Can be the opthometry prescription wrong?

Question

My son is 8 yrs old. he has speech delay. his prescription is OD:plane+2.50x90 and OS:+0.50+1.75x90.

the new prescription is OD:+2.75-3.00x 180 and OS:+2.25-1.75x005. I'm worry because this time the doc didn't put the drop in my son eyes and was a different doctor. beside my son maybe couldn't understand what the doctor ask.for the speech delay.so can someone explain me if the magnification increase so much (the new prescripcion)and if this is normal?. And what is the drops for?

I made a new appt .but is in 1 month

thank soo much

Answer 1

Actually the Rx's are very similar, just written in plus cyl form for the first one and Minus Cyl form for the second one.  Written 90 degrees apart from each other. My suspicion is that the first one was done by an ophthalmologist and the second by an optometrist. Your first one, transposed to minus Cylinder ,  would read:

  OD:+2.50-2.50x180

  OS: +2.25-1.75x180

This is very similar to the new rx that you have.( In the left eye, 005 degrees is only 5 degrees away from 180 as we go from 1-180 and start over again with Zero) So, the differences are very minute when compared in the same form. You are comparing two different forms of writing the same Rx, and that is why they look so different. The drops might have ony been to check the inner health of his eye, and since it had been done by the prior doctor they might not have needed to do it again. Sometimes they will dilate them and also deaden the muscles inside the eye to check a refractive error, but sometimes not. Personally, I would not be worried about it at all, they are truely very comparable. SMOOCHES!

Answer 2

It wouldn't be the first time a doctor made a mistake. But it is possible that there has been a big increase. Also, sometimes doctors don't give the "full" prescription for hyperopia the first time.

The drops paralyze the muscles that control the lens of the eye. It's the best way to test children. They have so much accomodation ("zoom in") that they can focus on close thing despite being quite farsighted. The only way to prevent this is with the drops, to get a true refraction test.

If you are ever unsure of a prescription, ASK. Badger them if necessary. Eye doctors are notoriously evasive and "mysterious". They can also be rather condescending. Don't take it. Ask for things to be explained properly.

EDIT: The answer above has an excellent point, as an amateur I don't get into astigmatism prescriptions, they're too complex. But this just goes to prove my point about why it's necessary to badger the professionals. You should have had this explained to you, and not be left wondering.