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What does my eyeglass prescription really mean?

January 14, 2013 By Leave a Comment

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If you are a first-time lens wearer, or even someone who has had glasses for years, you may have taken a look at your new prescription for eyeglasses and thought to yourself, “What is this even saying?” Let your friendly Cincinnati eye doctor help walk you through some of the basics you’ll probably find on that prescription pad after your new check-up.

First, you will see numbers under headings called OS (short of oculus sinister), which refers to the left eye, and OD (oculus dextrus), which refers to the right. Some people may additionally see the heading OU, which would involve both eyes. The easiest way to decipher the numbers is to remember that the general rule of thumb is that zero is the baseline, and the further away your numbers are from that, the worse your eyesight.

Secondly, you will have either plus or minus notations by each of these numbers. A plus sign means you are farsighted, while a minus sign means you are nearsighted. The sign and number you have listed on your prescription denotes the amount of correction or focusing power, your eye needs in order to see clearly.

For people with astigmatism, prescriptions will show three numbers instead of just two. Typically, this will be shown in the formula S x C x Axis. The S, for “spherical” is the degree of near- or far-sightedness as it would be shown in any prescription. The C, for “cylinder” measures the degree of your astigmatism and it can be either positive or negative. The larger the number, the bigger your astigmatism is. The Axis will tell you the orientation of the astigmatism, from 0 to 180 degrees.

If you ever have any confusion, remember that your doctor is there to help clarify any questions you may have and to ensure you get the best treatment. Regular visits are important to make sure you have the most updated prescription, as they often change and many people do not update their eyeglasses accordingly!

If your vision has been affected or if you require eye care visit Cincinnati eye doctor, Charles Breen, ophthalmologist, at 7370 Turfway Rd. 3rd Floor, St. Elizabeth Medical Office Building, Florence, KY 41042.

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Diabetics, Look Into Your Eye Health

December 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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If you are diabetic, your Cincinnati eye doctor should be just as large a part of your regular health care as your primary physician. According the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most recent estimate of Americans living with diabetes is up to a whopping 25 million people. This increase has shown a correlation to a sharp increase in diabetic eye diseases and blindness.

It’s vital to have regular eye exams at an ophthalmologist because many diabetic eye disease will typically show little to no early symptoms, and will be hard to catch in advance without the proper care.

 

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common eye disease affecting Americans with diabetes. In fact, just under half of all diabetics are afflicted with retinopathy. This disease damages the blood vessels in the retina, which can cause blood or other extra fluids to leak into the eye. Without treatment, the disease can further cause the development of abnormal blood vessels on the retina or optic nerve, which can lead to blindness. Other eye health issues often seen in diabetic patients are cataracts and glaucoma.

 

The primary concern is to get regular screenings (once a year, if not more) in order to have early detection and treatment options. Other options include those that will benefit your overall health and keep the diabetes at bay, like monitoring your blood sugar, exercising regularly, and quitting smoking.

 

Symptoms of retinopathy include “floating specks” in your visual field, poor night vision, fluctuations from blurry to clear vision, and entire vision loss. There are treatments including medications and laser surgery, so be sure to see you local eye doctor immediately to prevent any further progression of a potential eye disease.

 

If your vision has been affected or if you require eye care visit Florence eye doctor, Charles Breen, ophthalmologist, at 7370 Turfway Rd. 3rd Floor, St. Elizabeth Medical Office Building, Florence, KY 41042.

 

 

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5 Eye Disorders Worth Visiting Your Eye Doctor About

February 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Eye DoctorOur eyes are an important part of our daily lives and they can be affected by various eye diseases and eye disorders. Eye disorders generally mean that something in your eye is out of order and is different than what is considered standard or normal. In most cases an eye disorder will not damage your eye but it may cause other side effects in your everyday life.

The following are 5 eye disorders you may experience in your life that are worth visiting your eye doctor about:

  1. Astigmatism – About a quarter of the population is affected by the eye disorder astigmatism and some may not even know it! Astigmatism of the eye occurs when light from objects is not correctly focused on to the retina causing an error. Astigmatism can cause blurred vision in individuals and make it hard to see details both close up and from a distance.
  2. Color Blindness – People who suffer from being color-blind can still see but are unable to distinguish between different colors such as purple and blue. Unfortunately this eye disorder cannot be fixed as the individual inherits it.
  3. Myopia – Often times the eye disorder myopia is called “nearsighted” or “short-signed”. This can be detected by your eye doctor and is treatable with eyeglasses.
  4. Strabismus – This eye disorder is often referred to as being “crossed eyed” where the eyes do not line up correctly to look directly at something or someone. Often time strabismus will disappear in children or it can be corrected by having eye surgery.
  5. Watery Eyes – At some point or another many of us have experienced watery eyes, which can be caused by a variety of eye disorders. For example, a very common cause of watery eyes is spending too much time on the computer. Other causes of watery eyes can include ingrown eyelashes or blocked tear ducts to name a few. Many of the causes of watery eyes are preventable and fixable!

There are a variety of eye disorders that can affect your vision and create unnecessary eye problems in your life. If you are experiencing an eye disorder ensure you visit your eye doctor to determine the proper method of care and how to proceed fixing your affected vision.

If your vision has been affected or if you require eye care visit Dr. Charles Breen, ophthalmologist, at 7370 Turfway Rd. 3rd Floor, St. Elizabeth Medical Office Building, Florence, KY 41042.

Disclaimer:

This article is provided as an information resource and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified ophthalmologist. In all cases, contact your ophthalmologist for advice on any matter referenced in this document before making any decisions.

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