when did you last have your eyes checked?

**pseudonym** · 02-11-2012, 09:41 PM

Just curious. I've been noticing that I'm taking my glasses off and getting real close to the work when I have to put a screw in or something. Finally dug up my Rx and it was last done in 2007. Guess it's true that the cobbler's kids run around barefoot.

So tell the truth- when were yours last checked?

**braheem24** · 02-11-2012, 09:51 PM

DFE over 8 years ago.

**obxeyeguy** · 02-11-2012, 10:22 PM

I had one eye dilated in '98 when we were playing with a new camera.

**Fezz** · 02-11-2012, 10:58 PM

3 weeks ago!

**optical24/7** · 02-12-2012, 02:15 AM

Right after I killed my garden hose thinking it was a snake!

**Chris Ryser** · 02-12-2012, 03:20 AM

4-5 years ago after my cataract operations, and probably need no other Rx anymore, also will need no glasses to kill a gardenhose because here in Florida you will know when you step on a Burmese Python...................

**chip anderson** · 02-12-2012, 08:06 AM

Chris, since you felt I needed a lecture on corneal anatomy and keratitis I have to take a short parting shot.
While your Rx is unlikely to change after cataract surgery, those getting older and those after cataract surgery
(even cheap government benefit cataract surgery) are far more prone to have all sorts of maladies. I won't tole you with all the details, but things like leaky retinal vessels, detached retinas, glaucoma, macular degeneration, hypertensive damage, diabetic retinopathy, etc. Are far, more likely to occur, hense one should perhaps have more need for an eye exam than most of the population.

Chip

**cocoisland58** · 02-12-2012, 08:08 AM

I have tweaked my own Rx for a lot of years but recently had an exam which proved that my tweaks were accurate. I have never had my eyes dilated

(I know).

**Sean** · 02-12-2012, 09:24 AM

I have a appt Monday....tomorrow as a matter of fact.

**Chris Ryser** · 02-12-2012, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by chip anderson

Chris, since you felt I needed a lecture on corneal anatomy and keratitis I have to take a short parting shot.
While your Rx is unlikely to change after cataract surgery, those getting older and those after cataract surgery
(even cheap government benefit cataract surgery) are far more prone to have all sorts of maladies.

Chip.........................I am fully aware that you are well informed on this subject, so I just picked up the subject you started to let the other thousands of in-lookers know about it.

However the cheap government cataract surgery we go through up north, is paid by our contribution to the health care system with every paycheque we take home there is a deduction of $ 27.00 for healthcare, and the employer pays another $ 27.00 for a total of $ 54.00. (With higher incomes this figure increases) So that is not peanuts, we pay for it. The young ones that are mostly healthy do pay in for years without using the system until they, have something, get older when things can happen.
A Naples ophthalmologist offered me to do it on their own premises for $ 4000.00 each.

I saw a 2010 study by the McGill Univerty on the cost of a by pass operation with a 4 to 5 day hospitalization period included, which comes to $ 38,500.

I went through that in Fall 2010, double by-pass and aortic valve replacement, 1 1/2 years ago, but they kept me in the hospital for 3 weeks and I never had to pay one cent out of my own pocket.
The operation was six hours under the knife, und 5 of them on a hart lung machine with the hart stopped.

The charges in a US Hospital would have been between $ 250,000 and 300,000. My wife checked herself into a Naples Hospital at 8pm a few years back with some chest pain and they released her at 1am with the comment of nothing wrong with her. The charge was $ 12,000.
Next day a private doctor diagnosed a broken rib.

I have tasted the US system and actually prefer our "cheap government benefit" system.

**Wes** · 02-12-2012, 10:59 AM

Right after christmas. Before that, Nov 2009, so about every two years.

**tdj** · 02-12-2012, 12:03 PM

Last February. I normally go every year, but am putting this one off due to pregnancy.

**rbaker** · 02-12-2012, 12:50 PM

Since I have passed the "big 70" I have a comprehensive eye exam every two years in conjunction with my annual FAA medical renewal. These exams have been unremarkable for the past ten years and I am still wearing essentially the same distance correction although I do wear a variety of multifocals for different purposes.

**Happylady** · 02-12-2012, 02:21 PM

I just had an eye exam last month and before that it was the summer of 2010. I generally get one every year but somehow skipped it last year.

I do notice that when older people don't need prescription glasses (due to lasik or using drugstore ones) they often skip going to the eye doctor. I have one friend who had lasik about 15 years ago and hasn't been to the eye doctor since! I just found this out the other day and suggested it would be a good idea just to go for a checkup but I doubt he will.

**chip anderson** · 02-12-2012, 02:30 PM

Mr. Baker is a bit short here. Every two years is for young healthy people. Those over 40 should have one every year.
Chris: Just get a damn eye exam. Unlike cataracs most of the other things that go wrong with older eyes can't be fixed if you wait until you can preceive the problem.

Chip

**gmc** · 02-12-2012, 02:34 PM

2007 after my cataract surgery at age 47

**rbaker** · 02-12-2012, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by chip anderson

Mr. Baker is a bit short here. Every two years is for young healthy people. Those over 40 should have one every year.
Chris: Just get a damn eye exam. Unlike cataracs most of the other things that go wrong with older eyes can't be fixed if you wait until you can preceive the problem.

Chip

Sez who?

**braheem24** · 02-12-2012, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by tdj

Last February. I normally go every year, but am putting this one off due to pregnancy.

Congratulations!

**chip anderson** · 02-12-2012, 09:25 PM

Mr. Baker:
All of the 300 or so OMD's it has been my privaledge to work and associate with over the 52 years I have been in the optical business. As well as every advisory I have ever read on the subject. Not to mention myself after having seen about 3800 prosthetic eye patients, many of whom could have forgone the need for my services had they just had regular exams before thier conditions got acute.

Chip

**mlm** · 02-13-2012, 01:02 AM

I go every year. My refraction is relatively stable, but I had a retinal tear in 1996 or 97 (can't quite remember anymore) so I will not skip a yearly DFE.

**Matthew** · 02-13-2012, 12:02 PM

I check my own eyes...

**AngeHamm** · 02-13-2012, 01:39 PM

April of last year. A few tweaks. Haven't had a full dilated exam in several years, though.

**pseudonym** · 02-13-2012, 01:57 PM

Had the full exam this morning. Lost a half diopter of correction in both eyes. I must say, the dilation didn't take long to wear off. The last time I was dilated, things were psychedelic for quite some time.

**chip anderson** · 02-13-2012, 04:00 PM

Mathew: Tole me how you checks dem retinal vessels, pressures eye grounds, etc. on youself! Refracting yourself I can understand. A complete eye exam I don't.

Chip

**Diane** · 02-15-2012, 11:24 AM

Ladies and gentlemen....please get a regular eye exam. I believe that an annual exam should be done every year.:) Not just for the young, not just for the old. Too much to miss if we don't see.

Diane