OT Eye exam, 20/30?

Last I checked some time back I was 20/400. Yes, I need glasses to drive. Been wearing them for 70 years. I never got a report like that.

The results of my annual eye exams never provide a 20/x number. Instead, they just give plus/minus decimal numbers for sphere, cylinder, and axis, for each of my eyes. In other words, they only give me my actual prescription, which I could use to get glasses from any provider.

My ex-gf says she's never gotten a number either. But I asked the optometrist about passing the MD driver's exam without glasses. She said she thought I would.

Mine didn't give any of those plus/minus numbers either. No reference to sphere, cylinder or axis.

In the summary it says "Dry eyes, bilateral; and Myopia of both eyes with regular astigmatism and presbyopia." 4 different things and she mentioned none of them.

Not only that, in the longer report, it says (I presume ed means "educated".)

Pt was ed on exam findings. Not much if at all Ed on signs/symptoms of cataracts including glare/halos and decreased contrast sensitivity. Not a word said. Ed on UV protection and benefit of sun protection. Not a word said. Ed on artificial tears QID-PRN. Not a word said Refraction deferred today. Not a word said

I had asked about watery or blurry eyes for 15 minutes some mornings, not dry eyes (which seem to me like the opposite), but she just said that was okay/normal, and said nothing about dry eyes.

No evidence of diabetic retinopathy noted on today's examination. Not a word said. She did say I had a trace of cataracts, and did not tell me I had diabetic retinopathy, but she didn't say I didn't have it either, even though this line is listed here under ASSESSMENT and PLAN Patient understands and agrees with the above plan. I didn't say I understood; I didn't say I agreed; I didn't know there was a plan.

I'm going to think about this for a day or two and then call her. I guess I once knew decades ago but until you brought it up, I'd forgotten about those 3 plus or minus numbers for each eye, and I'll ask her why I didnt' get them or 20/nn. I can't believe the report is nothing like reality. She's an O.D and an instructor at the medical school!!

I don't get a report at all. I get a printout with my glasses prescription.

This last time, my prescription didn't change and I'm not getting new glasses. So I got nothing.

Wearing glasses I think they just put it as a requirement on my license. Today they test with or without glasses.

Last time at eye doctor I asked the tech what it was and she told me. Testing is always with glasses on.

Medicare covers eye exams checking for cataracts and also monitoring my AMD. If I had a refraction test for glasses, I would have to pay.

I get tested every three months when I get a shot for AMD in right eye. Left eye is 20/25 and they said refraction test and new glasses would not help much.

Ditto. John T.

Well, here in Oklahoma the optometrist's eye exam doesn't count. The state relies on an eye test conducted at the license bureau when you apply for your license.

Bill

Depends on what was actually tested and what the test report is to be used for. At our advanced age, I'm more concerned about my intra-ocular pressures, and appearance of my retinas and maculas. I'm no longer concerned about cataracts because mine were removed years ago. As far as vision is concerned, whether or not your vision is 20/20 or not, the presence of moderate to severe astigmatism is just as important when determining if you can see clearly without needing visual correction. Chances are you will know if you have trouble clearly seeing street signs, reading a book, watching TV, or have headaches after trying to do those things for more than a short time. You may not know until damage happens if you have glaucoma, early signs of diabetes, or other diseases that damage the retina. That's why a annual comprehensive eye exam (not just an acuity check) is recommended for everyone 18 years and older. And, the report will not benefit your eyes unless it is read by someone with the medical training to understand what they're reading and knows what the next step(s) should be in the event of an abnormal finding.

I'd contact that provider and discuss your questions and concerns with her. If she declines to do so, find another optometrist or if you can afford it, an ophthalmologist who agrees that you are a vital member of your own treatment team. You're not just a billing number to be entered on a form. You should have confidence in all members of your medical "team".

I live in Maryland, as does "Micky". My understanding is that the Maryland MVA accepts either a report from an Ophthalmologist or Optometrist specifying visual acuity in each eye or the MVS's own "look into the eyepieces and read what you see" test at the MVA office when you either obtain or renew your license.

Same here in Delaware but I do not know current affairs as test was skipped in pandemic. I had passed it just before even with AMD. A cousin getting shots in both eyes with AMD is still driving.

Drivers license lasts for 8 years. Heard even a 90 year old recently got one. Obviously the state profits from this.

In Florida, drivers over 80 must renew every 6 years that that's probably too permissive.

Of course, my late father-in-law didn't deserve a driver's license when he was in his 30s. Turns out he never took either a road test or a written test in his entire life! He grew up in the deep south and "learned" by driving on country back roads as a barely-teenager. When he was drafted in the early days of WWII, he didn't have a drivers license. According to his story, one day the sarge in the motor pool was short of drivers and asked my father-in-law if he knew how to drive. FIL said "yes" and the sarge issued a military driver's license to him without questions. After the war, he was able to get his first civilian license by reciprocity using the military license. When he moved to another state, that state would issue a license based on reciprocity with the state license he already held.

My wife and I refused to be passengers when he drove. You name the moving violation and he committed it routinely. He claimed that he didn't know better and said that was the way he always drove (we believed him). He didn't get his first ticket until he was in his late

I'm not always given the score on the visual acuity test, but they'll tell me if I ask. We talk about things, but I don't get any kind of "report."

OD's aren't doctors, and this one sounds like she's just going through the motions. You might want to consider seeing an ophthamologist, if your insurance will cover it. [Take with a grain of salt ... from someone who's had a ton of eye problems the last couple of years!]

Michigan does not prosecute feral illegals for driving without a license nor do they require proof of insurance. I expect Guv Whitmeer and SOS Benson to drop those racist requirements for all registered Democrats.

Actually, O.D. Are doctors. They're doctors of optometry. They don't have the amount or type of training as ophthalmologists and have limitations as to what they are licensed to do. For example, they can't do surgery. See:

You are so cynical. If the state were telling a competent driver that he could not have a license because he was 90 y.o., you'd be screaming bloody murder about the fascist state. Plenty are still physically and mentally competent at that age, and competent drivers have a right to a driver's license.

Of course. :-) Great story.

My mother was a good driver, didn't have an accident until she was over

She was born in 1908, and when she was 12 her father took her out and showed her how to drive. In 1920. Indiana didn't have drivers exams or licenses until 1929. So she was driving since she was 12.

When she was in her 40's, we lived in a small city in Pa. with a 250 foot driveway which one had to back down to get to the street. My aunt said my mother came down the driveway like "a bat out of hell".

She stopped driving when she was about 83 and died when she was 88.

When looking for an apartment here she wanted one where she could walk to the grocery store, in case she had to stop driving, but by the time that happened, she couldn't walk the 5 blocks each way either. She paid someone to take her shopping.

Wow.

I was in Guatemala City for several day this year. I'm 77 and it was a real challenge, the whole country was, narrow roads, lots of traffic, everyone speeding along (or was that Miami) but I didn't damage the rental car. We'll see how I do when I'm 85, God willing.

My ex-gf pointed out that those numbers only come when there's a prescription for glasses, so that I didn't get those numbers is okay.

To repeat myself, those numbers tell the optician what kind of glasses to make, no glasses, no need for numbers.

I called and asked the office to have her call me. I don't plan to complain higher up, but I want to discuss this with her before she ruins her career. I'm changing eye doctors regardless. I can afford it, but there is no rush because they measured my eye pressure and it was okay. .... Although come to think of it, shouldn't the eye pressures be in the report too, so after each eye exam, I or the next MD/OD can tell if it's gone up, even if it it's not in the glaucoma range yet.

Sorry, I misspoke, should have said that an optometrist is not an M.D. Big difference in my book, maybe not so much for others. Depends on what sort of problems you have, I guess.

Five eye surgeries in one year, so I know what ophthamologists do, but thank you for the pointer.

I get those 3 plus "add", a set of numbers for each eye.

I use relatively cheap reading glasses for distance (driving) - diopter = sphere, and reading - diopter = sphere + add. Only works for positive numbers (farsighted?).

They tell me 20/x if I ask.