Testing dyslexic persons eyes?

Question

my best girl friend always has headaches and her doc said she should get an eye test cos he couldnt see anything wrong. she said she had never had one before, i said i would go with her because i thought she was scared and we could make it fun like trying on glasses and stuff. but she told me the other day she is just worried about looking stupid because she is dyslexic and wont be able to read the letters properly. like when they ask you to read the lines of letters and stuff, she said she wont be able to and will get it wrong. just wondering if there is another way opticians can test dyslexic peoples eyes, there must be other ways.

Answer 1

Believe it or not, she would not be the first dyslexic person to take an eye exam, we see it all the time. A lot of kids are misdiagnosed dyslexic when they really have an astigmatism and just need glasses. Most of the time, the doctor will use a machine called the auto-refractor before the eye chart even comes out, it is a computer that estimates the patients prescription. The doctor will have a good idea if she needs glasses or not just based on that. The eye chart- everyone misses some of the letters or numbers at one point. In the dark room, even if you have perfect vision, it's pretty easy to get an 8 and a B mixed up. The doctors are prepared for dyslexic patients, tell her not to worry, they are NOT going to make fun of her, they are there to help. And maybe, just maybe, glasses will really help her.

I want to thank you for going with her and trying to make it fun. Your a good friend. I have so much fun at my job and when you guys come in and fun, it's even more fun for me. Try to find a fun office to go to and you'll be surprised how not traumatizing it can be!

Answer 2

Being dyslexic is nothing for her to be embarrassed or ashamed about.

It isn't a condition she chose to have.

And I'm sure she wouldn't be the first one the Dr. has seen either.

Answer 3

Last time i had an eye test there were no letters, just a light and I had to say which side of a line it looked like it was on and how clear/blurry it looked while the optician tried different lenses.

Answer 4

She should tell the optician that she is dyslexic and they will allow for that.  But is dyslexia a visual problem or is there some slight brain confusion?   Will certain spectacles stop you from being dyslexic?  I don't think so.  I 'teach' people with dyslexia and many of them don't wear spectacles.  I once spoke to an English teacher and he said 'Yes, well, lots of people who simply can't spell properly claim that they must be dyslexic' which I thought was a tad cruel.

Answer 5

I'm dyslexic and wear glasses so frequently have to have eye tests.  I've not had any trouble with them and as the last lady said, they do do the thing with the lines and colours so it's not just letters these days.  As long as she tells the optician that she is dyslexic it should be fine