Dr. Chynn Answers Questions About Laser Vision Correction and Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
Q. My eye doctor came to the conclusion that when my eyes are dilated, I give a reading of about +5.50. About 2-3 years ago I was wearing about a +250 and saw fine for quite a while but my eyes would get easily tired so he’s been slowly adjusting the prescription yearly. Does this make sense?
Current prescription: glasses- +3.75 - 3.75 Axis 180 & Left eye +3.75 -3.75 Axis 165
Dr. Chynn: In a young, high-hyperope such as yourself (a person whose vision is better for distances than for objects near by, also known as farsightedness) should have had your prescription checked with dilated pupils a long time ago. If your eye doctor does not do this, your full + prescription (Rx) will be missed and your reading glasses will be under-prescribed.
Under-prescribed glasses cause eye strain and fluctuating vision, which you have been experiencing, resulting in frequent changes. Currently, your vision correction is not being handled to your best advantage. Expert laser correction would provide you with much better vision than what you are getting now, or are even likely to get with more accurately prescribed glasses.
Q. Does this condition (Hyperopia aka Farsightedness) prevent me from having laser vision correction?
Dr. Chynn: No, and you do not have a ‘condition’. You have a vision problem that has not been handled well. With a thorough workup and the right Rx, I can currently laser you.
Q. I received my free consult at your office a few weeks ago and have a few questions regarding my candidacy for laser vision correction. Being a high, young hyperope, as you have stated previously, and that I am not yet wearing my full dilated prescription, would I be laser corrected to my current +3.75, my dilated ready of +5.50, or somewhere in between? Do I need to wait until I ‘fill out’ to my dilated prescription?
Dr. Chynn: The correct answer is 2) somewhere in between. I have lasered thousands of people like you, and they do best when we shoot for a number between their dry and wet (dilated) Rx. You do not have to wait for your eyes to fill out to your dilated prescription before being lasered.
Q. I understand that one of the main requirements for having laser vision correction surgery is having stable vision. Since my glasses prescription keeps changing, does this rule me out for surgery?
Dr. Chynn: The fact that your prescription is fluctuating a bit does NOT mean you are unstable, but that your old doctor didn’t give you anywhere close to your full + Rx, which is not the same as being unstable–in fact, you are stable, and the other doctor should have dilated you before giving you that last prescription.
Q.Do you, the practicing surgeon do the exam for Lasik pre-qualification? Are you involved in the process of determining if the patient is a good candidate?
Dr. Chynn: I approve all patients preoperatively and you will see me on the day of the pre-op work up when my MD Tech finishes testing your eyes.
