I think I need computer glasses
April 23, 2008 9:48 AM Subscribe
I suspect I need computer glasses, but want to solve a few problems from the last time.
Me: 32, heavy computer user, female (and in Minneapolis).
I had computer glasses 4 years ago (one eye's slightly nearsighted with an astigmatism). I stopped using them after a while (and my eyes did not object, and they were lost sometime in 3 subsequent moves) but recently, I've had problems again (headache, blurriness, etc.) that suggest a new exam would be a good move.
Question 1: How to get more info out of the exam.
I'm an info geek: I feel much happier when I can get more details and information about what's going on. The last time I had an eye exam (yes, 4 years ago), I felt brushed off several times, and got hurried through parts of it. I don't think the exam was badly done, but I'd really like to have a better conversation about it this time.
How do I best make that clear at the start of the appointment? I do this fine with doctors, but the same methods haven't worked on eye exams (one previous bout in college, too) so I'm wondering if there's some phrasing I'm missing.
Question 2: Actual frame/lens choices
I want to get the prescription from the clinic eye doctor (for various reasons, so it's also part of my medical files) but shop for frames elsewhere (partly so friends can join me and help with choices.) Last time, they gave me a fairly hard sell about this. Any good phrasings to avoid this?
Also, given this (computer use, probably a lot of up and down action), what lens treatments do I really care about that will make a big difference to comfort/ease of use? (Budget's a concern, so I want things that really help, not just are cool.)
Question 3: The practical stuff.
I'm a librarian, so there's a lot of computer work, but also a lot of getting up and looking at a shelf, or talking to someone. My last prescription made people slightly blurry at 'across the desk' distance. I had a bad choice between leaving the glasses on (blurry people) and taking them off (but risking scratches or damage) as my desk is in the main high school library area and people are often by my desk.
Do I want a glasses chain? Any recommendations? I don't care hugely about appearance (beyond 'simple', 'secure', and 'comes in black or blue if there are colors involved') but a lot more about practical issues (Are they secure? Will I have issues if I'm also wearing a necklace or earrings?)
Also, general tips on this kind of use, and what makes life easier for you would be quite welcome. I'm the kind of person where wearing them all the time would actually be quite a bit easier for me, but I don't know if that's a practical prescription.
Are there things I don't know to ask?
Me: 32, heavy computer user, female (and in Minneapolis).
I had computer glasses 4 years ago (one eye's slightly nearsighted with an astigmatism). I stopped using them after a while (and my eyes did not object, and they were lost sometime in 3 subsequent moves) but recently, I've had problems again (headache, blurriness, etc.) that suggest a new exam would be a good move.
Question 1: How to get more info out of the exam.
I'm an info geek: I feel much happier when I can get more details and information about what's going on. The last time I had an eye exam (yes, 4 years ago), I felt brushed off several times, and got hurried through parts of it. I don't think the exam was badly done, but I'd really like to have a better conversation about it this time.
How do I best make that clear at the start of the appointment? I do this fine with doctors, but the same methods haven't worked on eye exams (one previous bout in college, too) so I'm wondering if there's some phrasing I'm missing.
Question 2: Actual frame/lens choices
I want to get the prescription from the clinic eye doctor (for various reasons, so it's also part of my medical files) but shop for frames elsewhere (partly so friends can join me and help with choices.) Last time, they gave me a fairly hard sell about this. Any good phrasings to avoid this?
Also, given this (computer use, probably a lot of up and down action), what lens treatments do I really care about that will make a big difference to comfort/ease of use? (Budget's a concern, so I want things that really help, not just are cool.)
Question 3: The practical stuff.
I'm a librarian, so there's a lot of computer work, but also a lot of getting up and looking at a shelf, or talking to someone. My last prescription made people slightly blurry at 'across the desk' distance. I had a bad choice between leaving the glasses on (blurry people) and taking them off (but risking scratches or damage) as my desk is in the main high school library area and people are often by my desk.
Do I want a glasses chain? Any recommendations? I don't care hugely about appearance (beyond 'simple', 'secure', and 'comes in black or blue if there are colors involved') but a lot more about practical issues (Are they secure? Will I have issues if I'm also wearing a necklace or earrings?)
Also, general tips on this kind of use, and what makes life easier for you would be quite welcome. I'm the kind of person where wearing them all the time would actually be quite a bit easier for me, but I don't know if that's a practical prescription.
Are there things I don't know to ask?
I want to get the prescription from the clinic eye doctor (for various reasons, so it's also part of my medical files) but shop for frames elsewhere (partly so friends can join me and help with choices.) Last time, they gave me a fairly hard sell about this. Any good phrasings to avoid this?
"I'm in a bit of a rush, and I like to really take my time when selecting something to make part of my face. Can I just get the script for now?"
posted by Tomorrowful at 9:56 AM on April 23, 2008
"I'm in a bit of a rush, and I like to really take my time when selecting something to make part of my face. Can I just get the script for now?"
posted by Tomorrowful at 9:56 AM on April 23, 2008
It's been my experience, too, that my eye exams (whether optometrist or ophthalmologist) have been short on time, caring, and information, and long on salesmanship. It's a pity, because an eye exam ought to be patient-oriented, just like any other medical specialty, and the availability of frames and lenses ought to be for the patient's convenience, not for the doc's new vacation home and boat. The professions are getting a bad reputation.
posted by exphysicist345 at 10:31 AM on April 23, 2008
posted by exphysicist345 at 10:31 AM on April 23, 2008
In terms of going elsewhere for frames, I think the biggest thing to remember is that you are a customer. Think of them like you'd think of, say, one of those folks selling magazines door-to-door, or a used car salesman, or what have you. Sure they're going to give you a hard sale - it's nothing personal, that's just their job. But that doesn't mean you're under any obligation to yield to that hard sale - being firm about what you want and what you'd prefer to get elsewhere is - again - nothing personal, doesn't mean you're a bad person, and is certainly well within your rights as a customer. If you're a bit of a 'softie' when it comes to hard sells, perhaps you can take a friend along who is a bit more comfortable saying 'thanks but no thanks' on your behalf? Sometimes having a little extra support helps me out a lot, I find.
As for getting more out of the exam itself: while again I think it comes down to being firm with what you want, one thing I've found helpful in the past has been to bring along a steno pad on which I've made a list of questions I'd like answered. For some reason that helps me feel more "legitimate" - with notepad and pen in hand, I feel like I'm signaling that a) I'm not just asking on the spur of the moment just for the heck of it, and that b) I've taken the time to prepare and therefore am serious about getting answers. If you have a list that you can just check off as things get answered, it makes it a little easier (for me, anyway) to politely refuse the brushoff - "Okay, that's great, thanks - oh, before I go it looks like I've still got two open questions I wanted to check with you on?" Of course you're still free to come up with new questions while you're there, but if it were me I'd write them down as they occurred to me, again to make sure they get answered - that's helped me out in many a situation.
Finally, as for what to get - the thing I couldn't do without on my lenses is the anti-reflective coating, I spend a lot of time in front of a computer, too, and it really is amazing how much that stuff cuts down on the glare. Not sure what else you need but I'd certainly cast my vote for the anti-glare goodness.
posted by zeph at 10:45 AM on April 23, 2008
As for getting more out of the exam itself: while again I think it comes down to being firm with what you want, one thing I've found helpful in the past has been to bring along a steno pad on which I've made a list of questions I'd like answered. For some reason that helps me feel more "legitimate" - with notepad and pen in hand, I feel like I'm signaling that a) I'm not just asking on the spur of the moment just for the heck of it, and that b) I've taken the time to prepare and therefore am serious about getting answers. If you have a list that you can just check off as things get answered, it makes it a little easier (for me, anyway) to politely refuse the brushoff - "Okay, that's great, thanks - oh, before I go it looks like I've still got two open questions I wanted to check with you on?" Of course you're still free to come up with new questions while you're there, but if it were me I'd write them down as they occurred to me, again to make sure they get answered - that's helped me out in many a situation.
Finally, as for what to get - the thing I couldn't do without on my lenses is the anti-reflective coating, I spend a lot of time in front of a computer, too, and it really is amazing how much that stuff cuts down on the glare. Not sure what else you need but I'd certainly cast my vote for the anti-glare goodness.
posted by zeph at 10:45 AM on April 23, 2008
Measure the distance from your eyes to the monitor when you're sitting using your computer.
You probably want a different prescription than you would get for reading glasses.
My boss loves his progressive lenses and wears them all the time. I prefer half glasses so I can look over them. (although I will allow that it's dorky)
posted by MtDewd at 10:55 AM on April 23, 2008
You probably want a different prescription than you would get for reading glasses.
My boss loves his progressive lenses and wears them all the time. I prefer half glasses so I can look over them. (although I will allow that it's dorky)
posted by MtDewd at 10:55 AM on April 23, 2008
Best answer: 1. Just ask. Whenever the doctor brings out a new device and starts working with it, just say, "hey, what does this one do?" The techniques and technology are changing pretty fast, so it's possible that the doctor has some new toys that he'll be quite happy to geek out about with anyone who seems interested. Like any other kind of doctor, you may have to shop around before you find a good one.
2. I'm the son of an optometrist, so this is a biased view, but: bear in mind that a good percentage of the optometrist's income comes from selling the frames, so if you do find a really good doctor, you might consider rewarding him by at least looking at what they have available. Bring your friends, if you want to shop with your friends.
That said, if they're giving you a real hard sell they're not a good office, so don't feel bad about just asking for the prescription and leaving if you're not seeing something you like. "Sorry, I'm not seeing anything in your selection that appeals to me."
Lens treatments: High-density lenses are much thinner, lighter and more comfortable to wear. Anti-reflection coatings are more on the "nice frill" end of the spectrum, and can scratch or wear with time if you're not careful.
3. wearing them all the time would actually be quite a bit easier for me If you're nearsighted and astigmatic, there should be no reason not to wear your glasses all the time; they shouldn't be making people blurry. (Reading glasses, which people tend to take off and put on a lot, are generally for farsighted people, not nearsighted -- your old lenses may have been badly done or the prescription was overcorrected, or possibly you're misremembering whether you're nearsighted / farsighted?)
Progressive or multifocal lenses might be appropriate if you're actually farsighted, not nearsighted (though I think wouldn't help with astigmatism -- I may be misremembering that) but they're relatively expensive and take some getting used to, and probably wouldn't be worth it if you're only slightly off.
Glasses chains: they're secure enough, they will tangle in necklaces, they're also dirt cheap and widely available so if you want to try them out it's not much of a risk.
posted by ook at 10:56 AM on April 23, 2008
2. I'm the son of an optometrist, so this is a biased view, but: bear in mind that a good percentage of the optometrist's income comes from selling the frames, so if you do find a really good doctor, you might consider rewarding him by at least looking at what they have available. Bring your friends, if you want to shop with your friends.
That said, if they're giving you a real hard sell they're not a good office, so don't feel bad about just asking for the prescription and leaving if you're not seeing something you like. "Sorry, I'm not seeing anything in your selection that appeals to me."
Lens treatments: High-density lenses are much thinner, lighter and more comfortable to wear. Anti-reflection coatings are more on the "nice frill" end of the spectrum, and can scratch or wear with time if you're not careful.
3. wearing them all the time would actually be quite a bit easier for me If you're nearsighted and astigmatic, there should be no reason not to wear your glasses all the time; they shouldn't be making people blurry. (Reading glasses, which people tend to take off and put on a lot, are generally for farsighted people, not nearsighted -- your old lenses may have been badly done or the prescription was overcorrected, or possibly you're misremembering whether you're nearsighted / farsighted?)
Progressive or multifocal lenses might be appropriate if you're actually farsighted, not nearsighted (though I think wouldn't help with astigmatism -- I may be misremembering that) but they're relatively expensive and take some getting used to, and probably wouldn't be worth it if you're only slightly off.
Glasses chains: they're secure enough, they will tangle in necklaces, they're also dirt cheap and widely available so if you want to try them out it's not much of a risk.
posted by ook at 10:56 AM on April 23, 2008
My work glasses go under the trade name "ACCESS". They are described as progressive, but to me they appear to be essentially bifocals with a full-width lower half for reading, and a full-width upper half that works from about 18" to about 5 feet. Basically everything from the computer screen to the far margins of my desk is clear. And of course I can also get up and walk around the office wearing them and still see everything pretty well. They are great.
(See http://www.compukiss.com/reviews/sola-access-lens.html for a short article and ... MY SELF-ESTEEM DOES NOT REQUIRE THE USE OF HTML.)
posted by JimN2TAW at 11:44 AM on April 23, 2008
(See http://www.compukiss.com/reviews/sola-access-lens.html for a short article and ... MY SELF-ESTEEM DOES NOT REQUIRE THE USE OF HTML.)
posted by JimN2TAW at 11:44 AM on April 23, 2008
As with ook, I'm wondering if you're remembering your prescription correctly. I'm farsighted and I have to wear reading glasses. Without glasses I cannot read anything on a computer screen without extreme squinting and an almost immediate headache. I do have a slight astigmatism, but basically my eyesight is fine on a day-to-day basis as long as I'm not trying to read anything. Unfortunately, as a college professor, I read all the time.
On a daily basis I wear bifocals, the bottom lens is my reading prescription and the top is almost no prescription. However, I can't really use them for computer work, b/c I'd have to crane my neck in an awkward way to see the screen through the bottom lenses. So I have a second pair of computer glasses that are just my reading prescription. I take them off when I'm not at the computer, otherwise everything more than 3 feet away is blurry.
I tried progressive lenses several years ago on the suggestion of an eye doctor. BIG mistake. Progressives are just that, a gradual change in prescription. The problem was that I need the full-on reading strength to see a computer when I'm looking straight ahead, and the middle-distance in progressive lenses were not strong enough. Several month of headaches and eye strain later, I went back to bifocals.
You need to find out exactly what your eyes need help doing before you can decide on lenses. If your eyes are like mine, I don't think progressives will work.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 11:51 AM on April 23, 2008
On a daily basis I wear bifocals, the bottom lens is my reading prescription and the top is almost no prescription. However, I can't really use them for computer work, b/c I'd have to crane my neck in an awkward way to see the screen through the bottom lenses. So I have a second pair of computer glasses that are just my reading prescription. I take them off when I'm not at the computer, otherwise everything more than 3 feet away is blurry.
I tried progressive lenses several years ago on the suggestion of an eye doctor. BIG mistake. Progressives are just that, a gradual change in prescription. The problem was that I need the full-on reading strength to see a computer when I'm looking straight ahead, and the middle-distance in progressive lenses were not strong enough. Several month of headaches and eye strain later, I went back to bifocals.
You need to find out exactly what your eyes need help doing before you can decide on lenses. If your eyes are like mine, I don't think progressives will work.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 11:51 AM on April 23, 2008
Response by poster: Many helpful comments, thank you! (More comments welcome, of course.)
On the prescription stuff: it's possible I'm misremembering, but here's what I have.
- Highway signs, etc: pretty much non-fuzzy at any meaningful distance: usually as soon as the letters are distinct from the background, I can read them pretty easily. I think this is a weird quirk, though - I think my brain recognises the shapes and translates them as non fuzzy, because of the following...
- Stuff through both eyes: I can read about 20 point font about 20 feet away from my desk with only very slight fuzziness. This has gotten more so in the last year+
- Stuff through one eye: The same text is fuzzy. (With both eyes, though the left is 'not very' and the right is about twice as fuzzy.)
- Achy stuff and headaches focus on the right side of my head, and especially the muscles around the right eye socket, which makes me think eyestrain. (And that my right eye is probably still worse.) It's a different and much more local sensation than migraines and tension headaches.
- Reading books: I do not get eyestrain headaches with books (of all kinds), and the text is clear, distinct, and easy on my eyes.
- My work computer has a lot of glare issues (windows behind me) that are not easy to fix. Like a lot of people, I find a LCD screen much easier, but my work is an older non-LCD monitor. (I'm job hunting, too, so I hope the glare issues will change, but it'd be hard to push for a fix this school year regardless.)
posted by modernhypatia at 12:40 PM on April 23, 2008
On the prescription stuff: it's possible I'm misremembering, but here's what I have.
- Highway signs, etc: pretty much non-fuzzy at any meaningful distance: usually as soon as the letters are distinct from the background, I can read them pretty easily. I think this is a weird quirk, though - I think my brain recognises the shapes and translates them as non fuzzy, because of the following...
- Stuff through both eyes: I can read about 20 point font about 20 feet away from my desk with only very slight fuzziness. This has gotten more so in the last year+
- Stuff through one eye: The same text is fuzzy. (With both eyes, though the left is 'not very' and the right is about twice as fuzzy.)
- Achy stuff and headaches focus on the right side of my head, and especially the muscles around the right eye socket, which makes me think eyestrain. (And that my right eye is probably still worse.) It's a different and much more local sensation than migraines and tension headaches.
- Reading books: I do not get eyestrain headaches with books (of all kinds), and the text is clear, distinct, and easy on my eyes.
- My work computer has a lot of glare issues (windows behind me) that are not easy to fix. Like a lot of people, I find a LCD screen much easier, but my work is an older non-LCD monitor. (I'm job hunting, too, so I hope the glare issues will change, but it'd be hard to push for a fix this school year regardless.)
posted by modernhypatia at 12:40 PM on April 23, 2008
Seconding the suggestion to measure the distance between your eyes and the monitor. Different people sit at different distances, and your optometrist should take that into consideration.
For me, my prescription for computer use also works for other medium-distance stuff, like looking at books on shelves.
My current computer glasses are bifocals: the top is for medium distance; the bottom for reading. I went with a line because optometrists tell me it works better, plus it's cheaper and is the only option if you want really little lenses. Bifocals can take some getting used to, line or not.
If you're worried about scratching the lenses, consider Teflon lenses. I can't remember if it's a coating or what, but it's the only pair of lenses that I've owned that didn't scratch immediately.
I'm seriously nearsighted, so I pay extra for high-index lenses that are as thin as possible. I also go for frames with teeny lenses to keep the edge thickness down (the bigger the lenses, the thicker the edges).
posted by PatoPata at 12:51 PM on April 23, 2008
For me, my prescription for computer use also works for other medium-distance stuff, like looking at books on shelves.
My current computer glasses are bifocals: the top is for medium distance; the bottom for reading. I went with a line because optometrists tell me it works better, plus it's cheaper and is the only option if you want really little lenses. Bifocals can take some getting used to, line or not.
If you're worried about scratching the lenses, consider Teflon lenses. I can't remember if it's a coating or what, but it's the only pair of lenses that I've owned that didn't scratch immediately.
I'm seriously nearsighted, so I pay extra for high-index lenses that are as thin as possible. I also go for frames with teeny lenses to keep the edge thickness down (the bigger the lenses, the thicker the edges).
posted by PatoPata at 12:51 PM on April 23, 2008
IANAD, etc., but what you described definitely does *not* sound like you are farsighted. I don't think it's that you need computer glasses, but that you need some sort of overall corrective lenses (probably all the time). Based on your description, it's possible that you may also have amblyopia.
I think your best bet for a productive doctor's appointment is simply to describe your symptoms: I have X troubles and Y pain when I do Z, rather than saying "I need glasses for X."
All that eye socket pain should disappear once you get the right prescription. Good luck!
posted by DiscourseMarker at 12:57 PM on April 23, 2008
I think your best bet for a productive doctor's appointment is simply to describe your symptoms: I have X troubles and Y pain when I do Z, rather than saying "I need glasses for X."
All that eye socket pain should disappear once you get the right prescription. Good luck!
posted by DiscourseMarker at 12:57 PM on April 23, 2008
When you have finished your eye exam and received your prescription, go read this post (by #1) about buying glasses online. My last pair of glasses cost me $12.95 shipped and I absolutely love them. They, too, were purchased to alleviate eye strain while working on computers and the only thing I regret is not getting the anti-reflective coating.
posted by wabashbdw at 1:00 PM on April 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by wabashbdw at 1:00 PM on April 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Best answer: It's hard to tell what's going on with your eyesight from your description: nearsighted means you can see clearly up close but not far away, farsighted vice-versa; you're describing sort of a mixture of the two, which I'm guessing means that the astigmatism is more the issue in your case.
Astigmatism is a ripple or irregularity in the lens surface, and it's much more difficult to correct than regular old focal-length issues; if that's what's going on you'll need a combination of a good doctor to measure it accurately and a good lab making the lens, which isn't always easy to find. If you do have a significant amount of astigmatism, you probably should not buy your lenses online or at a lenscrafters or the like.
(Can you tell I spent a lot of my childhood asking "hey dad what does that machine do?")
While it does sound like you should get an eye exam in any case, if most of your eye strain is because of the glare off your computer screen, you might also try one of those polaroid filters that fit over the monitor; the AR coating on glasses can only do so much, and may not help enough with that anyway. (If you can't get your workplace to spring for it, test with a cheap pair of polaroid sunglasses first, maybe, to see if it helps enough to be worth the expense.)
Meanwhile: yeah, rock on, JimN2TAW; take pride in inconveniencing anyone who might want to follow your link. That'll show 'em.
posted by ook at 1:27 PM on April 23, 2008
Astigmatism is a ripple or irregularity in the lens surface, and it's much more difficult to correct than regular old focal-length issues; if that's what's going on you'll need a combination of a good doctor to measure it accurately and a good lab making the lens, which isn't always easy to find. If you do have a significant amount of astigmatism, you probably should not buy your lenses online or at a lenscrafters or the like.
(Can you tell I spent a lot of my childhood asking "hey dad what does that machine do?")
While it does sound like you should get an eye exam in any case, if most of your eye strain is because of the glare off your computer screen, you might also try one of those polaroid filters that fit over the monitor; the AR coating on glasses can only do so much, and may not help enough with that anyway. (If you can't get your workplace to spring for it, test with a cheap pair of polaroid sunglasses first, maybe, to see if it helps enough to be worth the expense.)
Meanwhile: yeah, rock on, JimN2TAW; take pride in inconveniencing anyone who might want to follow your link. That'll show 'em.
posted by ook at 1:27 PM on April 23, 2008
Well, I guess I have to respond to ook. I hope this is not considered a derail, since it responds directly to a message addressed to me.
I don't have the time or the interest for a lot of training on these websites and so forth. I did have time to answer a question and maybe help someone get good glasses. It looks like PatoPata proposed a similar solution.
I remember the old days when "working in a home office" really meant "spending the day playing with the computer" and I suspect that things have not changed much. Dealing with hardware and software issues seems to take a larger and larger share of the time better spent on one's real work.
Technology gives us new resources of course, but then takes back about 25 percent of that in the extra time required for training and dealing with the unexpected.
I provided a link that could be easily copied-and-pasted. I didn't and don't see what was the need for me to spend additional minutes (however few) rendering it in live glowing clickable boldface.
I'm spending the time now because it's 9:30 pm and because I'd like to express my point of view in response to ook's complaint.
My mistake was joking about my lack of interest in HTML, which I regret since it obviously raised some hackles.
posted by JimN2TAW at 6:39 PM on April 23, 2008
I don't have the time or the interest for a lot of training on these websites and so forth. I did have time to answer a question and maybe help someone get good glasses. It looks like PatoPata proposed a similar solution.
I remember the old days when "working in a home office" really meant "spending the day playing with the computer" and I suspect that things have not changed much. Dealing with hardware and software issues seems to take a larger and larger share of the time better spent on one's real work.
Technology gives us new resources of course, but then takes back about 25 percent of that in the extra time required for training and dealing with the unexpected.
I provided a link that could be easily copied-and-pasted. I didn't and don't see what was the need for me to spend additional minutes (however few) rendering it in live glowing clickable boldface.
I'm spending the time now because it's 9:30 pm and because I'd like to express my point of view in response to ook's complaint.
My mistake was joking about my lack of interest in HTML, which I regret since it obviously raised some hackles.
posted by JimN2TAW at 6:39 PM on April 23, 2008
I realize how strange a chain recommendation may seem, but I can't say enough good things about the PearleVision at the Ridgedale Mall.
The doctor there was great, answered all my questions without getting snippy and wasn't at all jerky when I took my paper script and left without buying frames. I had such a good experience that I went back the entire time I was in MN.
I had no complaints with any of my visits, and that Pearle actually set the standard by which I judge all future eye appointments.
posted by Sheppagus at 4:03 PM on April 24, 2008
The doctor there was great, answered all my questions without getting snippy and wasn't at all jerky when I took my paper script and left without buying frames. I had such a good experience that I went back the entire time I was in MN.
I had no complaints with any of my visits, and that Pearle actually set the standard by which I judge all future eye appointments.
posted by Sheppagus at 4:03 PM on April 24, 2008
Response by poster: Just in case anyone checks in: I had the exam appointment last night, got an optometrist who was great about explaining things to me (including showing me a photo of the back of my eye to show me something nifty she'd wanted to double check, but that is not worrisome).
The end prescription is very slightly (.25) farsighted in one eye, a mild astigmatism in both eyes. (Just enough to cause enough blur that there's eye strain/fatigue by the end of the day).
She gave me the option of computer glasses (which'd have to come on and off all the time) or all the time glasses, which was my (far preferred) choice, so I'm now onto the next stage of glasses shopping but rather looking forward to it.
Much more informative experience than previously, and no pressure on buying glasses there. (I looked, and they have a decent range of frames in inexpensive packages, so am keeping them in mind with everything else we look at - but I really want a friend's opinion about how they suit my face before I buy.)
posted by modernhypatia at 11:58 AM on May 1, 2008
The end prescription is very slightly (.25) farsighted in one eye, a mild astigmatism in both eyes. (Just enough to cause enough blur that there's eye strain/fatigue by the end of the day).
She gave me the option of computer glasses (which'd have to come on and off all the time) or all the time glasses, which was my (far preferred) choice, so I'm now onto the next stage of glasses shopping but rather looking forward to it.
Much more informative experience than previously, and no pressure on buying glasses there. (I looked, and they have a decent range of frames in inexpensive packages, so am keeping them in mind with everything else we look at - but I really want a friend's opinion about how they suit my face before I buy.)
posted by modernhypatia at 11:58 AM on May 1, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
As for going elsewhere for your frames, don't feel bad about doing that. Yes, they give you a hard sell or at least suggest you buy there. But a good doctor's office shouldn't give you a hard HARD sell or they're not a good doctor's office.
How about getting progressive lenses. I have them for reading to distance (where my distance is almost no prescription at all). You could get them so they go from computer distance to far away and then you can keep them on all the time.
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 9:56 AM on April 23, 2008