Dear Steve,

　

My daughter, age 8, was recently examined by an optometrist and he wrote up this prescription for bifocals, with minus lenses on top and plus lenses on the bottom:

　

OD  -.50  -.25 x 92      Add +1.25

OS  -.50  -.25 x 68  

　

I told him that I didn't want her to get minus lenses, but I agreed to her getting plus lenses, thinking that it could perhaps help her reverse her myopia. So we have ordered +1.25 plus lenses only.

　

But Otis Brown and a couple of other people have told me that +1.25 will be too weak to do any good.  What do you think?

　

Thank you.  I enjoyed reading your website.

　

Mark Hovila

Seattle, Washington

USA

　

Dear Mark,

Thanks for the email.

It seems your child has developed early myopia at a focal status of -0.50 to -0.75 with a little astigmatism 0.25. It will only further develop if nothing is implemented for prevention.

　

Remember, myopia could hardly be recovered if it has been compensated by minus lens.

　

It could only be prevented with the greatest effort, long term commitment and self-motivation.

　

As an educated and insightful parent, I hope you could do all your best to save her vision.

　

Her glasses (+1.25) could retard her vision deterioration speed -- she is still getting worse but slow.

　

Yes, Otis Brown and other "deeper-wisdom" people are correct. The power is not strong enough for your expectation.  +1.25 is good enough for prevention at positive/zero focal status. That means the glasses  have to be put on when she is at normal vision! 

　

You have to consider a stronger plus to maximize the effect of RELAXATION for her own good. The stronger plus (fogging) she can tolerate, the more she will be paid for prevention in the long run. Be patience for the effectiveness of plus lens!

　

Please go over the web site's contents of Otis' and mine (in English) for your thoughtful review.

　

regard,

Steve Leung

optometrist

HKSAR, China