Ophthalmologists and glasses?

[residency1234]

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I noticed that many ophthalmologists don't wear glasses. Is it generally frowned upon if an ophthalmologist/ ophtho resident wears glasses? Is it more difficult to do surgeries/refractions? Just curious.

 

[airplanes]

Weird. A very large portion of the faculty and residents at my home department wear glasses.

I always thought it was because no one wants to chance the minimal, but very real, risks of refractive surgery.

 

[kwel]

Weird. A very large portion of the faculty and residents at my home department wear glasses.

I always thought it was because no one wants to chance the minimal, but very real, risks of refractive surgery.

That's why one (non-ophthalmology) surgeon told me he didnt want LASIK.

Also, and this is purely a guess on my part, I think our generation has more myopic people who have to wear glasses (just an observation). I'm guessing it's because of all the amazeballs technology we grew up with, but again I could be wrong. Most of my profs wear reading glasses though.

 

[Dusn]

Most of the refractive surgeons I know have gotten LASIK or PRK themselves.

 

[dantt]

all employees are discouraged from wearing glasses in refractive clinic

 

[ophthope]

Most of the refractive surgeons I know have gotten LASIK or PRK themselves.

The refractive surgeons I know all have gotten refractive surgery as well. They all love it. I suppose they wouldn't be doing it on other people if they felt like the risks were too great.

 

[MstaKing10]

I love my glasses. Have worn them since I was 6 years old and it's part of the reason I got into ophthalmology in the first place. I wouldn't get LASIK due to the infinitely small risk of a complication. In my case, if I don't have excellent vision and steropsis, I can't operate, and that is a career ender. I also have horrible dry eye and am sure LASIK would make this significantly worse. I like the eye protection they offer me in the OR and outdoors. Lastly, my degree of myopia is mild and I look forward to having near vision without the need for reading glasses well into my 50-60's, something I would lose if I had LASIK.

 

[residency1234]

I agree with all of you. I love my glasses, and I intend to wear them. I just noticed that many residents and attendings seem to not wear them, which is why I asked the question.

 

[DrZeke]

Yup, my prescription isn't that strong, but my stereopsis is better with my glasses 🙂

 

[dantt]

Strange. My experience has been the opposite. Almost every ophthalmologist / optometrist i know wears corrective lenses and I've only met one person who had refractive surgery (prior to medical school).

 

[fun8stuff]

Almost every ophthalmologist / optometrist i know wears corrective lenses and I've only met one person who had refractive surgery (prior to medical school).[/QUOTE]

Almost all wear glasses for risks stated above.

 

[Noegrus]

Also, and this is purely a guess on my part, I think our generation has more myopic people who have to wear glasses (just an observation). I'm guessing it's because of all the amazeballs technology we grew up with, but again I could be wrong. Most of my profs wear reading glasses though.

I would attribute it to better diagnosis, availability of cheap(ish) and easily accessable refractive services, and the requirement to read things 24/7 for each and every task in our daily lives.