Distance Script To Relieve Up-Close Eyestrain?

[187502]

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I recently saw a 1st year University student for a compulsory sports physical in anticipation of spring/summer conditioning for fall/winter sports and she complained of headaches and blurring in her distance vision after extended period of studying and/or using her laptop to review powerpoints, etc...

I tested her with my trusty reading card held at the proper distance and her near vision was better than 20/20 without glasses. No known occular pathology, simple ophthalmoscope exam was nominal.

I suggested that it was likely eyestrain and that she should make an appointment with her optometrist to discuss the issue. She said she had just seen her optometrist in Aug. before starting school and couldn't really afford to go again, let alone get another pair of glasses.

She asked whether she could wear her distance script to relieve her up-close eyestrain without any long term consequences. I said I didn't know, but I could try to find out and let hew know on follow-up (have to call her anyway since she had routine bloodwork done). She brought a copy of her nearsighted script which read:

OD: Sph:-1.00/Cyl: +4.50 Axis: 167
OS: Sph:-1.50/Cyl: --

Besides pushing for her to make an appointment with her optometrist, should I tell her to avoid attempting to use her nearsighted script to relieve her up-close eyestrain or should it not be an issue?

 

[EyeBaller]

I recently saw a 1st year University student for a compulsory sports physical in anticipation of spring/summer conditioning for fall/winter sports and she complained of headaches and blurring in her distance vision after extended period of studying and/or using her laptop to review powerpoints, etc...

I tested her with my trusty reading card held at the proper distance and her near vision was better than 20/20 without glasses. No known occular pathology, simple ophthalmoscope exam was nominal.

I suggested that it was likely eyestrain and that she should make an appointment with her optometrist to discuss the issue. She said she had just seen her optometrist in Aug. before starting school and couldn't really afford to go again, let alone get another pair of glasses.

She asked whether she could wear her distance script to relieve her up-close eyestrain without any long term consequences. I said I didn't know, but I could try to find out and let hew know on follow-up (have to call her anyway since she had routine bloodwork done). She brought a copy of her nearsighted script which read:

OD: Sph:-1.00/Cyl: +4.50 Axis: 167
OS: Sph:-1.50/Cyl: --

Besides pushing for her to make an appointment with her optometrist, should I tell her to avoid attempting to use her nearsighted script to relieve her up-close eyestrain or should it not be an issue?

From the Rx it seems like she probably saw an Ophthalmologist (plus cyl). In theory wearing a Rx more wouldn't hurt but her prescription is very different between the two eyes, I'm not sure how well she'd tolerate it. There's a lot more information needed here based on her symptoms. My advice would be to refer to an Optometrist, preferably someone who is involved in binocularity or vision therapy.