Cylindrical power of -.25 in both eyes?

Question

I work long hours in front of the computer.Due to headache i went for a eye checkup and am detected with a cylindrical power of -.25 both eyes. i went to three different docs and have been adviced to wear specs with lens, wear plain anti glare lens and not wear specs. Since i got a different advice each time i'm confused. should i opt for -.25 lens or plain anti glare or nothing?

Answer 1

Firstly, in terms of pure glare, there is no lens that is as anti-glare as no lens at all.

Some people do derive benefit from yellow/pink tinted glasses that reduce the intensity of the the blue end of the spectrum (this can occur especially with migraine sufferers) but this is not, strictly, glare reduction.

Hardly anyone will notice an Rx which consists purely of 0.25 cylinders, but I have known a few hypersensitive individuals, where a tiny shift in Rx seems to produce an effect out of all proportion ot its size.

So, in the absence of any other traceable problems: binocular coordination, weak or poorly sustained accommodation...

I'd firstly look at posture, lighting, screen contrast and refreshment rate, location of any copy material (diagonal movement away from the screen is very fatiguing: reference or copy material should be alongside the screen at the same distance.)

Only if nothing there relieved the problem would I suggest non-Rx tinted glasses, (yes, if glasses are worn they should have a MAR coat, but that's an amelioration of the lens, not a cure in itself)

and only if that did not help consider getting the Rx made up on a "Well, we've tried everything else"  basis: it can't do any harm, except to your wallet.

Answer 2

Your prescription will show 3 numbers: the SPH, CYL and AXIS. The CYL and AXIS must always be presented together.

You have not said what your SPH or AXIS are so I am assuming that your SPH is Zero (or yours may say PLANO).

So, assuming you are 0.00 / -0.25 at axis whatever, then you will find very little if any change in your eyesight.

Anti-glare is useful only if you have to wear glasses.

So, based on the information given you have no need to wear glasses.

However, you may still be getting headaches from your eyes if your muscle balance is out or if you have a poor near point of convergence or your eyes do not have a good lock or there is overhead glare etc.

Go see a fourth doc and ask for a full Near Vision assessment including phoria and fixation disparity testing

Good luck

Answer 3

Our eyes are not designed to focus up close all day, which many of us have to do with computers these days.  The eye gets tired, much as your arm would if went to the gym and curled 5 lbs all day.  It's easy at first, but as time goes on you'd get fatigued and that 5lbs would feel heavier and heavier.  This happens to eyes, too, if they are over-taxed.   If your focusing ability is affected, a pair of glasses may be in order.  Ask for accommodative testing such as positive and relative accommodation (the abilitiy to focus and relax the eyes).  If the results are diminished it proves that you are having difficulaties up close.  Of course, this is age dependent.  I feel this area of testing is largely over-looked by eye doctors.  I have the same problem so I am sensitive to it.  I am wearing a low-power prescription with anti-reflective coating as I type this.  It makes a huge difference in my comfort at the computer.  Good luck to you.