Eyesight (NOT THE USUAL QUESTION)

[MANOMAN]

HI ALL!

I am 18 and due to the current situation with few jobs in the market I am heading off to University to do a Computer Science degree for 3 years. After that I am planning to for fill my ambition of becoming an airline pilot.

I was wondering whether my eyesight will deteriorate more? I went to the optician last year and they said i needed glasses.

My prescription was:

Right. .Sph: -0.75

Left. .Sph: -1.00

(No reported astigmatism)

I refused to buy any glasses because I had read a lot on pprune about how glasses make your eyes more dependant on them and so your eyes get worse.. .The thing is that I know that my eyesight has deteriorate since then and I am due to go for another examination. I will defiantly have to buy some glasses this time round.

My questions are:

1.) Will my eyes really get any worse by doing the degree?

2.) I heard something about short sightedness stabilises in your mid 20's - is this TRUE?

3.) Will contacts help my eyes more as it shapes the eyes back to their normal shape (slowly!!)?

4.) Is there anyone who has needed glasses before the age of 20, and if so have your eyes got worse a lot since?

I know that my eyes are below the Class 1 limit of -5.00 but I would still like to know how much the will deteriorate.

I would be most grateful for ANY advise or information.

MANOMAN <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[MajorMadMax]

MANOMAN

I would recommend talking to a professional, everybody's eyes are different and all you are going to get are different facts and opinions which you cannot base anything on.

As you can read in a different topic under 'Medical & Health', I just had PRK surgery via the USAF, I have worn contact lenses for almost 25 years prior, and have a slight color discrepancy.

My eye continued to get worse over the years, contacts did not stop the trend nor did they reverse it, college did put a lot of strain on my eyes as did many of my AFROTC buds, and whoever told you nearsightedness stabilizes in your 20's is a lying sod!

So completely disregard the above paragraph and see an optician annually to get the full facts on your eyesight. Otherwise you could be doing more damage than good.

Best of luck, and if you do get worse, hopefully there will be corrective procedures such as PRK that will be available to keep you qualified.

Cheers!

[redsnail]

Your eyes stop growing at around 25 years old. Later age kicks in and other problems emerge.. .If you need glasses you ought to wear them when required to stop eyestrain and the resultant head aches.. .As stated above, get professional advice.. .Good luck.

[Hermie]

Tiger_Moth,Unleash the Tiger in You

Read this thread below, it'll give you the confidence to be without those glasses. By the way, I'm a Multimedia Designer and I use the computer alot and NOPE my eyes has not deteriorated.

<a href="http://www.pprune.org/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=52&t=000710&p=" target="_blank">http://www.pprune.org/cgibin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=52&t=000710&p=</a>

Have Faith

Best Regards,. .Herman <img src="cool.gif" border="0">

[Warrior Chief]

Eyes are like teeth - you only ever get one set to play with.

Ingore hearsay and anecdotes. Get to trust a good professional and follow their advice. If you need glasses wear them. Avoid laser treatment unless it's your ONLY way to get a licence back or wait until its got a more proven track record.

The rules on eyesight are going to get less constrained with time so try not to get too worked up at this stage. Your current correction leaves loads of headroom! If your eyes are going to change, they will change and there's not alot you can do about it.

Just make sure you do everything reasonable that you can to look after them now.

<img src="eek.gif" border="0">