Is under prescribing for nearsightedness common?!
Question: Is under prescribing for nearsightedness common?
I had a routine eye test a month ago and came away with a prescription that had reduced by -0.75 in one eye and -0.50 in the other. Having tried what would effectively be the new prescription thanks to some old pairs of glasses, I can tell that my vision isn't as sharp with what would be the new one. As it happens I'm not in the market for new glasses but when I am I won't be ordering my new prescription.
From my point of view I wonder whether it is because at 42 I am entering the age of presbyopia, but seeing the question below made me wonder whether it happens often.
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvjdXivdS0p2NupdMfjSDsEhBgx.;_ylv=3?qid=20101202063417AAos6Uz
Answers:
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
Over correction is pretty common too. Young people who are nearsighted tend to like the blacker , darker, smaller effect they get as power is increased. In younger patients, I usually give them pretty much what they want since there is no downside. As you get older, there is a downside, that extra power can make it harder to read. For someone in his forties, I would try to be careful not to over correct. Sometimes this results in under correction especially when we treat the end of the exam room like it is the farthest away a patient will need to look. I do know that dealing with being under corrected is more difficult than being slightly over corrected. If you are under corrected, there is nothing you can do to make the sign a half mile away clear. If you have problems at near, you can push your reading further away or simply remove your glasses to read.
If you think that you are very uncomfortable with the new prescriptions, you can take a retest. Under prescribing is very common.
I would be pleased to reduce the minus on your prescription or have you try one of your older pair of spectacles, especially if it helped you for reading.
Optometrist
xx