Polarized lenses with Cataracts

**pto2c** · 09-26-2012, 11:24 AM

I am a 40 year optician, in a optometric setting..
I am selling a 65 year old on sunglasses, I was mentioning polarized lenses,
just as the OD is walking by he stops and says
"Oh NO, she has cataracts she shouldn't wear polarized lenses"
1st for me to hear that one... anyone else heard that???

**Judy Canty** · 09-26-2012, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by pto2c

I am a 40 year optician, in a optometric setting..
I am selling a 65 year old on sunglasses, I was mentioning polarized lenses,
just as the OD is walking by he stops and says
"Oh NO, she has cataracts she shouldn't wear polarized lenses"
1st for me to hear that one... anyone else heard that???

Also a 40+ year Optician and no, I've never heard that. Nor could I find any specific contraindications in my "Systems" book.

**mdeimler** · 09-26-2012, 11:53 AM

How old is the OD in question ?

**pto2c** · 09-26-2012, 11:57 AM

He is in his early 50s

**drk** · 09-26-2012, 12:02 PM

I don't see any reason.

**mdeimler** · 09-26-2012, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by pto2c

"Oh NO, she has cataracts she shouldn't wear polarized lenses"
1st for me to hear that one... anyone else heard that???

Maybe the Dr. actually said "Oh no, she's a CO-PILOT she shouldn't wear polarized lenses."
You know, to read the controls...just kidding. That makes no sense. He probably feels it's too late to care.

**drk** · 09-26-2012, 01:45 PM

Maybe the doc knows the patient has that rare cross-polarized cataract, and knows that if he wears polarized sunglasses, his vision will go black!

**NCspecs** · 09-26-2012, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by drk

Maybe the doc knows the patient has that rare cross-polarized cataract, and knows that if he wears polarized sunglasses, his vision will go black!

This made me snort! Thanks! :)

**sharpstick777** · 09-26-2012, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by drk

Maybe the doc knows the patient has that rare cross-polarized cataract, and knows that if he wears polarized sunglasses, his vision will go black!

Funny!

**Varangian** · 09-28-2012, 04:29 AM

Maybe the OD confused polarized with photochromatic, as photochromatic mineral lenses score pretty low in the UV department.

**jonathan barber** · 09-29-2012, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by Varangian

Maybe the OD confused polarized with photochromatic, as photochromatic mineral lenses score pretty low in the UV department.

Possibly, but it seems so unlikely that he (the OD) would confuse the two lens options. Polarization is a fairly basic optical principle that I hope any OD would be aware of. If it were me in that particular situation, I would simply ask the OD his reasoning behind it and get his perspective on it. Who knows, there may be a method to his madness after all!

**uncut** · 09-29-2012, 10:30 PM

Originally Posted by pto2c

I am a 40 year optician, in a optometric setting..
I am selling a 65 year old on sunglasses, I was mentioning polarized lenses,
just as the OD is walking by he stops and says
"Oh NO, she has cataracts she shouldn't wear polarized lenses"
1st for me to hear that one... anyone else heard that???

This is also a new one for me......I can only come up with the logic of .......... "reduced visual acuity". Perhaps that was what he was thinking!

Welcome to the forum pto2c.....great first thread!

**uncut** · 09-29-2012, 10:39 PM

On second thought.................a lot of polarized ready-to-wear sun glass lenses are not as dark as their non-polarized equivalents. If she was exceptionally light sensitive, temporarily...............would that be the advice thrown out there by him?

**curtains1** · 10-04-2012, 01:05 PM

If the patient has cataracts and they are being referred to have them removed, perhaps the doctor was recommending a lesser costing sunglass lens since the rx will change right after surgery, and the customer will have to repurchase lenses.

**CCGREEN** · 10-04-2012, 02:25 PM

Or he could be a Dr on a ego trip with his title and its..............just because I said so and I don think its nessary.

But I like Curtains1 explination.

**Robert Martellaro** · 10-04-2012, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by pto2c

I am a 40 year optician, in a optometric setting..
I am selling a 65 year old on sunglasses, I was mentioning polarized lenses,
just as the OD is walking by he stops and says
"Oh NO, she has cataracts she shouldn't wear polarized lenses"
1st for me to hear that one... anyone else heard that???

Hooey, unless he's a pilot. Otherwise use brown/amber polarized lenses for perceived/real improvement in contrast. Grey is too dark for the oldsters, who generally have about 50% less retinal illumination than young adults. Fitovers are the best choice for those on a limited eyeglasses budget.

**AdmiralKnight** · 10-05-2012, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by curtains1

If the patient has cataracts and they are being referred to have them removed, perhaps the doctor was recommending a lesser costing sunglass lens since the rx will change right after surgery, and the customer will have to repurchase lenses.

This was my first thought too. Though that being said, if her cataracts are that advanced, she probably shouldn't be buying new glasses at all.