←back to thread

Ask HN: Do your eyes bug you even though your prescription is "correct"?

340 points jbornhorst | 9 comments | 07 Mar 25 17:09 UTC | HN request time: 1.3s | source | bottom

I’m digging into an idea around eyeglasses, screen-time, and vision discomfort. If you wear prescription glasses but still get headaches, eye strain, or blurry vision after long screen days, I’d love to chat briefly (20–30 min).

Pure research, zero selling.

Interested? Drop a comment below or email me directly at jbornhorst [at] gmail.com. I’ll coordinate a convenient time to talk.

Show context
avalys ◴[07 Mar 25 18:19 UTC] No.43292628[source]▶
Anecdotally related, but, during Covid and remote work I went to an optometrist around age 35 after I noticed my distance vision was blurry, especially at night after working inside all day.

They told me "you have 20/20 vision, your vision is completely fine, you don't need glasses!" But, I responded, my vision is definitely blurry. They politely told me to stop wasting their time.

Dissatisfied, I went to another optometrist, and paid closer attention to the whole process. After some discussion with the doctor, we arrived at the conclusion - I've had essentially 20/7 vision my entire life, and now in certain circumstances my vision has degraded to 20/20!

They gave me a prescription and now I am perfectly happy having laser-sharp vision again when I want it.

replies(1): >>43295059 #
1. simoncion ◴[07 Mar 25 21:42 UTC] No.43295059[source]▶
How the hell did you convince your optometrist to correct your vision to 20/7?

The past two docs I've been two have ignored me when I've said "I can make out the letters, but they're blurry and fuzzy. Can we go stronger?" with "Well, that's corrected to 20/20 vision.".

I'm very, very strongly considering finding a used eye-testing-headgear thingie like they have in their offices, learning how to use it, and doing the testing for myself.

replies(3): >>43295308 #>>43297853 #>>43304083 #
2. walterbell ◴[07 Mar 25 22:08 UTC] No.43295308[source]▶
Search "trial lens set" and "trial lens frame", the portable versions which were used for decades in the past.
replies(2): >>43297761 #>>43320833 #
3. notfed ◴[08 Mar 25 05:36 UTC] No.43297761[source]▶
Wow...thank you for this phrase. I always thought it was impossible to find prescription lenses online, and there's a box with literally all of them...
replies(1): >>43297849 #
4. walterbell ◴[08 Mar 25 05:56 UTC] No.43297849{3}[source]▶
As recommended elsewhere in this thread, EyeBuyDirect is quite good if you have enough knowledge to specify your own glasses and fitting. They are owned by upstream BigLens™, so lens quality is comparable to many opticians, with low pricing since they make their margin on frames. If you need custom fitting height for one of their frames, you can measure and return after receiving the glasses, then they will remake a new pair for free within 14 days of receiving the first pair.
replies(1): >>43298033 #
5. YZF ◴[08 Mar 25 05:57 UTC] No.43297853[source]▶
That's odd. Most optometrists I've seen over my life (and specifically here in Canada, BC) will keep trying to adjust and ask you if it's sharper or not before they settle on the numbers. They'll go higher or lower power and/or astigmatism in different increments. They're also generally pretty cool with things like testing with a laptop monitor and getting the sharpest computer prescription.

Maybe this is your sweet spot?

replies(1): >>43328511 #
6. genewitch ◴[08 Mar 25 06:38 UTC] No.43298033{4}[source]▶
I've used GlassesUSA.com before as well. I kind of switch between them depending on who has a better sale for my kids' glasses.
7. jbornhorst ◴[08 Mar 25 22:19 UTC] No.43304083[source]▶
Would love to chat if you’re up for it. I’m at jbornhorst [at] gmail [dot] com
8. simoncion ◴[10 Mar 25 14:10 UTC] No.43320833[source]▶
Oh, sweet. Thanks very much for this new and useful vocabulary.
9. simoncion ◴[11 Mar 25 02:21 UTC] No.43328511[source]▶
> Maybe this is your sweet spot?

I doubt it. I played around a bit with the hand-lenses and was able to get a much more clear picture by increasing the lens strength more than the doctor was willing to.

If the doctor was making any sort of tradeoff, they were not informing me of it. They kept asserting that I was "corrected to 20/20" when I protested that the letters on the chart were still quite fuzzy. If they'd have informed me of a "close range vs. long range" lens tradeoff, I would have happily informed them of my willingness to have multiple pairs of glasses.