Hi HansK,
I am deeply impressed by your intelligence on this subject. I think this is the wrong question you are asking:
Hans>
So you ask yourself: What did I do wrong? Otis> I would concentrate on what you are doing RIGHT. If I knew you when you were younger, I would have insisted that you start wearing a strong plus (assuming 20/30 to 20/20 vision). But you are wise at this point.
Otis> You should understand this issue as an absolute FACT. If you do not wear the plus, not only will you distant vision not get better, but rather it will go down at a steady rate of -1/2 diopter per year, FOR EACH YEAR IN COLLEGE. If you not believe me in this scientific truth - then tell me.
Otis> If that sense you are doing everything right. Just keeping your vision as passing the required DMV line of 20/40, is indeed success - by that definition. Yes, I know you want to do better, and some people like Todd, get to 20/20.
Otis> The other issue, is going "cold turkey", that I suggest. That means wearing no -1.5 diopter contact lens. It means squinting at times. (There is one exception - and that is driving a car.)
Otis> With respect to "EndMyopia", I know how hard it is to wear the plus - though the school years. Yet that is exactly what my nephew, convinced himself to do. Because he always did it, he kept his distant vision in the 20/30 to 20/20 range. That is why prevention is so damn difficult.
Otis> I think you must continue to wear the plus, and try "stronger plus" at time for all close work. But - on a bright Snellen - you see 20/40 to 20/30, which means you can keep that minus lens off your face.
Otis> I know how hard it is to "resist", that minus lens, but you are in a position to almost totally avoid it. But, from my nephew, and his success, you must continue to wear a plus though the school years. That is how difficult this subject is for all of us.
Otis> This is also way this type of true-prevention, can NEVER be prescribed. This is why your intelligence, to accept that -1/2 diopters per year, is so critical to define success - for the next six years.
This video discusses Todd's D1 and D2 idea. There is some discussion of the need to wear a plus for all close work. I have no problem with the idea of "exercise". The real problem is this NO ONE DOES THEM. For me, it is just far, far easier, to just put a plus lens for all close work, and check my own refraction - myself.
Why do so many people have problems with that concept?
You can use a plus with no benefit, if you read too close. While reading, I always make sure I do "print-pushing", mostly reading with a slight blur. I wear a +1 lens which gives me sharp vision until 40 cm. But I can also read at 50 cm, but with a slight blur. So I read between 40 cm and 50 cm, trying to increase the distance - with no success.
A -1.5 lens gives me sharp vision. With a -1.25 lens, there is a slight blur. It is now almost 1 year starting "vision rehab" and I have seen no result. I made sure I read with a slight blur, distance vision (wearing a -1 lens) with a slight (or moderate, but not excessive) blur (but not for driving or reading tiny graphs in lecture: There, I wear a -1.5 lens). Myopia progression has been stopped successfully, but unfortunately no improvement.
So you ask yourself: What did I do wrong? How did Todd manage to get rid of his glasses? I do what he explains in his presentation, but as I have said: I can't improve my distance vision.
My Snellen score is between 20/30 (best) and 20/60 (worst), mostly 20/40 to 20/50.
I tried staring to clear the blur, also blinking etc. Sometimes, I see temporary improvements (20/30) but no consistent improvement.
So I do not know how to proceed.
Kind regards,
Hans
