Anyone know about optician prescriptions?

[CoolHands]

I don't know much about glasses only having had to wear them since my 40s, so only had one eye test before. I have just had an eye test (3 years since first).

FYI apparently my eyes have astigmatism (shape, I understand). They tell me I need one prescription for reading & computer work, and separate for far e.g. reading road signs, watching telly. Initially she recommended varifocal to suit all and rather than have three separate glasses, but I said I didn't want varifocal. She said I could do that and the FAR lenses would be standard.

However, they described the glasses I needed for reading and computer work (which I do all day) as 'occupational', and gave me the impression they would be varifocal even though I said I don't want varifocal. A second assistant after the specialist lady said I would look straight ahead for the computer, but look down for reading. So surely that is varifocal lense even though she said it wasn't?

They have given me the prescription (below). But - she said the near (or occupational) prescription would be 1.75 as the 0.25 and 1.50 are added for the total near required.

Is that right? I feel a bit confused.

for ref the prescription I had before [didn't tell me if it was near or far, but it did say 'intermediate (computer)] was

R(OD): SPH: +0.25 CYL: -1.50 A:85 and L(OS): SPH: +0.25 CYL: -1.00 A: 85

Any advice / info?

Right


Left

[Johnny Raydome]

CoolHands said:

I don't know much about glasses only having had to wear them since my 40s, so only had one eye test before. I have just had an eye test (3 years since first).

FYI apparently my eyes have astigmatism (shape, I understand). They tell me I need one prescription for reading & computer work, and separate for far e.g. reading road signs, watching telly. Initially she recommended varifocal to suit all and rather than have three separate glasses, but I said I didn't want varifocal. She said I could do that and the FAR lenses would be standard.

However, they described the glasses I needed for reading and computer work (which I do all day) as 'occupational', and gave me the impression they would be varifocal even though I said I don't want varifocal. A second assistant after the specialist lady said I would look straight ahead for the computer, but look down for reading. So surely that is varifocal lense even though she said it wasn't?

They have given me the prescription (below). But - she said the near (or occupational) prescription would be 1.75 as the 0.25 and 1.50 are added for the total near required.

Is that right? I feel a bit confused.

for ref the prescription I had before [didn't tell me if it was near or far, but it did say 'intermediate (computer)] was

R(OD): SPH: +0.25 CYL: -1.50 A:85 and L(OS): SPH: +0.25 CYL: -1.00 A: 85

Any advice / info?

Right


Left

You're probably right to feel a little confused!

A varifocal lens was probably recommended because it allows you to see at all distances without having to swap between different pairs. However, you say you don't want to wear a varifocal just now - fair enough.

The occupational lens that was suggested is most likely a lens which incorporates your intermediate prescription (arms length, ie computer) in the top half of the lens with your reading prescription (near work, 30-40cm) in the lower half of the lens. These are also known as degressive lenses. When you ask if this means it is a varifocal, you are half right - it is a multifocal lens, but it doesn't correct your distance vision.
There are occupational lenses available out there, incidentally, commonly called 'interview' lenses which do have a very small area of distance correction right at the top of each lens.

The confusing bit is how your prescription was explained to you. As per your pictures, the top line for each eye is your distance prescription, the lower line is your actual full reading (near) prescription. Sometimes, a spectacle prescription will be written as a R&L distance prescription with a reading ADD specified. In your particular case here, the reading add could have been written separately as +1.25 (the difference between the sphere values for distance and near).

If I'm being generous, I get the feeling that the second person you spoke to is a little confused re: prescription analysis.

Talking very generally, your intermediate (arms length) prescription value will be less than your near prescription by something like 0.50 Dioptre. I'm not saying this is a hard and fast rule and individual working distances should be verified by the prescribing optometrist.

So.....

Your Distance prescription is:
R) +0.25/-1.75 x 84
L) +0.25/-1.50 x 80

Your Reading Add is +1.25, so add this onto both Spheres.

Therefore, your Reading prescription is:
R) +1.50/-1.75 x 84
L) +1.50/-1.50 x 80

And if we back off your Reading Add by 0.50 to +0.75, for a typical Inter prescription...

Your Intermediate prescription would be:
R) +1.00/-1.75 x 84
L) +1.00/-1.50 x80


If you were to get specs with occupational lenses, then the top half of the lens would correct your intermediate prescription (ie looking straight ahead at your screen) and the lower half of your lens would correct your near vision (ie lowering your gaze in the lens, to look down at your notes on the desk). Unless specified otherwise, the demarcation between the two powers would be set on the datum, or centre line between top and botton rims of the frame.

HTH