangle and looking away.  Naturally, which half has the picture changes from board to board.

 

And, the size of the line changes.  They start with very thick, clear lines.  Then the next board's lines get thinner, and then thinner, much like the letter chart gets smaller.  They see at what point baby stops seeing the pictures.

[jenn-]

Is it sad that my prescription is beyond the limits of the simulator (at least the first one I can't get the second to load on my phone)

[catz]

Every parent who has kids with glasses has this moment of why didn't I notice this sooner.  BOTH my kid's first prescriptions were considerably worse than that.  Kids are adaptive and flexible and I really don't think they're scarred.  It's not like they wake up one day and go from 20/20 to 20/60.  It will make a difference once he has them.  I got my first glasses at 8 and I can remember the feeling when they put them on.  VISION.  Before that I thought it was stupid they thought I needed glasses.  It is not a big deal to the kids.  Both my kids have way worse eyes than me too.  I don't typically bother with a correction.

[vonfirmath]

Is it sad that my prescription is beyond the limits of the simulator (at least the first one I can't get the second to load on my phone)

 

Yep. Mine is beyond the limits as well.

[MyThreeSons]

Ugh.  Found a vision simulator to figure out what his vision might be like uncorrected - I've always had 20/20 so I was curious.  I feel bad.  I had suspicions about his vision but he never said anything about it & I never said anything about it because he is very suggestable.  Now I wish I had taken him in much sooner.

 

Feeling pretty crappy about it.

 

This is a very mild prescription. 

 

My youngest son's prescription is -18.00, -15.50  

 

And even with that correction, he cannot pass the DMV vision test.

[umsami]

Has your DS been complaining?

 

Did you see a pediatric ophthalmologist?

 

The reason I ask is because 1 diopter is a very mild Rx.  When DH was an ophthalmology resident, a lot of them used to moonlight at optical shops on the weekends.  The owners would pressure them to write a Rx...any Rx...go up .25 of a diopter or whatever...just so the person would buy glasses (where they make their big bucks).

 

From the AAPOS: "Glasses are rarely needed if the far-sightedness is less than +1.00 or even +2.00. When an excessive amount of far-sightedness is present, the focusing muscles may not be able to keep the vision clear. As a result of this, problems such as crossing of the eyes, blurred vision, or discomfort may develop. A prescription for"

 

If your son has been complaining, then consider getting a pair through Zenni or someplace similar, but don't shell out big bucks until you find out if they make a difference.

 

I had strabismus and amblyopia as a kid. This was in the days before auto refractors, and I remember basically looking at shining lights and a Mickey Mouse for the diagnosis.  LOL  Ended up -9.5 in both eyes before I had LASIK.  Now, ten years later, I'm about -2.0 but I still have a nasty astigmatism.  

[8circles]

Yes, he's been complaining. He has trouble with reading & needs the screens magnified %200 for online work. He's been using my readers for ooother schoolwork. I know it's mild for the big wide world of vision loss, but he can't see well enough without glasses.

(I don't know all the correct terms, bead with me)

The first appt showed mild blurriness and the verdict was no glasses - its within the range of normal and he'll probably outgrow it. Because he's been complaining during schoolwork, we were offered another appt with dilation. That is when the more substantial issue showed up.

 

I know that the fact that I'm calling this substantial and significant makes some people think I'm overreacting, but if my kid can only see the top 3 lines on the eye chart, then I can't really expect him to read well,can I? That's a big deal to me. Had I known, lots of things would have been different.

 

Has your DS been complaining?

 

Did you see a pediatric ophthalmologist?

 

The reason I ask is because 1 diopter is a very mild Rx. When DH was an ophthalmology resident, a lot of them used to moonlight at optical shops on the weekends. The owners would pressure them to write a Rx...any Rx...go up .25 of a diopter or whatever...just so the person would buy glasses (where they make their big bucks).

 

From the AAPOS: "Glasses are rarely needed if the far-sightedness is less than +1.00 or even +2.00. When an excessive amount of far-sightedness is present, the focusing muscles may not be able to keep the vision clear. As a result of this, problems such as crossing of the eyes, blurred vision, or discomfort may develop. A prescription for"

 

If your son has been complaining, then consider getting a pair through Zenni or someplace similar, but don't shell out big bucks until you find out if they make a difference.

 

I had strabismus and amblyopia as a kid. This was in the days before auto refractors, and I remember basically looking at shining lights and a Mickey Mouse for the diagnosis. LOL Ended up -9.5 in both eyes before I had LASIK. Now, ten years later, I'm about -2.0 but I still have a nasty astigmatism.

[Jan in SC]

Yes, he's been complaining. He has trouble with reading & needs the screens magnified %200 for online work. He's been using my readers for ooother schoolwork. I know it's mild for the big wide world of vision loss, but he can't see well enough without glasses.

(I don't know all the correct terms, bead with me)

The first appt showed mild blurriness and the verdict was no glasses - its within the range of normal and he'll probably outgrow it. Because he's been complaining during schoolwork, we were offered another appt with dilation. That is when the more substantial issue showed up.

 

I know that the fact that I'm calling this substantial and significant makes some people think I'm overreacting, but if my kid can only see the top 3 lines on the eye chart, then I can't really expect him to read well,can I? That's a big deal to me. Had I known, lots of things would have been different.

 

 

Something doesn't add up with this. (I don't mean what you're telling us.) Have you seen a pediatric optholomologist? That level of vision shouldn't only be able to see the top three lines. I think I would push for more investigation. I completely believe you, I'm just concerned that there might be some other issue. Either way, I'm glad the glasses are helping!

[MyThreeSons]

The "plus" in his prescription should indicate that he is mildly farsighted, which means that he could be having trouble reading, but is able to see farther away fine. I'm surprised that you say he could only see the top three lines. 

 

Another recommendation for a doctor who specializes in working with children. And it doesn't necessarily need to be an ophthalmologist -- optometrists do an excellent job of prescribing lenses. We were pleasantly surprised when the specialist ophthalmologist my son saw this Summer for his rare eye condition candidly told us that the optometrist would do a better job prescribing his glasses. The M.D. was the right one for part of the appointment, but the O.D. was the best for the glasses fitting. 

[8circles]

OK.  I hear what you're saying.  I may not have been clear enough or maybe it doesn't matter, but instead of saying he could only see the top lines, I should have said he could only READ the top lines.  Does that make a difference?  Even the top lines while reading the chart, he called 'D' an 'O' and a couple other mistakes.

 

This was just at an optometrist - although with a very good reputation here.  We don't have vision insurance ATM because nobody else needs glasses but we'll get it ASAP and take him for a full eye health/vision assessment.  

 

Something doesn't add up with this. (I don't mean what you're telling us.) Have you seen a pediatric optholomologist? That level of vision shouldn't only be able to see the top three lines. I think I would push for more investigation. I completely believe you, I'm just concerned that there might be some other issue. Either way, I'm glad the glasses are helping!

 

 

The "plus" in his prescription should indicate that he is mildly farsighted, which means that he could be having trouble reading, but is able to see farther away fine. I'm surprised that you say he could only see the top three lines. 

 

Another recommendation for a doctor who specializes in working with children. And it doesn't necessarily need to be an ophthalmologist -- optometrists do an excellent job of prescribing lenses. We were pleasantly surprised when the specialist ophthalmologist my son saw this Summer for his rare eye condition candidly told us that the optometrist would do a better job prescribing his glasses. The M.D. was the right one for part of the appointment, but the O.D. was the best for the glasses fitting. 

 

[MyThreeSons]

OK.  I hear what you're saying.  I may not have been clear enough or maybe it doesn't matter, but instead of saying he could only see the top lines, I should have said he could only READ the top lines.  Does that make a difference?  Even the top lines while reading the chart, he called 'D' an 'O' and a couple other mistakes.

 

This was just at an optometrist - although with a very good reputation here.  We don't have vision insurance ATM because nobody else needs glasses but we'll get it ASAP and take him for a full eye health/vision assessment.  

 

I was not differentiating between "see" and "read" the top three lines. The "D" versus "O" mistakes are not uncommon. I wouldn't count that as "not reading" if he got other letters on that line correct. The whole process of reading the charts isn't as simple as it sounds on the surface. 

 

And please don't say "just an optometrist". An optometrist is a very highly qualified medical professional with respect to eyes. An optometrist has an undergraduate degree, and then spends four more years in Optometry school focused (no pun intended) on eyes. Many optometrists do further postgraduate residency studies in an optometric subspecialty, such as contact lenses, vision therapy, pediatric optometry, etc. Within my own family, we have had several critical diagnoses made by an optometrist. An optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist if needed. 

[8circles]

I was not differentiating between "see" and "read" the top three lines. The "D" versus "O" mistakes are not uncommon. I wouldn't count that as "not reading" if he got other letters on that line correct. The whole process of reading the charts isn't as simple as it sounds on the surface. 

 

And please don't say "just an optometrist". An optometrist is a very highly qualified medical professional with respect to eyes. An optometrist has an undergraduate degree, and then spends four more years in Optometry school focused (no pun intended) on eyes. Many optometrists do further postgraduate residency studies in an optometric subspecialty, such as contact lenses, vision therapy, pediatric optometry, etc. Within my own family, we have had several critical diagnoses made by an optometrist. An optometrist will refer you to an ophthalmologist if needed. 

 

No offense meant at all by the "just" an optometrist.  I just meant as opposed to anything more specialized as has been suggested that we need. 

 

ETA:  That particular post was a re-type after I lost a much longer, detailed one.  So I was frustrated & just trying to get it posted.

[MyThreeSons]

I should have added: Every optometrist we have seen screens for glaucoma, dilates the eyes to examine the retinas and other internal structures of the eyes, and takes an overall health history. We have also had optometrists perform a full field of vision test, and take a photo/map of the retina, neither of which has ever been done by an ophthalmologist. 

[8circles]

I should have added: Every optometrist we have seen screens for glaucoma, dilates the eyes to examine the retinas and other internal structures of the eyes, and takes an overall health history. We have also had optometrists perform a full field of vision test, and take a photo/map of the retina, neither of which has ever been done by an ophthalmologist. 

 

Yes, I thought that was standard for optometrists.  Isn't it?

[MyThreeSons]

No offense meant at all by the "just" an optometrist.  I just meant as opposed to anything more specialized as has been suggested that we need. 

 

ETA:  That particular post was a re-type after I lost a much longer, detailed one.  So I was frustrated & just trying to get it posted.

 

No offense taken. It's just that so many people think of optometrists as less than what they are. When it comes to fitting lenses, I'll take an optometrist over an ophthalmologist. 

 

With a young child, I would be much more concerned with the specialty of "pediatric" rather than "ophthalmologist". There are so many things that go into fitting lenses for a child that are different than working with adults. While there is certainly no implication that someone who hasn't done a pediatric specialty doesn't like children or doesn't work well with children, someone who has done a pediatric specialty is much more likely to be especially geared toward working with children. 

[umsami]

Yes, he's been complaining. He has trouble with reading & needs the screens magnified %200 for online work. He's been using my readers for ooother schoolwork. I know it's mild for the big wide world of vision loss, but he can't see well enough without glasses.

(I don't know all the correct terms, bead with me)

The first appt showed mild blurriness and the verdict was no glasses - its within the range of normal and he'll probably outgrow it. Because he's been complaining during schoolwork, we were offered another appt with dilation. That is when the more substantial issue showed up.

 

I know that the fact that I'm calling this substantial and significant makes some people think I'm overreacting, but if my kid can only see the top 3 lines on the eye chart, then I can't really expect him to read well,can I? That's a big deal to me. Had I known, lots of things would have been different.

 

 

Honestly, what you're describing does not go with his Rx. I really think you should ask for a referral to a pediatric ophthalmologist. 

 

As for optometrists vs. ophthalmologists, usually optometrists do have more experience with fitting glasses and contact lenses.  Usually very little time is spent on fitting glasses/contact lenses during an ophthalmology residency.  The focus is on diseases, medical management, and surgery.  That's why many ophthalmologists employ optometrists within their practice.  Pediatric ophthalmologists often employ pediatric optometrist who have done additional training after their O.D. degree.   However in terms of diagnosing, medically managing, and surgically treating eye issues, that's where you want an ophthalmologist.   

 

DH is an ophthalmologist, but when I needed glasses, he sent me to an OD he liked at Costco. 

[8circles]

Good information, thanks.  I will look into the pediatric something.  I really appreciate all the advice, guys.