Poll of the Day > Why do we need to constantly get our eyes checked?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I need new glasses. And I have to get my eyes checked. Its been a while, so that makes sense. But why do I need to do it so often.

Like every year. Or even shorter if I break my glasses. I do understand that your eyes prescription can change. But if theybe been the same for over a decade and a half, cant I just get glasses in my prescription without a check-up?
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I haven't had an eye exam in probably 12 years.
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Zangulus posted...

You can. You can literally go into places and say "here's my prescription, I want a pair of glasses.". They will actually do this.

Maybe its different off base. I havent had an off-base exam in a long time...
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Zangulus posted...

LinkPizza posted...

Zangulus posted...

You can. You can literally go into places and say "here's my prescription, I want a pair of glasses.". They will actually do this.

Maybe its different off base. I havent had an off-base exam in a long time...

I had an eye exam when I was 17. Got fitted for glasses and everything... I put them on once, felt like I was 3' shorter, took them off and never wore them again.

I did however get prescription sunglasses, and because of it I was allowed to wear sunglasses in school.

Ive been using my perscription sunglasses a lot recently. I wanted to get corrective eye surgery while i was active duty. But apparently, my eyes werent bad enough for the military to pay for it. But I have to get the list again for where I can go to get glasses...
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two words, big glasses, ok?
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Eye prescriptions last a year(not 100% sure on that, but they do last a good while).

The reason why they expire is because if you're wearing the wrong prescriptions, it could make your eyes worse.
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Some peoples eyes get worse over time

After two decades my eyesight has finally stopped getting worse(for now at least) but now Im starting to suffer from astigmatism so theyre starting to get all stupid shaped I guess
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lihlih posted...

Eye prescriptions last a year(not 100% sure on that, but they do last a good while).

The reason why they expire is because if you're wearing the wrong prescriptions, it could make your eyes worse.

Mead posted...

Some peoples eyes get worse over time

After two decades my eyesight has finally stopped getting worse(for now at least) but now Im starting to suffer from astigmatism so theyre starting to get all stupid shaped I guess

Yeah. Its usually a year for me, too. Though, if its even a couple months before it expires, they dont usually want to give me glasses with out a check. And normally, I was fine with it. But after like 15 years, it still hasnt changed once. I think it would be ok to just give me the glasses like once.
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My insurance covers me for an eye exam once a year, which I usually do. I get new glasses every other year or so.

My job pays for prescription safety glasses so I take advantage of that too. When I replace them I keep the older ones as spares or donate the frames.
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LinkPizza posted...

Why do we need to constantly get our eyes checked?

Who said that?
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I would imagine that an organization that relies pretty heavily on people being able to aim lethal weaponry has a bit of a vested interest in making sure everybody's eyes are as perfect as they can be. In the general population, though, it's a good idea for many of the same reasons that a periodic physical is a good idea. Many serious eye problems (e.g. glaucoma, cataracts) display warning signs and can be treated well before they get bad, but catching them early takes the specialized knowledge of an optometrist. As others have said, it also ensures your prescription is up to date, since wearing the wrong prescription can cause problems.

I can't recall the last time I had my eyes looked at. Must be over a decade. With that said I probably should and while I'm at it see if there is anyway to fix what's seemingly amblyopia in adults. I had a op when young but that's not fixed it completely. One eye looks forward while the other doesn't(even though my vision is telling me both are) so it's not the classic case of just one eye being weird. When I'm close up though both eyes look forward. This became worse it seems when I developed anxiety issues and one eye is more blurry then the other at night.
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_AdjI_ posted...

In the general population, though, it's a good idea for many of the same reasons that a periodic physical is a good idea. Many serious eye problems (e.g. glaucoma, cataracts) display warning signs and can be treated well before they get bad, but catching them early takes the specialized knowledge of an optometrist.

I am surprised it took so long for someone to mention that. An eye exam is not just testing your vision. It is also testing for diseases and other problems as well. A lot of these things can be detected early and be stopped before they progress too far. That is the main reason why an annual eye exam is important.

Going to the eye doctor regularly is just as important as going to your family doctor and dentist regularly for checkups. One of the dumbest things you can do is to get a really bad disease that could have easily been prevented with regular checkups.

Black_Crusher posted...

LinkPizza posted...

Why do we need to constantly get our eyes checked?

Who said that?

The eyes doctors who wont give me glasses without a recent eye exam and glasses/contacts sellers who wont sell me either without a recent eye exam.
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_AdjI_ posted...

I would imagine that an organization that relies pretty heavily on people being able to aim lethal weaponry has a bit of a vested interest in making sure everybody's eyes are as perfect as they can be. In the general population, though, it's a good idea for many of the same reasons that a periodic physical is a good idea. Many serious eye problems (e.g. glaucoma, cataracts) display warning signs and can be treated well before they get bad, but catching them early takes the specialized knowledge of an optometrist. As others have said, it also ensures your prescription is up to date, since wearing the wrong prescription can cause problems.

Not everyone is dealing with lethal weaponry. And even if they were, giving us glasses until we can get the eye exam would still be nice. Like, they would still need them. Also, as I said, I dont mind getting it, but I still would like glasses until I can get one. Having multiple jobs doesnt leave much time. And I dont mind getting a new perscription, even though its been the same for 15 years. I know it may eventually change, but I just need glasses/contact until I can get the exam is the main thing...
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lihlih posted...

The reason why they expire is because if you're wearing the wrong prescriptions, it could make your eyes worse.

Pretty much this.
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DrCidd posted...

lihlih posted...

The reason why they expire is because if you're wearing the wrong prescriptions, it could make your eyes worse.

Pretty much this.

Honestly, though, just tell people this and let them sign a waiver, if they want. Some people can wear the same glasses for like most of their life. And honestly, I would rather people have on the wrong glasses that help them see better than having none at all.
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Zangulus posted...

You can. You can literally go into places and say "here's my prescription, I want a pair of glasses.". They will actually do this.

This.

Also, in a lot of places, you can even just hand them your old glasses, and they can basically scan them to see what the prescription is for them, and then just duplicate it.

But it's also worth noting that you probably shouldn't do this, even if you think your prescription hasn't changed, because it may have. And you should get checked to make sure you have the best possible prescription because otherwise you can strain your eyes.

I actually had a situation where my old pair of glasses had shifted so they didn't sit on my face right, and my prescription apparently shifted to match as my eyes got used to the new positioning. But then when I went and got new glasses, I just used my old prescription. And then I wound up having weird motion sickness issues and trouble focusing, which turned out to be because my prescription wasn't actually the same, and it became a problem when the new glasses sat on my nose differently and the angle wasn't quite right.

I wouldn't say you need to get your eyes checked every new for new glasses (though once you get older you might want to get checked at LEAST once a year for cataracts and glaucoma, or things like detached retina or other issues), but if you're going to get new glasses, you definitely should get your eyes checked to get a new, accurate prescription for them.


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Its probably too late for that. Ive been wearing old one. But theyre sunglasses. I wear them at work until I get home. And put the other ones on when I get there. Like I said, I dont mind having one or setting it up, but I would like glasses until then... Plus, you need one every year for contacts. At least, at the places I go. Also, I have to see if any places that my insurances works for does that...
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Glad I don't need glasses.
Back in 2003, I was working for Choice Hotels taking reservations and staring at a computer screen for hours on end. Maybe my job had something to do with it, but distant objects started getting a little fuzzy.
I moved away and got a different job, and within a year or 2 my sight was sharp as ever again.
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_AdjI_ posted...

I would imagine that an organization that relies pretty heavily on people being able to aim lethal weaponry has a bit of a vested interest in making sure everybody's eyes are as perfect as they can be. In the general population, though, it's a good idea for many of the same reasons that a periodic physical is a good idea. Many serious eye problems (e.g. glaucoma, cataracts) display warning signs and can be treated well before they get bad, but catching them early takes the specialized knowledge of an optometrist. As others have said, it also ensures your prescription is up to date, since wearing the wrong prescription can cause problems.

Come on, he was in the AF. So unless you're Security Forces(AF's version of the MP, but apparently they work with a lot of Army Combat Arms when they're deployed), or Pararescue(AF's Special Forces), you're not doing shit combat wise.
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lihlih posted...

_AdjI_ posted...

I would imagine that an organization that relies pretty heavily on people being able to aim lethal weaponry has a bit of a vested interest in making sure everybody's eyes are as perfect as they can be. In the general population, though, it's a good idea for many of the same reasons that a periodic physical is a good idea. Many serious eye problems (e.g. glaucoma, cataracts) display warning signs and can be treated well before they get bad, but catching them early takes the specialized knowledge of an optometrist. As others have said, it also ensures your prescription is up to date, since wearing the wrong prescription can cause problems.

Come on, he was in the AF. So unless you're Security Forces(AF's version of the MP, but apparently they work with a lot of Army Combat Arms when they're deployed), or Pararescue(AF's Special Forces), you're not doing shit combat wise.

While true, I can still understand the military putting more emphasis on making sure everyone's vision is good.

_AdjI_ posted...

lihlih posted...

_AdjI_ posted...

I would imagine that an organization that relies pretty heavily on people being able to aim lethal weaponry has a bit of a vested interest in making sure everybody's eyes are as perfect as they can be. In the general population, though, it's a good idea for many of the same reasons that a periodic physical is a good idea. Many serious eye problems (e.g. glaucoma, cataracts) display warning signs and can be treated well before they get bad, but catching them early takes the specialized knowledge of an optometrist. As others have said, it also ensures your prescription is up to date, since wearing the wrong prescription can cause problems.

Come on, he was in the AF. So unless you're Security Forces(AF's version of the MP, but apparently they work with a lot of Army Combat Arms when they're deployed), or Pararescue(AF's Special Forces), you're not doing shit combat wise.

While true, I can still understand the military putting more emphasis on making sure everyone's vision is good.

But that still means they are without glasses for a while. Which is counter-productive. You would rather have someone nearly blind for months to make sure they arent wearing the ring glasses. At least give them something so they can see until they can get an eye exam...
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