Question for all you FOUR EYED (Glasses wearing) dentists/dental students

[yorkiepoo]

Although this is a bit obscure thread, it is something I have been trying to figure out...

I am near-sighted and wear an Rx of -1.75 in each eye, however when I am doing close work (ie. using a computer 15" away, reading, doing HW) I take my glasses off to let my eyes relax since I don't need them for close up and actually it feels better with them off. But if the distance is more like 16"+ then I do need classes to see more clearly.

My question then, when practicing dentistry will I be close enough to the patient that I would not want to be wearing glasses? Or does it not matter because I'll probably just be wearing loups.

Anyone else have a similar Rx as me and can relate whatsoever with this?

Thanks

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Streetwolf]

You can get prescription loupes if you decide that you need them. Whoever you get them from should let you test some pairs out to see if you really need a prescription or not.

 

[la690]

I received LASIK recently and I will start dental school in Aug. But my Rx was much worse (4.0/3.75)

 

[beannaithe]

I don't have glasses, but unless you have relatively short arms or hunch over like crazy, I doubt you'd be closer then 16" to a patient. So you might need your glasses to work on patients. Or else you might end up killing your back.

Though if you end up going the route of getting loupes, you can get loupes that are perscriptions. Or flip up loupes that let you wear your glasses, then you can flip your loupes down when you need them.

 

[StL_to_Boston]

I used to wear glasses, I switched to contacts - that way if my prescription changes I just get new disposable lenses, and my loupes never need to be changed.

 

[phantasmagoriun]

This was something that crossed my mind as well, being as I'm -4.75/-4.5 and can't see an damned thing without my glasses, even close up. My prescription hasn't really changed the past 6 years so would prescription loupes be the way to go? It's impossible for me to wear contacts, they just bother the hell out of me. I've considered lasik but I've been told by my doctor to wait till after d-school since I will be undergoing lots of eyestrain and my eyes might get worse. Is it even possible to wear loupes with glasses on?

 

[Wayne Coronado]

This was something that crossed my mind as well, being as I'm -4.75/-4.5 and can't see an damned thing without my glasses, even close up. My prescription hasn't really changed the past 6 years so would prescription loupes be the way to go? It's impossible for me to wear contacts, they just bother the hell out of me. I've considered lasik but I've been told by my doctor to wait till after d-school since I will be undergoing lots of eyestrain and my eyes might get worse. Is it even possible to wear loupes with glasses on?

I had LASIK done after I graduated and wish I would have done it sooner. I can see better than I ever did with contacts (plus I had an astigmatism which was annoying). It may seem like a lot of dough, but in the long run you'll save $$$ not having to buy contacts every few months. I financed it and am paying ~$120/month for 36 months which is not too back-breaking. So far (3 months out) I haven't had any problems aside from dry eyes here and there.

 

[armorshell]

This was something that crossed my mind as well, being as I'm -4.75/-4.5 and can't see an damned thing without my glasses, even close up. My prescription hasn't really changed the past 6 years so would prescription loupes be the way to go? It's impossible for me to wear contacts, they just bother the hell out of me. I've considered lasik but I've been told by my doctor to wait till after d-school since I will be undergoing lots of eyestrain and my eyes might get worse. Is it even possible to wear loupes with glasses on?

Just get prescription loupes, it's a pretty standard thing.

 

[LonestarYankee]

Although this is a bit obscure thread, it is something I have been trying to figure out...

I am near-sighted and wear an Rx of -1.75 in each eye, however when I am doing close work (ie. using a computer 15" away, reading, doing HW) I take my glasses off to let my eyes relax since I don't need them for close up and actually it feels better with them off. But if the distance is more like 16"+ then I do need classes to see more clearly.

My question then, when practicing dentistry will I be close enough to the patient that I would not want to be wearing glasses? Or does it not matter because I'll probably just be wearing loups.

Anyone else have a similar Rx as me and can relate whatsoever with this?

Thanks

I have an almost identical prescription and don't have any problems. I used to wear loupes in dental school, but since starting residency I just wear non-prescription glasses while working on the kiddos. I don't have any problems whatsoever. It just takes a minute or so for my eyes to accomodate if switch from my glasses to my non-rx eyewear. No worries!

 

[djeffreyt]

This was something that crossed my mind as well, being as I'm -4.75/-4.5 and can't see an damned thing without my glasses, even close up. My prescription hasn't really changed the past 6 years so would prescription loupes be the way to go? It's impossible for me to wear contacts, they just bother the hell out of me. I've considered lasik but I've been told by my doctor to wait till after d-school since I will be undergoing lots of eyestrain and my eyes might get worse. Is it even possible to wear loupes with glasses on?

So I'm confused. You'll have a lot of eyestrain in dental school, but once you're a dentist, you won't have much eyestrain anymore from actually practicing dentistry, reading journals, etc and should get lasik then. That's what your doctor essentially told you?

 

[phantasmagoriun]

So I'm confused. You'll have a lot of eyestrain in dental school, but once you're a dentist, you won't have much eyestrain anymore from actually practicing dentistry, reading journals, etc and should get lasik then. That's what your doctor essentially told you?

No he said that at first, my eyes will be strained from looking at things close up and will take some time to get used to it, so I should wait till the worst of the strain is over and my prescription is no longer changing too much, then get the lasik (which will most likely be sometime after school). I've actually heard the same thing from a few doctors so far.

 

[spherulite]

well i wear specks as well and trust me sometimes its a real blessing... i mean sometimes especially when using ultrasonic equipment or just the plane ole hand piece remember there is a large flow of air and water and if not loopes or protection glasses plain ole specks saves you from a lot of spray

 

[gijohn529]

I'm about to go to dental school and asked my sister (an optometrist) the same question. She suggested that I should use a "computer prescription" which is a lighter prescription. I'm at -2.00 in both eyes and she wanted to cut down my Rx to -1.00... that means i would have an extra pair of glasses when i do my work. You can talk to your optometrist and find a different Rx that will suit you.