Eyes Right!
Yesterday afternoon I had my eyes examined, it being two years since my last test. I went with some trepidation because for the past several visits to the optometrist have resulted in a new prescription and the consequent need to fork out a not inconsiderable amount of dosh on new spectacles. I wear varifocals as I have both astigmatism (which primarily affects long-distance vision) and the usual problem at close range for people of my age. Varifocal lenses are rather expensive but do work pretty well for me. Since I’m now a member of the Over-Sixties Club I just assumed there would be steady deterioration from now on.
Every time I go to the opticians they seem to have different kit and a different procedure, but this time – to my surprise – the result was the same as last time: no change in prescription and therefore no need to buy new glasses. It was good to learn that my vision is relatively stable. I’m set for the next two years, unless I lose or break my specs and need to replace them.
Before the eye test itself I had a retinal exam which involved taking a picture of the back of my eye. This wasn’t carried out by the optometrist but by an assistant, but the resulting photographs were delivered magically onto the optometrist’s computer screen and shown to me. It turns out my eyes are reasonably healthy. Indeed the picture of my retina has hardly changed since the one from two years ago…
In the Dark 
October 17, 2024 at 11:29 am
Peter, that looks like a spicy sausage!
Are you still playing your sax?
October 17, 2024 at 5:21 pm
I’m not sure how your second sentence follows from the first, but I currently only have a soprano sax – I lent the tenor to a friend just before the pandemic and never got it back…
October 17, 2024 at 3:47 pm
I have my eyes tested every 6 months due to an ongoing condition. Have been getting the retinal scans for a few years now. I remember the first time I went, and the optician asked if my eyes had ever been checked. I said they had always been brown.
I’ll get me coat.
November 17, 2024 at 3:55 pm
In many years of hearing every kind of response from patient questions, I’ve never had that as a response.
As someone who loves a good joke – keep your coat on the shelf, you can stay (at least in my clinic!)