SUBJECT: PERSONAL OBJECTIVE CHECKING IS NECESSARY.
I believe in intelligent self checking. I also believe that many ODs simply “give up” on the general public, and will not take the time to discuss the issue of “self-prevention”, when you can still read the 20/40 line. (Passes the DMV requirement of 20/40 for almost all DMV test.)
Since an OD has given up on you, I suggest this self-measurement to be a protective, or self-defense measure. I constantly see people with a -1.0 to -1.75 diopter prescription, being able to read the 20/40 line. But they never know they are over-prescribed – until they have the fortitude to actually check themselves.
This is the purpose of presenting these self-measurement, and self checking lenses. In addition, with some more skill, assuming you have self-checked 20/40, and have some test-lenses, you can determine the minus lens you will require to read the 20/20 line. This is very easy – when you get comfortable, holding up a lens, and finding the minimum minus to give you 20/20.
THIS IS NOT MEDICAL.
It is just objective science and common sense. It no sense will it replace a full medical exam, conducted by an ophthalmologist. But – the habit of “prescription” in an office is to give you the strongest minus possible. This means that, even if you have 20/20, you will be given a -1.0 diopter, for the simple reason that that lens will give you 20/13, and even 20/10 vision.
But it is well-known that wearing a minus lens, simply makes your vision ‘adapt’ to that strong minus – and you get down to 20/60, and self-measured -2.0 diopters.
Virtually no OD will take the time to explain this issue to you. This is my objection to this type of “excessive practice”. This is why I do these measurement myself. If I can not get 20/20 though a -2 diopter lens (at home), then I certainly will go to an ophthalmologist to find out what the medical problem is – that prevents me from demonstrating 20/20 to myself.
It is early wise prevention steps – that are necessary to never start wearing a minus lens – by always objectively exceeding the required 20/40 line – at home.
You can make your own judgments about these issues yourself.
THE MINUS LENS IS VERY ATTRACTIVE AS PER THIS VIDEO FROM “END MYOPA”
http://endmyopia.org/matt-50-prescription-reduction-since-2014/
So – how do you resist that first minus lens? In this video, the person probably has about 20/40. The minus (with the leaves), gives about 20/13 vision. The point is this – you must check your Snellen yourself. That is the start of self-imposed prevention.
It does indeed take an effort to do this checking. Your OD has NO CONCERN about your long-term vision – and your desire to keep it. In fact, he will not even help HIS OWN CHILDREN. (Read “OD MYOPIC KIDS”, on this site.)
That is the “last straw” for me. I must help myself – because the OD will not help me – although quite a few recognize that it would be wise to do it.
I have no choice – but to take responsibility that the ODs refuse to accept. That is open public information about this critical issue.
A good start, would be that they state that they help their own child, by insisting that THEIR child always wears a plus when doing close work.
But since they do not “see there way clear” to say that – I must choose to protect my own vision by 1) Confirming my own vision to be 20/20, and 2) Measuring my own refractive status – objectively. That is how I avoid any “fighting” with an OD about this critical issue.
Trial Lenses for Home Checking
Subject: Using a Trial Lens set to measure your refractive STATE.
A Snellen seen through a -1/2 diopter minus lens.
Snellen as seen through a -1/2 diopter lens.
This is what plus and minus lenses look like — with a Snellen chart:
Below is how to obtain a full-fledged Trial-lens set, as well has how to obtain some personal “check lenses” for your own use.
I need low-cost test lenses – that are easy to obtain. They are not “prescription”, so I do not need a prescription. Here is a simplified video on how to order these low-cost glasses. You will order a -1 and a -1/2 diopter for the glasses. Your PD is 60, and you will require, “single vision”. The cost is about $7.
This is the basic idea – for checking your refractive state – yourself. Here is a more complete video from Zennioptical.
I know that a considerable number of prescriptions – are given in a “hurry”. There is no serious attempt to have the person measure his Snellen visual acuity himself.
I do see over-prescriptions of about -1 diopter consistently. By this I mean that, at home the person measures at 20/20, yet he will be prescribed a -1.0 diopters – with NO DISCUSSION, that you should not wear a minus – because you have 20/20.
How and why does this happen?
Myopiafree 
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Here is a review of four basic lenses – and what they show against a Snellen chart.
Any serious person – who needs to achieve 20/20 from 20/50, needs to have an accurate Snellen set up. This is for consistent viewing. It will take about six months of consistent wearing of a preventive plus lens – to change your refractive state from -1.0 diopters to 0.0 diopters, and verify you read the 20/20 line. Here is the simplified set-up.
As an Engineer, I like to do my own measurements – that is the only way I will trust my results. I only need a few test lenses, of – 1/2, -1, +1/2 and +1.0 diopters. Here is a video of these test lenses.
Here is what a “formal” Trial-Lens kit looks like:
http://www.optometrial.com/trial-lens-sets/232-lens-sets/trial-lens-set-232pc-lens-shiny-plastic-rim-1
Very few people have serious “astigmatism” issues – so I just use a “spherical” lens to confirm that I have 20/20 with glasses.
Low cost trial frames.
http://www.optometrial.com/trial-lens-sets/trial-frames
Plus trial lenses.
School children and prevention.
Yes – it is necessary.
I believe in being safe. But – because I see no help coming from an optometrist. For this reason, I must personally check my own eyes, using this so-called, “subjective method”.
The key issue is this. Do you have a true medical problem?
The optometrist tells us to use a pin-hole lens. If you are reading the 20/50 line, and you use a pin-hold, and can read the 20/20 line, then you do not have a medical problem.
This is critical for anyone who chooses to restore their distant vision, using various Bates methods, and a plus lens. You can not solve your refraction issue, until you have personally verified your vision using that pin hole.
Better version of ordering glasses:
Click on 4.00 for the basic ordering form.