Dentists

[TimberWolf]

I am -6 in the one eye and thought that was bad!

I was around -7 in both eyes before LASIK, and was corrected to around -1, -1.75 ealier this year, which is midly shortsighted. I don't have a problem with reading close up with glasses yet, but this small amount of shortightness will mean I will not need to grope for glasses for close work when I am in my 40's and beyond. Unfortunately most people think 20/20 vision is perfect.

-6 is short for -6 diopters; this is the reciprocal of the focal length (of the corrective lens) in metres, meaning your optical system is at infinity at 17 cm from the eye. Before the age of 40 your lens can bring that focal point somewhat closer yet. Or in other words it's not so much that you have bad eyeisght, but have really good eyesight up close. Typically people end up needing +2D lenses or so as they age, though this would be more for longsighted people. Short sighted people can just take off their glasses for close work.

[NotAllThere]

I am -6 in the one eye and thought that was bad!

Our neighbour is something insane - over -20 in one eye.

[cailin maith]

I am -6 in the one eye and thought that was bad!

Me too, in my left eye. Very inconvenient

[oracleslave]

Our neighbour is something insane - over -20 in one eye.

blind

[expat]

Can't find one at all in my area who is taking on NHS patients....

I found a dentist who takes on NHS patients. Trouble is, she won't do all the levels of treatment on the NHS:

£15.90 - This charge includes an examination, diagnosis and preventive care. If necessary, this includes X-rays, scale and polish, and planning for further treatment. Urgent and out-of-hours care also costs £15.90.
£43.60 - This charge includes all necessary treatment covered by the £15.90 charge PLUS additional treatment such as fillings, root canal treatment or extractions.
£194 -This charge includes all necessary treatment covered by the £15.90 and £43.60 charges PLUS more complex procedures such as crowns, dentures or bridges.

She will only do £15.90 treatment on the NHS: i.e. get them in on the NHS but charge them private for the treatment. I also got charged £37 for a clean, when she did the NHS examination, and recommended a clean without specifying that her practice did not offer than on the NHS. I paid up, then googled a bit, then queried the charge. She refunded it - and dropped me from the practice.

Well, I wasn't about to go back anyway, but it was a perfect finish: argue your charges down to NHS level, and you are not wanted.

I'm back on contract in NL and just get it done here.

[TimberWolf]

Even then it'll get you in the end... I'm almost at the stage of needing reading glasses at 54... one eye is ok, but the other one (not so short sighted) will no longer focus comfortably for reading...

It's a bit offputting because I now have a very narrow range where both eyes are properly focussed... and it's getting further & further away...

Yep, it's the ability to accomodate that diminishes and you end up with what the optoms called your cycloplegic refraction, that is the true refractive state of your eye. At an earlier age your eye can accommodate, but only in the positive direction (to make things closer come into focus). Aged 65 or so we only have about 1D of accomodation or less to play with, so that's the range you notice getting less. What's your prescription, presumably it's less than -2D ? A lot of people choose monovision and get used to reading with one eye but need glasses for best vision. I did something unusual and opted to have both eyes left slightly miopic, rather than loose the stereopsis.

[KathyWoolfe]

I'm lucky in that I only need glasses for reading (both books and computer screen) and I get those non-prescription glasses from chemists +2 diopters I think.
I put this healthiness down to the fact that I used to read a book whilst simultaneously keeping watching the TV.

And how did we end up talking about eye problems on a thread about dentists