[AMA] I Am a Young Optometrist Working in a Childrens Clinic. Ask Me Anything

LKappaPasterino on 01/06/2018 - 13:57
Last edited 05/06/2018 - 19:34 by 1 other user

How's it going. I'm an Optometrist that's been out working for a couple of years.

I'm currently working in a clinic that is primarily for children, but we do see patients of all ages as well. I also visit primary schools where we perform free eye examinations to see whether children are able to see well in class.

I have been very fortunate to work in a clinic which that co-manages patients from other medical and ophthalmology clinics. Hence, we often get referred interesting cases for us to assess. I would be happy to answer any questions, clear up any possible misconceptions about eyes (within reason of course). I also have knowledge about spectacles, but that's far from being anywhere near comfortable knowledge.

Ask me Anything

Edit: Thanks for the overwhelming response! I'll try to answer as many as I can. Because there are so many questions, please search through the post to make sure your own question hasn't been answered. Please also take my answers with a grain of salt (particular your own ocular health questions), it's best that you ask your own optometrist about them, as I know very little about you and your background.

Introduce Yourself

closed Comments

  • gaz3342 on 01/06/2018 - 14:03
    +4

    How many windows are in New York?

    • Zedsdeadbabyzedsdead on 01/06/2018 - 15:52
      +1

      What's an optometrist?

      • Scrooge McDuck on 03/06/2018 - 13:40
        +2

        A Polish guy went to the optometrist.

        The optometrist asked, "Would you read the bottom line for me please?"

        The Polish guy replied, "Read it? I know the guy!"

  • gaz3342 on 01/06/2018 - 14:03
    +7

    Also, what are YOUR thoughts on Laser Eye surgery?

    • KappaPasterino on 01/06/2018 - 14:54
      +4

      I actually like Laser Eye Surgery, and recommend it to those like athletes or anyone that can't wear glasses or contact lenses for whatever reason.

      There are two things which I want patients to know however:
      1. Laser Eye Surgery will NOT mean that you will never have to wear glasses again. The reason for this is due to presbyopia which is an age-related change that will affect your ability to look up near material. It usually hits a person in their early 40s. Thus I tell my patients the optimal time to do surgery is in their mid 20s.

      1. There may be potential adverse effects. The most common one is dry eyes. Some patient may need to regularly use eye drops for about 6 months or so.

      As long as patients understand this, I am more than happy to refer them to a refractive surgeon.

      • Gauntlet on 03/06/2018 - 18:15
        +6

        I'm one of the unfortunate ones with a Lasik horror story. Extremely long recovery time and I now have ghosting vision. Have to wear glasses to use a computer because black on white makes me see double vision and gives me a headache.
        I don't regret doing it as my eyesight is better and I can function without glasses but it I was severely misled by the clinic doctors.

        • smpantsonfire on 04/06/2018 - 16:34

          How long ago was the surgery?

        • Gauntlet on 05/06/2018 - 03:19

          @smpantsonfire: just under two years. 6 months before I felt somewhat normal.

      • xyned on 04/06/2018 - 11:21

        My father has been diagnosed with cataract. The doctor claims it is not serious and can be acted upon when it develops further

        a) Was it due to unprotected exposure to sun over year that this happened?
        b) is surgery the only way to fix this?

        Also, on a separate topic I believe in living in rooms with adequate white light. I believe that living in less lit home can affect my eyes. What is the best way to keep my prescription from climbing. I am 2.5 short sighted.

        • KappaPasterino on 04/06/2018 - 21:06
          +1

          A) Yes UV exposure will be a contributing factor, but this is mainly an age-related change. everyone will get cataracts if they get old enough.
          B) Yes, surgery is the only way. Its fast and life changing.

          Finally, if your prescription is rising and you are young (below ages of 20), then I would advise you talk to your optometrist about possible myopia control treatments such as OrthoK Lenses or Atropine drops

        • NobalaKoba on 07/06/2018 - 03:44

          @KappaPasterino: On the topic of cataracts, does it have to get to a certain level before you can have surgery, or can surgery be done early on?

      • Oipjo on 05/06/2018 - 08:54

        I'm one of the lucky ones - I had the surgery done 4 years ago and its improved my quality of life so dramatically. I could see clearly immediately after the surgery, and haven't had issues since. It is expensive upfront, but the best investment I've made. I hope that it stays like this for years to come.

      • w02m08w on 05/06/2018 - 11:43

        My son's turning 16 this year and he's been wearing glasses since he was I think 9 years old. Will laser surgery be suitable for him so that he won't have to wear glasses again? And how much does it cost? And also, is it the only option available at the moment if you want to get rid of glasses?

        • KappaPasterino on 05/06/2018 - 19:36

          Only suitable when he gets older and if his prescription is stable.

          Otherwise consider contact lenses or OrthoK lenses which are great alternative options to not wearing glasses

        • w02m08w on 06/06/2018 - 13:54

          @KappaPasterino: Thanks for your reply. We live in the northern suburbs of Brisbane. Do you know of any specialist around this area who does this OrthoK?

        • KappaPasterino on 06/06/2018 - 18:45

          @w02m08w:

          There should be plenty around Brisbane, but I haven't worked up there so nobody I'd personally suggest.

          A quick google search should provide answer =)

      • sp3ctr41 on 05/06/2018 - 16:58

        Not an optometrist but heres my story in case anyone is on the fence:

        It seems that alot of people are willing to post when something goes wrong but noone will post when the surgery goes well. Lots of scaremongering on the internet. I myself have had laser eye surgery (TransPRK). My recovery period was approximately 3 months. Prior to surgery -2.5 sphere and -1.5 cylinder (astigmatism) in each eye, give or take. I got the surgery when I was 22. Short vision was great, long vision a total blur.

        First two weeks vision fluctated quite a lot, I was on eye drops consistantly. Had a lot of ghosting and double vision (to be expected, the surface of the eye, the epithelium, was obliterated) and dry eyes. After that, for the next 2-4 weeks, my vision was relatively stable and getting progressively better, dry eyes still an issue.

        2 months out, my eyes only got dry on occasion, air conditioning, cold dry wind and when I woke up. When I woke up was the only time I really felt the need to put eye drops in, sometimes I'd wake up and can't open my eyes due to how dry they were.

        3+ months out, dryness no longer an issue. Not even in air conditionand or cold dry wind/air. Do I sometimes feel like my eyes are a little drier than before I got the surgery? Sometimes yes, but it's nothing, nothing that warrants having to use eye drops, quite possibly a nocebo effect.

        Vision is perfect, better than 20/20. No regrets. I'm not saying the surgery is without risks, they are there, but the screening process if you go to a respected surgeon is quite thorough and the risk is quite low, low enough that for most people, I'd say it is worth taking provided you've been given the go ahead. But they are your eyes. You decide for yourself.

        General guidelines however:
        Wait until your at least 22-25, your eyes continue to change until then and while your vision may be corrected at the time you do it, your eyes changing may cause your vision to worsen. Make sure the prescription is stable for several years.

        It seems those with a smaller fully dilated pupil are better candidates. The treatment zone of the laser needs to be outside this range to prevent ghosting and halo issues.

        • KappaPasterino on 05/06/2018 - 19:38

          Good reply, I certainly agree! Especially the final paragraph is so important and crucial.

          LASIK is a great option especially if patient's know what to expect.

  • indium on 01/06/2018 - 14:14
    +16

    Will sitting at a computer refreshing OzBargain all day have a detrimental effect on my eyes?

    • KappaPasterino on 01/06/2018 - 15:02
      +8

      Great question.

      For adults, staring at computer screens will not make your prescription go up, or make it significantly worse. You may however get dry eyes, reason being is that we tend to stare a lot when looking at these screens. The human eye actually needs to blink to moisturise itself.

      For kids, I will anecdotally say yes based on my experience but there are no studies on this area.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 03/06/2018 - 13:45

        For kids, I will anecdotally say yes based on my experience but there are no studies on this area.

        Really!? I thought it was established that myopia was on the rise due to increasing screen time? Or is it homework?

        Does the lens need exercise in childhood and adulthood?

        • KappaPasterino on 03/06/2018 - 20:15
          +3

          Its certainly an increasing prevalence for myopia.

          Evidence seems to suggest that its a combination of genetics (eg Asians) and environment which seems to result in this.
          We believe that its a result of not spending enough time and not the amount of time indoors

          There is no formal evidence at this moment to suggest that computer or electronic is a causative factor

        • ihbh on 04/06/2018 - 19:34
          +3

          Myopia is on the rise due to the reduction in amount of sunlight children are exposed to nowadays.

      • Thenarrator on 03/06/2018 - 23:46

        Wait, are you sure prescription dont get worse for adults? I've changed jobs to an office type and somehow notice that I've cant see as much as I can before. I'm nearly 30. What would cause worsening prescription for adults then?

        • KappaPasterino on 04/06/2018 - 19:15

          I guess I should clarify.

          In this context, when I say "prescription going up", I mean there is a change in a prescription as a result of some external factors.

          What you're most likely experiencing is presbyopia which is an age related change where your near vision will get worse due to activities such as staring at the computer in the office.

        • timolol on 06/06/2018 - 15:37

          @KappaPasterino:
          Not able to See with an office job can be due to many reasons. 30 years-old patients do not get presbyopia!

      • timolol on 06/06/2018 - 15:33

        Staring at the computer screen is considered near task, therefore can also promote myopic progression.

  • codyvan1 on 01/06/2018 - 14:17

    If you want to be an eye surgeon, do you need to do a medical degree or just go do a residency in a hospital?

    • KappaPasterino on 01/06/2018 - 14:56
      +1

      Yes, you need to get a medical degree, and then apply for a fellowship at RANZCO which is the Australian ophthalmology fellowship (which is extremely hard from what i've heard. only a few get in every single year).

      In otherwords, I will never become an eye surgeon unless i go back to Med School

      • ashikk on 03/06/2018 - 23:30

        thanks for honesty!

      • cannedhams on 04/06/2018 - 09:24
        +2

        It helps to be a son or relative of someone already inside, if you do want to get into the surgical colleges. But they give the wharfies a run for their money in terms of protecting their turf.

    • [Deactivated] on 05/06/2018 - 00:06
      +4

      Did you really just ask if you need to go to Medical school to be a surgeon?

  • Travis J on 01/06/2018 - 14:44
    +4

    How much does eye glasses really cost to make?(seriously)

    • KappaPasterino on 01/06/2018 - 14:59

      It honestly depends,but frames and lenses can be as cheap as a couple of dollars especially if they get them from China.This is for single vision lenses.

      Multi-focal lenses can cost between 50s to 100s depending on the material, quality and where its made.

      • gguu on 04/06/2018 - 17:24

        How come optical shops get away with charging hundreds of dollars for a simple pair of glasses?

        • Wez93 on 05/06/2018 - 00:07
          +2

          At the end of the day optical shops are paying for rent, staff and most importantly the optometrist. So really when you're going to an optical shop you're paying mostly for the expertise that the staff and optometrist prescribe a pair of spectacles that are tailor for you and will work well for you. Most places factor in costs if we need to remake the spectacles for you, so the costs could be well over that. Profit margins are definitely high, but costs of delivering the end product to you as consumer and patient factor in the other expenses as well, as with most other industries.

        • sniper on 05/06/2018 - 10:47
          +1

          Overhead of running a shop, and they don't sell as many as you think.

          Also, money made from medicare is dropping for optometrists.

  • activ8newbs on 01/06/2018 - 14:49

    I have keratoconus. As a result, my glasses cost an arm and a leg to make. I got them made overseas for about $10.
    Unfortunately it appears that the prescription may be off because I get a headache when I wear them and they're not as clear as my other glasses.

    1) Aside from the prescription being wrong, is there anything else that can cause this vision distortment/headache? E.g. New, bigger glasses frame? (Old ones were tiny rectangles, this is a huge aviator style). Or incorrect PD measurement etc?

    2) Is there anything I can do about it? Can I get the current lenses ammended here in Australia for a reasonable price?

    Thanks

    • KappaPasterino on 01/06/2018 - 15:05
      +4

      It depends on the severity of your keratoconus.

      If it is very severe then you either have to wear a keratonic contact lens (which i highly recommend) or a custom made spectacles. Keratoconus affects the front surface of your eyes and overall results in significant high order abberations. Cheapo spectacles unfortunately will never fix this problem as you need a custom made lab cut lens to correct those abberations.

      So all in all, sorry about the keratoconus, but you're going to have to fork out money for better vision.

      • StuBalls on 05/06/2018 - 11:33

        I also have it bad in one eye.
        8 years ago, an optometrist told me that glasses would not help and that laser eye surgery would not help. Best option was contact lens which she described as much more rigid than normal contacts and that they cause irritation for a lot of people.
        Have things advanced/changed since then? I see you recommend the contact lenses above, do I go to an optometrist to get them? Any further advice? Thanks.

        • Ryballs on 05/06/2018 - 14:33

          My brother has fairly aggressive keratoconus in both eyes. On one he got crosslinking when he was 16 which stopped the detoriation at about 70% vision. The other was basically blind. But he recently got a corneal transplant and now can see fairly clearly out of it again.

        • KappaPasterino on 05/06/2018 - 19:42

          In terms of available treatment, it has certainly increased, specifically in contact lenses. Unfortunately however, the number of optometrists that can comfortably fit these lenses are low and few.

          I'd suggest you find a contact lens specialist. Rigid lenses are certainly the first option, but a new more comfortable hybrid type exists. These lens sepcialist will be able to discuss these options.

          As aforementioned, many optometrist will not offer these options as it is a bit of a niche field.

  • [Deactivated] on 01/06/2018 - 14:53

    Why are there more out of pocket expenses for children's glasses as opposed to adult glasses. I got a new pair of glasses today and the entire cost of frames and lenses was paid by my health fund but only got about half the cost back on glasses for both of my daughters. It happened as well when we got prescription sunglasses for my daughters.

    • KappaPasterino on 01/06/2018 - 15:08
      +3

      One answer is probably: supply and demand, spectacles for children are less common hence more expensive. Also they tend to be better material to prevent children from breaking them.

      The other answer will be the level of your health fund. Depending on the cover, it made not pay 100% of what you get from your optical benefits. This is why i encourage all patients to look into the details of their healthfunds, not only for optical but dental and other healthcare practices.

    • dandandan on 03/06/2018 - 20:44

      Maybe try Dresden Optics for the kids. I noticed this store and looks pretty well priced.

      We do things differently. We have one grand ambition – to make high quality glasses, priced so everyone can afford good vision.

      We’ve designed our own simple and playful modular glasses system, and we manufacture our own, sustainable frames right here in Australia.

      No Women’s, Men’s or Kid’s, simply modular parts in four sizes, a riot of colours with top notch Zeiss lenses. Create your own colour combo – as classic, understated or bright as you like.

      Readers, multifocals, sunnies, prescription glasses & sunnies, contact lenses? We do the lot, without silly mark-ups. Complete prescription glasses and sunnies from just $49.

      • itchyscratchy on 04/06/2018 - 09:45
        +3

        Sounds like you’re associated with Dresden

    • beastwd on 04/06/2018 - 23:40

      im another optometrist who is also a dispenser.
      your daughters glasses do they have fancier lenses or lens coatings/treatments.

      how much are her frames? (there are sublimits on frames) what store did you go to?

      • [Deactivated] on 05/06/2018 - 10:38

        It's possible the girls chose expensive frames. I refused to let them have the $600 Versace frames. They were beautiful and multicoloured frames but I couldn't justify the price. The lenses were multifocal so I guess I'm paying for the complex prescription. I went to a different shop to the girls and the staff knew exactly which frames would get fully covered by health insurance and which wouldn't. I was very careful which frames I chose. Luckily I found a reasonable priced frame which was still multicoloured.

        Thanks for your thoughts.

  • GG57 on 01/06/2018 - 15:13

    I wear glasses for reading / computer use. Nothing unusual, just age-related deterioration.

    I can get the costs fully funded by my private health insurance; I think they usually cost $100 - $200 or so.

    On a recent holiday, I purchased a pair of 'reading' glasses from a chemist, and have found these to be perfectly adequate.
    Is there any problem with using these as opposed to the optician-supplied glasses?

    • KappaPasterino on 01/06/2018 - 16:49
      +7

      Using the chemist glass isn't a problem, but you will often never achieve the same amount of clarity as a custom lens.

      Reasons for this are:
      1) The prescription of your eyes often are asymmetrical
      2) The lens centres will never match your own pupil centre, which may cause some abberations in your vision.
      3) Chemist glasses don't fix astigmatism, which is vision problem related to the shape of the eye.

      • cooni on 06/06/2018 - 06:57

        PD might align by chance.

        You may get some aberrations from looking off centre in cases where the PD is off but you’ll also get induced prism which is the more likely cause of uncomfortable vision assuming no/minimal astigmatism.

    • timolol on 06/06/2018 - 15:50

      Incorrect centering of the pupils can also induce prism effect, which can cause some undesired, but usually temporary, side effects such as double vision / head aches. It is fine for short term use or for quick reference. But for prolonged reading or surfing OzBargain, use optometrist prescribed glasses.

  • m0tyrider on 01/06/2018 - 16:20

    I recently got my eyes tested and while I know they are not perfect in terms of vision, (opt said I had almost 20/20 vision) but I could get glasses for driving as I am a little short sighted (Stuff far away is a little blurry)

    Will getting these glasses have any long term effects on my vision? ie will my eyes get "lazy" and vision become worse if I start using glasses?

    • KappaPasterino on 02/06/2018 - 17:41
      +3

      For an adult, this is generally a misconception. Wearing glasses will not make your eye vision go worse nor will it make it go better.
      But you will find that you will become more dependent on wearing spectacles as time goes on. This is because your brain is used to the clarity that these glasses provide.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 03/06/2018 - 13:53

        So to clarify, your eye vision won't deteriorate, but your brain's vision processing will?

        • DKC on 03/06/2018 - 17:54
          +6

          It's more like your brain is used to tolerating a mild degree of blur constantly now.

          When you wear glasses, you'll get your eyes focusing clearly, and your brain will enjoy that. So in time there is a chance that it will become accustomed to having clear vision, and find the blur with not wearing glasses harder to tolerate.

          Wearing glasses does not do anything physical to the eye, so won't it better or worse in the long term.

        • KappaPasterino on 03/06/2018 - 20:16

          @DKC:

          Capture my words exactly

        • jaackyy on 03/06/2018 - 23:09

          @KappaPasterino:

          I'm 22 and got my eyes tested last year. I was off by around 1.00 and 1.25 on L/R eye respectively.
          I got glasses and yeh shit looked (profanity) HD. Few months later, i realised if I didnt wear glasses, I would get massive headaches and shit in general was harder to see…
          Now, I basically cannot drive without glasses/contacts

          So to me, getting glasses was kinda shitty cause my vision wasn't that bad.. but now my brain is super (profanity) dependent on it.. whereas I've gone 21 years of my life perfectly fine without glasses..

        • xyron on 04/06/2018 - 15:13
          +2

          @jaackyy: if having perfect vision is too much of a burden for you, just resist putting your glasses on and your brain will eventually adjust back. it seems totally perverse to me that you are unhappy about having perfectly corrected vision. nobody is forcing you to take it.

        • Wez93 on 05/06/2018 - 00:13

          @jaackyy: I'm assuming you're short-sighted, based on the fact the the glasses made things look (profanity) HD. I would probably advise you best drive with glasses as a legal and saftey requirement. Based on you're prescription you'd be very borderline on passing the legal driving standards in Australia.

          The other thing i'd urge you to consider is insurance. If you're driving without your spectacles, and somebody smashes right into you, guess who's paying the insurance excess?

          tl:dr wear your glasses for the law, your safety and your bank account

        • timolol on 06/06/2018 - 16:01

          @xyron:
          Well said!
          If going back to an old CRT TV is not as enjoyable as watching a HD / 4K TV, it is really the person’s choice. Although nowadays going back to a CRT TV won’t get your far as there will be no signal…

  • cassea on 01/06/2018 - 17:08

    1. Are there any rules about optometrists selling glasses? An optometrist I saw recently was very annoyed when I asked for the script to buy glasses elsewhere rather than his overpriced ones $700 vs $150. He refused to provide a PD measurement to allow us to buy some cheap back up glasses online.

    2. Do you know anything about neuro-opthamology? I have a friend who has a consistent shake in their peripheral vision. He has seen an opthamologist who says there is nothing wrong with his eyes and that the problem is anxiety. Any thoughts on who to see for further testing, information or treatment in Australia? I read about some sort of testing and prism lenses being available for something that sounded similar in the US, but can’t find anything in Australia.

    • KappaPasterino on 01/06/2018 - 18:38

      1. This one's always a controversial topic. From what I understand in the guidelines, optometrist must give their patient's their pd IF THEY MEASURED IT, so optoms can technically refuse if they didn't. But I feel most optoms either don't know or just refuse to give them.

      2. Yes I do know about neuro-ophthalmology, and because the field is so expansive it can be sometimes quite difficult to diagnose certain things such as shakes in peripheral vision. And sometimes, the simplest explanation is the right explanation. There are some questions which you might ask your friend: 1) Did the referring optometrist conduct neuro-ophthal testing such as visual fields? 2)Was the ophthalmologist a neuro-ophthalmologist ? There are actually very few neuro-ophthals in Australia, and if your friend did indeed see one then I'd listen to their advise.

      Unfortunately Australia is lacking in some of the treatments in available. In regards to prism lenses, they must be prescribed in a certain manner, and they're only used to treat certain neuro conditions

      • cassea on 01/06/2018 - 19:12

        Thanks for the reply.
        Yes the PD was measured and refused. Noticed it missing from the script and was told they don’t give out that information!
        So far my friend has seen an opthamologist, not a neuro-opthamologist. I was thinking that might be the next step to take. He’s kind of given up at the moment, but not satisfied with answers so far.

        • Travis J on 02/06/2018 - 10:38

          Regarding ur PD, try different places, call up first. Most places will provide you ur PD measurement, though at a cost.

        • DKC on 03/06/2018 - 18:00

          There are many causes of nystagmus (which is what I assume you mean when you say "shake in peripheral vision"), however most causes of nystagmus do not result in a shaking image being perceived by the patient. Prisms are useful in treating nystagmus by shifting the null-point (the direction where his vision is the best/most stable) towards primary gaze (looking straight ahead).

          Anxiety is not a typical cause of nystagmus.

        • cassea on 04/06/2018 - 02:55

          @DKC:
          I haven’t looked up what nystagmus is, but for my friend whatever is happening is making the image he sees shake at the edges of his vision. I don’t think there is any perceptible movement in his eyes.

        • djprima on 04/06/2018 - 16:02

          Went to specsavers to get the measurement done and didnt get the PD either. Went back to ask and it was then measured by the sales person on the spot. Probably worth to try

      • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2018 - 17:51
        +2

        Should this be reported to Medicare whom paid for the test?

  • sash213 on 01/06/2018 - 17:38

    Are Alcon Total Dailies 1 actually worth to pay more for over say Acuvue Trueye?

    What is the best value contact lenses for fairly straightforward script?

    TIA

    • KappaPasterino on 01/06/2018 - 18:08
      +1

      Alcon Total Dailies 1 are hands down the best lens, especially if you have dry eyes. So my answer would be yes.

      For the second question, you'd have to ask your personal optometrist for that one. Reason being is that there are other factors besides "script" which influence which type of contact lens we prescribe. Its kind of like asking whats the best value tyre for your personal car. My other advise is to not buy a lens online without getting advise from an optometrist first So many problems occur from this, because there are counterfeit lenses online and people tend to have a higher risk of getting infections from them.

      • kesslar on 04/06/2018 - 15:24

        Are Focus dailies the same as Alcon Dailies total 1? I read that CIBA Vision merged with Alcon?

        I've used the alcon dailies total 1 and they're fantastic. The focus ones are much cheaper. Are the comparable? Link below

        https://www.specsavers.com.au/contact-lenses/daily-disposabl…

        • buckster on 04/06/2018 - 23:01

          Focus dailies are a much older product, been on the market probably 15 years

        • timolol on 06/06/2018 - 16:15

          Alcon daily disposable lenses (confusingly) have three main line of name products:

          • Alcon Dailies All Day Comfort (formerly Focus Dailies)
          • Alcon Dailies Aqua Comfort Plus
          • Alcon Dailies Total 1

          Although all of the above are daily disposable lenses, each product have their own parameters (base curve / diameter / material) and are not interchangeable for each individual. Make sure you have the specific product assessed and approved by your optometrist before going ahead.

          The Dailies Total 1 is a premium lens on the market, hence you pay for the premium price.

    • cooni on 06/06/2018 - 07:02

      There is no one lens that will work best in every patient, even in patients with dry eye or whatever else.

      The best way is to obtain trials from your optometrist (who will hopefully also take a look at the fitting) and find which feels most comfortable in your eyes (that clinically also fits well).

      There’s another product, Acuvue 1 Day Oasys you may also want to try as well as CooperVision MyDay.

  • kahn on 01/06/2018 - 18:48
    +23

    My first question is: One or two…one or two?
    Follow-up question: One or two…one or two?

  • shaz0316 on 01/06/2018 - 20:45
    +1

    Good to see another optometrist on OzB- I was wondering how many of us are on here.

    • Laundryboy on 03/06/2018 - 14:56

      Me too. So There’s 3 now at least :)

      • buckster on 04/06/2018 - 23:01
        +2

        I thought it would just be one, or two

  • OverburdenedWarrior on 01/06/2018 - 22:21

    As somebody who grew up spending a lot of time in the Optometrist's Children's Clinic, have the cartoons been updated yet?

    • KappaPasterino on 01/06/2018 - 23:12

      Kids seem to still like Pepper Pig and Thomas the Tank Engine.

      Those companies are really milking them

      • OverburdenedWarrior on 02/06/2018 - 01:42

        Nah, I mean the ones you guys use during the tests. I think the only one I can really remember was Bart.

        • KappaPasterino on 02/06/2018 - 17:41

          Oh yes, our clinics still use those. But i myself just use the ipad and play cartoons for the kids to get them to concentrate.

  • [Deactivated] on 01/06/2018 - 23:45
    +3

    How do you figure out what really young children are seeing and not seeing?

    • KappaPasterino on 02/06/2018 - 17:44

      Generally we have a barrage of test that allow us to assess a child's vision, some requiring a response from them, and others that don't require one.

      So for young kids we use certain techniques that allow us to find their prescription and present them with targets to examine whether they can see them or not.

      We've also been taught how to determine whether children are lying or not in the exam too

      • [Deactivated] on 02/06/2018 - 20:03

        Very interesting. Thank you.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 03/06/2018 - 14:01
        -2

        We've also been taught how to determine whether children are lying or not in the exam too

        And how is that?

  • Nicoletta on 02/06/2018 - 07:47

    Any thoughts on treatment of esophoria in kids? My son has some intermittent trouble with double vision which led to this diagnosis. The first optometrist we saw wanted to prescribe lenses with prism. We were recommended another optometrist who is pursuing visual training with him. I thought perhaps with your recent training you may have an up to date perspective!

    • KappaPasterino on 02/06/2018 - 18:13

      Has your son been recommended anything else like a pair of reading glasses (with no prism).

      Prism lenses and vision training are certainly other available treatments too. However, we've been taught that these treatments should be considered only after full correction of their prescription doesn't work. However, it is quite hard to give advise with little information about your son.

      • Nicoletta on 04/06/2018 - 11:16

        Thanks so much for your response. Great to hear that the treatments we have been offered are still currently recommended.

        Yes, my son has been wearing multifocal glasses (mostly correcting an astigmatism) for the past year and while the condition has improved a little, the optometrist thought visual training was worth a try.

  • Ozpit on 02/06/2018 - 09:22
    +1

    What's the latest theory on the cause/cure of floaters. I had a lot of floaters in my left eye, which gradually developed post-op cateract surgery in that eye 20 years ago when in my late 20s (cateract cause unknown), which slowly and completely disappeared.

    Just recently I've noticed a few new floaters in that eye. When the floaters were particularly bad and getting worse, an eye doc told me the only known cure for a severe floater condition was to suck all the fluid (jelly) out of the eye and replace it with saline solution. But as I said, mine disappeared of their own accord. What the latest cause theory and cure?

    • KappaPasterino on 02/06/2018 - 17:49

      So floaters are the result of the jelly in the eye transforming into liquid, and this is usually an age-related process but can be accelerated by certain things such as surgery or trauma.

      In general floaters do improve over time and thats the result of the liquid getting pulled down by gravity.

      As you've mentioned, possible treatments include a vitrectomy (which is the one youve mentioned) and laser. However, if you ask any decent surgeon, they will never approve of it because the risks for such a surgery is too high. You'd have to have a very bad floater problem for them to even consider it.

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