eye tests - the black dots thing

[NobbyNobbs]

ive worn glasses since i was 13, and every year my prescription changes. sometimes one eye gets better and the other worse, then they'll swap the next year, and some years they both get worse! last year i was sent away with a new lens strength and started getting awful headaches every time i wore the glasses (which i'm meant to do all the time), so i stopped wearing them. obviously this isn't ideal as i can't see properly without them, so i took them back to the opticians and explained i thought there must be something wrong... they checked the lenses were the ones they prescribed and sent me on my way telling me to put up with it until my eyes got used to it.

 

my eyes didn't, so after a year i went back and demanded a new test as something obviously wasn't right. they did a test... and my prescription strength needed to be increased even further, but instead they reverted back to the last lens strength that hadn't given me headaches and said that was the best they could do, i'd have to put up with it being blurry because they didn't know why i was getting the headaches and since i didn't want to put up with them this was the best they could do.

 

the only thing i can think of that is causing a problem with the testing (apart from me never being able to remember what A looks like when we switch to is the circle of little black dots where they ask which is clearer. my problem is the black dots dance all over the place while i'm looking at them, so neither is in focus! i know i have Irlen syndrome and was given blue overlays, but the opticians just ignored that and kept demanding i tell her which one was clearer until i just picked one. i assume the dots dancing is something to do with having ASD as i asked my family and none of them have this problem

 

does anyone know what that test is for, and if that can be affecting my test results? i'm not happy with having a pair of glasses that dont actually fix my vision problems but dont know what to do as they said they didn't want to see me back for 2 years!

 

they also did the pressure test on me 14 times in one eye on that visit, because they couldn't get it right, the next day i looked like i'd been punched in the face with two massive black eyes! they also referred me back to the doctor because my eye balls either swell or are pushed out with pressure behind which becomes very painful as they push against my eye socket, but the doctor said she didn't know and unless i could come in when it was happening there wasn't a lot she could do as she'd never heard of it happening before. its not just my imagination, it really panics my mom because she can see my eyeballs pushing further and further out until i can't blink properly and am in agony

 

is this service correct?

[Tally]

The little black dots thing is to fine-tune your prescription. I wouldn't have thought it would make a huge difference.

 

They should be looking into it if the glasses they give you are giving you headaches. Giving you a prescription that doesn't help you see is not helpful. If they can't resolve the problem, they should be referring you onto someone who can. Your optician doesn't sound much good. You should try somewhere else.

 

The eyeball swelling thing sounds really scary! You should definitely get an emergency appointment with your doctor or go to A&E next time it happens.

[Mumble]

I would try a different optician rather than trying the same one again. You could ask to speak to the optician before the test (and before you pay!!) and explain the issue briefly; you should get a good idea about what they're like from their response. I did this, and found a very good optician who spent ages with me and found ways to work round any issues.

[Mandapanda]

Hi Nobbynobbs

 

I would be very wary of going to one of the more 'modern' opticians. A more 'old fashioned' opticians should provide a much better service. I wonder if your local Primary Care Trust can suggest a specialist optician in your area? You can find them on the internet and send an email.

 

The attitude of your optician is not acceptable and you should not put up with it. Glasses cost a lot of money, so you should be happy with them.

 

Good luck.

[Sally44]

ive worn glasses since i was 13, and every year my prescription changes. sometimes one eye gets better and the other worse, then they'll swap the next year, and some years they both get worse! last year i was sent away with a new lens strength and started getting awful headaches every time i wore the glasses (which i'm meant to do all the time), so i stopped wearing them. obviously this isn't ideal as i can't see properly without them, so i took them back to the opticians and explained i thought there must be something wrong... they checked the lenses were the ones they prescribed and sent me on my way telling me to put up with it until my eyes got used to it.

 

my eyes didn't, so after a year i went back and demanded a new test as something obviously wasn't right. they did a test... and my prescription strength needed to be increased even further, but instead they reverted back to the last lens strength that hadn't given me headaches and said that was the best they could do, i'd have to put up with it being blurry because they didn't know why i was getting the headaches and since i didn't want to put up with them this was the best they could do.

 

the only thing i can think of that is causing a problem with the testing (apart from me never being able to remember what A looks like when we switch to is the circle of little black dots where they ask which is clearer. my problem is the black dots dance all over the place while i'm looking at them, so neither is in focus! i know i have Irlen syndrome and was given blue overlays, but the opticians just ignored that and kept demanding i tell her which one was clearer until i just picked one. i assume the dots dancing is something to do with having ASD as i asked my family and none of them have this problem

 

does anyone know what that test is for, and if that can be affecting my test results? i'm not happy with having a pair of glasses that dont actually fix my vision problems but dont know what to do as they said they didn't want to see me back for 2 years!

 

they also did the pressure test on me 14 times in one eye on that visit, because they couldn't get it right, the next day i looked like i'd been punched in the face with two massive black eyes! they also referred me back to the doctor because my eye balls either swell or are pushed out with pressure behind which becomes very painful as they push against my eye socket, but the doctor said she didn't know and unless i could come in when it was happening there wasn't a lot she could do as she'd never heard of it happening before. its not just my imagination, it really panics my mom because she can see my eyeballs pushing further and further out until i can't blink properly and am in agony

 

is this service correct?

 

 

I think it will affect the tests because the black dots are not dancing around for the majority of people, and the lense strength is decided on when the black dots become clear. So you look at the red or green circle and when the surrounding circle of black (your black dots) is clearer that is the lense they use.

 

As you have Irlen syndrome, the irlen lenses can have prescription lenses in them. However the prescription lense needs to be the right strength, and your visual processing problems sound like it is interfering with the test results.

 

Have you tried sending a PM to Ian Jordan who is a specialist optician and posts on this site. He is NHS, however it would involve a long journey. But if that is the case, he maybe able to give you details of someone nearer.

[Ian Jordan]

 

You need to see a specialist - there are a few that can deal with this problem easily

PM me and I'll sugggest someone - or you could come to scotland if you wish