Eye Care
For the longest time, my experience with the optician was: your eyes are blurry, you get your eyes checked in a tiny 2 meter room and a machine with the little house in the field, you get your degrees, you try and buy contacts/glasses and you leave. Thats all- very simple. Oh and did I mention that th entire eye checking process is free at the optical shop? Imagine my great surprise when I realised that I couldn't order any contacts online in the States without first getting my eyes checked for $80USD! How can they CHARGE for such simple procedures?
Well earlier this month, I finally found out what that $80 is for. I went to an actual optical clinic and they used tested my eye in a standard 6 meter room, stared at my eyes for the longest time, used the usual house in the farmland machine and this other machine which blew air at my eyes, took digital pictures of my eyes and put blue solutions (for pH) and this other very stinging solution into my eye (I forget what this one is for- the dilation or something?). The whole process took almost an hour!
And they even made me go back two times just so I can change from two week Acuvue Advanced to one day Acuvue moist! This whole long long procedure was so foreign to me that I was in awe. Is THAT the standard eye care you get in the States for $80? Anyway, random things I picked up:
Well earlier this month, I finally found out what that $80 is for. I went to an actual optical clinic and they used tested my eye in a standard 6 meter room, stared at my eyes for the longest time, used the usual house in the farmland machine and this other machine which blew air at my eyes, took digital pictures of my eyes and put blue solutions (for pH) and this other very stinging solution into my eye (I forget what this one is for- the dilation or something?). The whole process took almost an hour!
And they even made me go back two times just so I can change from two week Acuvue Advanced to one day Acuvue moist! This whole long long procedure was so foreign to me that I was in awe. Is THAT the standard eye care you get in the States for $80? Anyway, random things I picked up:
- One should start getting thier eyes checked at the age of 2- wow I've really missed out a LOT on that.
- If you wear contacts for too long, your eyes might be so lacking in oxygen that red vessels will permanently grow on the surface of your eyes- scary thought!
- There are two sizes to contacts.
- The laser eye surgery is still not perfect yet even though they claim the success rate is high up there. Its only because they consider people with CLOSE TO but not have 20/20 vision a success as well- hopefully it'll be perfected in a few years (fingers crossed!)
posted by Anonymous at 12:51 AM
18 Comments:
You struck my interest in this post, well all your posts :-). I have to tell you my story so you don't do it either. I use to wear contact day and night and never take them off, not even to clean them. Disgusting I know. I went to get the laser eye surgery done, which is the best investment I've ever made. I remember this vision when I was in grade school. But when I had gone in for the eye tests prior to the surgery I had to wait one month before getting the surgery because I had develop a type of callous in my eyes from the constant contact use. The eye doctor said it was like a red hard surface like sandpaper in the back of my eyes. A wound that needed to heal. Scary though, considering I never felt any discomfort. Take care of your eyes, and the lasik surgery is well worth the money. I don't ever have to worry about contacts and glasses again. Except when I get old they said I will need reading glasses standard things that happen with age. My vision 20-15. :-) Love your site by the way, I'm a frequent visitor! If your interested in lasik go to www.safelasik.org I recommend this doctor. I got the new "super lasik" surgery that just came out 6 months ago. I visit the eye doctor once every 6 months for check ups. He's just a great doctor.
I'm like you...still waiting for the surgery to get a better. Eyesight is priceless, we're not talking about a cheap H & M top here...lolol
Before I begin, I just want to say I LOVE your blog!
I gave up on contact lenses. I have a lazy right eye. Although my vision is a little impaired, I can still see without any spectacles or lenses on. It is just that colours don't appear brighter like when I put my spectacles/lenses. But I guess I will just have to live without putting on lenses because I cannot bear that uncomfortable feeling when I had it on for too long especially in air-conditioned office for 8 hours (or more) in a day. I guess you can call me a contact lense amatuer. But I must admit I look really cool with the current frames I have for my spectacles. ;-)
Yeah that actually sounds better than the eye care i have ever received.
I live in the states, and I use ortho-k rigid gas permeable contacts
consider yourself lucky for only needing to spend $80, each checkup for me is around $300, and that doesn't even include the $2000 I had to pay for the contacts.
I'm quite sick of wearing contacts, but I'm not sure whether I want lasic, yet...
http://colormechic.blogspot.com
almost enough to make you want to switch to some very chic specs... ;)
http://visadiaries.com/wordpress/?p=27
kx.
Hi!
There are actually more than two "sizes". Usually they come in 3 but it really depends on the shape of your eyes.
Another thing about laser surgery is that it doesn't address the problem of the overall abnormal eye shape at all. Severely myopic people will still have very elongated eyeballs even though their sight is fine. This is only good to a point where it stretches to maximum and you become blind.
I had my eyes lasered in Nov 2004 and I have to say its one of the best moves I have ever made in my life.
My eye sight was pretty bad and the period before I had the laser surgery, contacts were slowly beginning to really irritate me.
I am now on a working holiday so I travel alot. Its great that I don't have to worry about contacts (splitting / forgetting to bring spares), solution and cases.
True, I still don't have perfect vision but thats not really the point of laser surgery. As long as you can see and operate in your day-to-day life without any aids (I haven't felt that I needed any since) then I would call that a success.
Obviously everyone is different (and you need to make sure you go to a reputable doctor) and I am sure there are some horror stories out there...but this is just my 2 cents!
i used contacts from 9 yrs, mainly cause when i was about 11 or so i hardly used my glasses since i really only need them to read but i don't know i think i did wear them to read but for some reason my eyesight just got worst, it could be that i didn't keep up with my annual checkup. But yeah here in the states anything that has to do with medicine is expensive, it's like they don't realize that it's essential or something. Quite a few people in this country don't have health insurance cause they can't afford it, i'm one of them. I don't go to the doctor that much so sometimes it's like either pay 300 dollars for the deductable or just pay 35 plus medecine if i really get sick once a year. Hopefully later on after i finish college i'll be able to afford insurance.
The thing they blow in your eyes is to check for the pressure in your eyes. Increased eye pressure (glaucoma) leads to optic nerve damage and loss of vision.
The dilation opens up your pupil so the doctor can take a better look at your retina & nerves in the back of your eyes. Especially for diabetic or hypertension patients so the doctor can find any ophthalmic manifestations.
The usual test you get is called a "refraction" which is just a test for glasses. The dilation & fundus tests are part of a medical exam.
I work for an opthalmologist :).
Important post and you make me feel guilty with your conscientious attitude.
I love the new look btw and you have the same problem as me in that the top bar would be better removed without ruining the graphics effect. I'll be working on that this weekend.
I go to the top ophthalmology clinic in my city every two years for routine eye exams, and I hate it, not because it is so uncomfortable, but because the assistants are so RUDE! Whatever happened to professionalism in medicine??? I wish they would just do their jobs and keep their mouths shut.
My uncle (he's an eye doctor) was telling me that you could actually get blisters on your eye. Luckily, I didn't have any, but now I'm much more cautious.
Hey,
I agree with you on the lasik eye surgery.
In fact, I did my own research and found out that there are many considerations people need to take note of before they decide to go for it.
And like you said, it won't give you 100% perfect vision.
I'd suggest anyone reading this post and have previously considered LASIK to do your due diligence.
You might want to read about some of these risks here: http://www.eye-care-inc.com/lasik-eye-surgery.html
Lasik has come a long way in the past few years. It is helping multitudes regain the good vision they once had.
Never thought that I would get perfect glasses by ordering online from www.buymeglasses.co.uk and that too on time. Your excellent product and services has surprised me. I am fully satisfied and actually feeling good about it.
I loved your post. Lasik surgery is a big choice as it has helped and hurt so many people.
I had mine done by New York Lasik
I always recommend you go local and don't be tempted by the cheapo $199 deals!
Wow, there is so much effective info above!
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