Dear Steve,
This is *MY* objective understanding of a minus lens. Yes, a minus lens DOES make your distant vision extremely sharp, in an office, in several minutes. The ODs tell me that ANY wearing of a minus "has no effect", and is "perfectly safe". Here is what pure science shows.
http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wildsoet/images/neg_lens_induce_myopia.swfThis is why I suggest avoiding the minus - as much as possible. I very-wll understand the difficulties of doing that.
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Yes, It does help me understand. (Otis> Good, WRT difficuties, the PRENTICE statement convinced me no OD could help me. His remarks that the "public" finds plus-prevention "tedious" explains why no OD will bother discussing this issue.
Steve> So this is what i will do :
1 As soon as i can read at more then 50 cm from computer screen, with my naked eyes, i will start using plus lenses to read at the edge of blur. (Otis> That is 20 inches. When you can do that, your "calcuated" refractive state would be -2.0 diopters. Let me add this "marker" for success. When you begin to read the 20/60 line (most of letters) that indeed will be a "red letter day").
2. I will get the -2 glasses for both eyes, like you said Otis and use them only for activities where i require my eyes to focus not less then 1 meter away ( because the -2 glasses will make my eyes see perfect at 1 meter) ... [ -3 are my eyes now, with the 2 aid from glasses results in 1 diopter left untreated, meaning at 1 meter perfect vision. ]
Otis> This is where YOUR Snellen on the wall and YOUR "test" minus lens will help. You MUST pass the 20/25 line though a minus that you select - to drive a car. This is indeed a matter of personal responsiblity.
Steve> Looking at anything below 1 meter will make my eyes more myopic with the -2 glasses.
Using correctly the -2, will keep the far images in blur and will prevent further deterioration of my eye.
Otis> When you CAN read the Computer with no lens - that is a big START. You distant vision will still be blurred, so you will use a -2 only when "looking" at objects beyond you screen. (yes this is a pain-in-the ass to do.)
3 Once my distance vision with the -2 glasses gets closer to 20/20 i will go for a -1 lens.
Otis> That will be the plan. It is a very slow process - of course.
I will use a plus lens indoors for reading, computer work. I will avoid minus lens indoors except for television. I will use no glasses or a small plus lens when going in the park. I will use the minus lens only for critical work at the job.
Steve> Is my judgement correct ?
Otis> That is a good approach. But it is a slow process. I think both of us understand how hard it is to sustain the motivation to keep the minus off the face when doing "near work". I also hope you reach the point (in about six months) were you can begin to read the 20/70 and 20/60 lines on your "home Snellen".
Otis> In my opinion, you are trying to "reverse" the effect of wearing a strong minus - for years. Feel free to post your experience as you go though this process.