Which is Better 1 or 2?
What do people dislike about an eye exam? Second to dilating drops, I think making the choice between the first and second image creates the most anxiety during an eye exam.
As humans, we are trained early in our lives to do our best and give the correct answer. so here’s a little optometry secret, there is no right answer between 1 or 2. You, the patient, direct the exam. Your answer steers me to the next 2 choices. When your answers aren’t consistent or don’t make sense to me, I will alter the test, but you are never wrong.
The goal of this time-tested method called refraction, is to find the best and most comfortable prescription for you.
Don’t forget to blink. A smooth optical surface, like the one produced after each blink, will make
it easier to see any difference between the 2 options. This is also why your first impression is
the correct one. The longer you stare at an image, the more it changes due to evaporating tears
and accommodation. Guessing is OK, but squinting and straining are not. If the 2 choices look the
same, that is a valid answer. The refraction is a process of bracketing, as we get closer to the
endpoint, the images will look more similar.
I want you to wear the best correction, so relax and blink during your next eye examination.