I went to the optometrist today - Eye & Vision Message Board

Jibran · 04-17-2008, 05:52 PM

I have floaters in my eye.. she said it was a result of aging (i am 25) and that at least half of the population has floaters in their eye... which comforted me somewhat.. oddly

I also have weak eye's and asked her how this happens.. she said it all depended on "the shape of your eye" and that nothing causes it but age.. i asked her if T.V. and computers make your eyes weak but she said that was a myth/untrue... she said nothing can prevent bad eyesight from happening and nothing can improve it

however, i found an article stating the opposite

I asked her more than once if anything can be done to take care of the health of my eyes and she told me 'no'.. i was surprised that an optometrist never told me any suggestions about proper eye care and ways to take care of the heath of your eyes

Any thought or suggestions?

mike1961 · 04-17-2008, 11:31 PM

Depending on what you mean by "weak eye," I have heard that with "Lazy Eye" doctors will sometimes patch up the good eye to strengthen the bad one. But, always check with your doctor or get a second opinion.

(EDITED: I misread your post and you said "weak eyes" and not a "weak eye." In any event, you may want to seek a second opinion with an ophthalmologist). If you mean you are nearsighted then some of that does come with age but I do believe that over time the eyes accommodate to what you usually focus on (in other words, I believe if you took a survey of those working close range with computers all day long vs. teachers at school then I would venture that most computer users would be nearsighted while the teachers would be farsighted. But again, a lot is genetic and either way with age it's most likely going to get worse one way or another so thank goodness for glasses, contacts, lasik, etc.).

Best to you,
Mike

KeelaC · 04-18-2008, 07:35 AM

Jibran: What she told you is correct. It is indeed the shape of the eyeball that causes the refractive error. There are exercise programmes out there that promise improved eyesight, and although we've had lots of people on here ask if they work, I don't recall one who tried them and found they did.
Ninety-nine out of a hundred doctors will tell you there is nothing you can do about nearsightedness (I'm assuming that's what you have). There are a few who disagree and I always post Dr Merrill D Bowan's name for people to look up. Eye exercises require persistence and consistency and without proof that they work, who can be bothered?

When it comes to vitamins and supplenents, there are lots that are good for eyes, but they are not going to cure you. For general eye health, take lots of anti-oxidants, either natural or in pill form. You can check what foods are high in anti-oxidants. Make sure you get the recommended dose of B vitamins (B-12 deficiency can cause eye problems, but B deficiency is not common in someone your age) and that's about all you can do.

Nearsighted people have more trouble with floaters. That's again because of the shape of the eyeball. It's elongated and causes the vitreous gel to tug away from the walls of the eyeball, loosening bits of tissue (floaters).

Jibran · 04-18-2008, 06:13 PM

thank u for your comments..

my prescription is SPH (R) -1.25 CYL as

SPH -1.50 (L) CYL -0.25 AXIS 165

Special instructions check marked were UV 400, AR, SR, DISTANCE (all check marked)

I was wondering if floaters can be cured.. maybe through lasik?