Quick question - Eye glasses

[Ringr]

Hey guys,

I'm sure a few of you have gotten your vision tested before (not really for "health" reasons but for vision tests - to see if you need glasses). Anyways, over the past few years my eyesight has gotten a bit bad, I used to have 20/20 vision and now I can see about an arm-length ahead of me, crisply.

Basically what I want to know is: what is the precedure for getting glasses?
Do you just do a chart test from a distance, or do they give you eyedrops or what?

I am a bit confused on how you get them and how they determine what lens size you need.

Please help,
Thanks;
Andy M.

 

[Killmur]

Forgive my blatant humor but uh are you walking into things now?

 

[Jammer]

You do the chart tests.Then they get you to look through a contraption and test you with various lenses to see which one makes you see the clearest.Then they write you a prescription or fit you for them on the premises if they sell glasses themselves.

 

[Humdizzy]

Get contacts. Lot better. I made the switch.

 

[spy69]

heheh i know i need glasses but no glasses for me.

 

[andum]

Hard to believe that you have never had an eye exam before

Eye exams now typically include the use of dilating drops in order to evaluate the health of your eye. It sounds like you are mildly myopic (nearsighted) and maybe astigmatic - easy to assess. Glasses or contact lenses are an option. Most communities have a number of optometrists - look in the phone book or search here: Optometrist locator

 

[Chris]

Andy, it's a real easy and painless process to get glasses or contacts. I have had glasses for about 5 years or so but have only wore them a handful of times as I have contacts. I just have the glasses for backup in case my eyes are bothering me from my contacts, etc.

I had an eye exam about 4 months ago and here was the procedure for mine (although I'm sure all places vary with their steps and procedures):

1) I had to put my chin up on a device that had a flashing dot where I had to hit a button everytime it flashed. It would flash all around the screen, however I could not move my eyes, I had to just look forward.

2) Next I had to put my chin up on a device that had a light and there was a light puff of air that was shot into each eye which dialated them a little bit.

3) Then I was taken back to the exam room where the doctor had me put my chin and forehead up to another machine where she could view my eyes and I had to roll them around so she could check for stigmatisms, etc.

4) Next I had to look through a device where there was various amount of lenses she would switch and I had to look at a chart from the distance and let her know which lense were more clear #1 or #2 each time. She would keep switching the lenses and I had to keep saying until it could not get anymore clear.

5) Once they find the strength that is most clear and best for you then you will have to read off all of the letters and numbers and go until you can't read the smallest.

6) She wrote me up a presciption and I was done.

However, I'd suggest getting contacts though, as it doesn't take no more than a few days to get use to them and they are so much easier than having glasses on your face all day. I've been wearing contacts for 6+ years with no problems at all.

If you choose glasses then you will be able to through and try on glasses you like and pick which ones you like out. Then they will make sure they fit you properly and you will probably have to go back in a few days to pick them up after they've put the lenses of your strength in the frames. :gl:

Best of luck with your eye exam, it's not bad at all. :tu:

 

[merlix]

I highly recommend Lasix. I had 20/500 vision and had Lasix 3 years ago and love it. I can now see what I wash when I am in the shower

Cost: $2000

 

[ZuraX]

Chris sounds like what happened to me the last time. I went to WalMart because they was the cheapest at the time. They could have gave me the glasses within a few hours but I couldnt afford to pay it off at once. I paid half that day then when I got the rest went it to get them.

Theres a few places that give glasses in an hour too.

I would love to have Lasix donr but cant afford it plus am scared in a few years they will find something wrong with having it done. Its not that old really...

 

[andum]

To clarify:
1) below was probably a visual fields test
2) below is a glaucoma test - it does not dilate your pupils
3) below sounds like a slit lamp exam = a microscope that is used to assess the anterior portion of your eye and lids
4) below is the test for myopia, astigmatism, etc.

Andy, it's a real easy and painless process to get glasses or contacts. I have had glasses for about 5 years or so but have only wore them a handful of times as I have contacts. I just have the glasses for backup in case my eyes are bothering me from my contacts, etc.

I had an eye exam about 4 months ago and here was the procedure for mine (although I'm sure all places vary with their steps and procedures):

1) I had to put my chin up on a device that had a flashing dot where I had to hit a button everytime it flashed. It would flash all around the screen, however I could not move my eyes, I had to just look forward.

2) Next I had to put my chin up on a device that had a light and there was a light puff of air that was shot into each eye which dialated them a little bit.

3) Then I was taken back to the exam room where the doctor had me put my chin and forehead up to another machine where she could view my eyes and I had to roll them around so she could check for stigmatisms, etc.

4) Next I had to look through a device where there was various amount of lenses she would switch and I had to look at a chart from the distance and let her know which lense were more clear #1 or #2 each time. She would keep switching the lenses and I had to keep saying until it could not get anymore clear.

5) Once they find the strength that is most clear and best for you then you will have to read off all of the letters and numbers and go until you can't read the smallest.

6) She wrote me up a presciption and I was done.

However, I'd suggest getting contacts though, as it doesn't take no more than a few days to get use to them and they are so much easier than having glasses on your face all day. I've been wearing contacts for 6+ years with no problems at all.

If you choose glasses then you will be able to through and try on glasses you like and pick which ones you like out. Then they will make sure they fit you properly and you will probably have to go back in a few days to pick them up after they've put the lenses of your strength in the frames. :gl:

Best of luck with your eye exam, it's not bad at all. :tu:

 

[True_Snake]

It's a VERY easy thing. I hated it when my optometrist put his flashlight in my eye and expected me not to close it :D !

:bah:

They'll just test various lenses, ask you which ones you can see better through; "Lens 1 or 3, 1 or 3?" . And then a prescription if you need glasses.

Good Luck Andy :tu: !


True_Snake

 

[Chris]

To clarify:
1) below was probably a visual fields test
2) below is a glaucoma test - it does not dilate your pupils
3) below sounds like a slit lamp exam = a microscope that is used to assess the anterior portion of your eye and lids
4) below is the test for myopia, astigmatism, etc.

Thanks for the clarifications. I just gave the basics of the procedures, didn't really think the names were too overly important as long as he knows the general procedure of the exam. :D

By the way Andy, I just noticed it's your birthday today ~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Edit: I just found you a nice page from the MayoClinic that outlines all of the procedures very nicely. I'm sure it does a better job explaining everything fully than any of us could do here unless there's an optometrist mixed in the community here. The link is, http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=MC00021 :tu:

 

[ZuraX]

Happy Birthday!

 

[Ringr]

Hey guys,

I just wanted to thank ALL of you for your help.
I personally read each and every responce and spent a decent amount of time learning some new information from this topic, as well as the links you have provided and such.

--Regarding the eyeglasses--
I guess the only thing I am a bit 'squeemish' about is getting my pupils dialated. I have a very hard time handling it when 'foreign' things get in my eye (even water in the shower irritates them badly).

I plan on going to the Wal Mart vision center on Sunday possibly to get frames. Has anyone other than Zurax used them, and know how similiar their vision checking procedure is, compared to the others that some people have posted?

Oh and also: do they make "aviator" styled eyeglasses? I've always liked the aviator style, it appeals to me a lot - I hope that doesn't sound stupid. :P
-- --

Once again, I took time to read each one of your responces and I appreciate all of the help you have all given me. I would like to give each and every one of you a personal thank you but it would take probably a half hour to type all of that out - but believe me, you all have helped out.

Thank you for the "Happy Birthday" wishes as well. Believe it or not yesterday (well, unless you're in the "Mountain time zone" or behind that) and I had a wonderful birthday. I got some new 'high definition sunglasses' (which actually are pretty amazing) and I got a book called "The Purpose Driven Life" (a NYT Bestseller).

I didn't expect everyone to be so sincere and helpful like you all have been!
Thanks everyone once again!
A big from me -Andy M.

 

[snareklutz]

I highly recommend Lasix. I had 20/500 vision and had Lasix 3 years ago and love it. I can now see what I wash when I am in the shower

Cost: $2000

Isn't it lasik, not lasix?

 

[Chris]

I plan on going to the Wal Mart vision center on Sunday possibly to get frames. Has anyone other than Zurax used them, and know how similiar their vision checking procedure is, compared to the others that some people have posted?

Hi Andy,

I've been to Wal-Mart Vision Center a couple of times in the past for exams and was where I went for my last exam 4 months ago. They are a great place to go to and very reasonable on everything. I believe it was $67.00 for an exam when I went, but I may be wrong.

Chris :talk:

 

[StudioWorks]

I got tested 2 weeks ago - No need for glasses, not yet anyway :D

 

[Killmur]

Well my eye site seems worse at night while on the road. I can barely see the wording on the signs unless their close enough. Kinda sounds like I am a little farsighted though.

 

[DN Tycoon]

Eye exams now typically include the use of dilating drops in order to evaluate the health of your eye. It sounds like you are mildly myopic (nearsighted) and maybe astigmatic - easy to assess. Glasses or contact lenses are an option. Most communities have a number of optometrists - look in the phone book or search here: Optometrist locator

How could you posibble tell that from his post? lol

Well my eye site seems worse at night while on the road. I can barely see the wording on the signs unless their close enough. Kinda sounds like I am a little farsighted though.

Farsighted is not being able to see things upclose like the words in a book...nearsighted is not being able to see things from a distant.

 

[Killmur]

I new I had that wrong. Thanx for correction.