Can
I get the wrong glasses by giving the wrong answer during my eye exam?
No. In fact, there is no wrong answer. Your eye doctor knows how you
should be answering the questions. S/he determines this by looking at
your eyes through a phoropter (the large eyeglass machine). It also
helps if your doctor knows your old eyeglass prescription (if any).
S/he double-checks (and, sometimes, triple-checks) your answers, then
determines an accurate prescription. 
Ever
since I started wearing glasses, my vision without them has been
getting worse. Are glasses hurting my vision?
No. Usually,
if vision is going to change, it will do so whether or not you wear
glasses. Many people who never wore glasses start to have problems
reading small print sometime in their mid-40s. The ability to focus
on small objects close up starts to change around this time and
decreases slowly for the next 20 years before leveling off. Wearing
glasses won't correct or speed up the changes, but it will help you
function better.
Similarly, a
10-year-old who becomes nearsighted often continues to need stronger
prescriptions into his or her early 20s, when growth levels off. In
most cases, wearing glasses during this time has little effect on the
strength of his or her final prescription.
Can
I hurt my eyes by using them too much?
No. There is a
common misconception: that a person should limit reading time to
avoid eye strain. This is not true. As long as you can see, go ahead
and use your vision. You can't wear out your eyes.
People in
their early 40s sometimes think the close work they've been doing
changes their ability to focus. This change in their close-up vision
is the result of age, not the result of too much eye work.
Can
I harm my eyes with glasses bought in the supermarket?
No. Glasses
bought in a supermarket or department store are sometimes an
inexpensive way to compensate for the loss of reading vision. Since
these glasses often are not a perfect match to your eyes, they may
cause eye strain. They will not, however, cause permanent damage.
The biggest
problem with these glasses is that they may cause some people to put
off having an eye examination. Since most eye diseases (such as
glaucoma) have few early symptoms, it is still important to have a
thorough eye examination every one to two years.
My
eye doctor recommended bifocals for my child. Is this common?
No, but there
is no need for concern. Bifocals are good for anyone with two
different prescriptions. They eliminate the need to switch back and
forth between two pairs of glasses. Bifocals are also helpful for
children whose eyes cross when reading.
More
information on glasses and vision
We
welcome all inquiries regarding visual services and we accept most
forms of health insurance. For information please contact
us.
