Over the last thirty years, I have strongly requrested that I not be “prescribed” any “Cyl”, provided I could pass the required DMV test. The ODs who I talked to had no problem honoring that request that only a Spherical lens be applied.
Here is a statement by Dr. Raphaelson that the “prescription” for astigmatism be avoided. Since there will be disagreement about avoiding this “prescription”, let us call this the second-opinion.
WHAT ABOUT ASTIGMATISM?
By Dr. Jacob Raphaelson
I have been asked many times the following question: How can I give a pair of plus 1.00d spherical glasses to a child without examination and without finding out whether or not he has astigmatism? Let me tell you about this.
I have been pondering this question to myself for many years. It was only a few years ago that I came to a conclusion. It is not only proper to give spherical plus glasses to a child who seems to have astigmatism, but it is, in reality, the best thing to do.
I came to this conclusion because I now believe that astigmatism, like myopia, is an unnatural development of the eyes due to our near vision environment. Astigmatism, like myopia, develops during school years because of the prolonged and intensive bending of the eyes during those years, and also because natural hyper-sighted eyes are given no opportunity to relax and to stretch.
Let me quote you a report by Dr. E. W. Adams, O.D., to the Optometric Research Institute. He says: “We have been surprised to find that the percentage of pupils with astigmatism increases during the successive years.” He reports also that in the first and second grades very little astigmatism is found, but after these two beginning grades each successive grade up to about the sixth increases the percentage of astigmatism; after the sixth the percentage remains about the same.
Dr. Adams also reports that from their research they have the feeling that myopia is increasing.
This report was the result of a survey and a thorough examination by highly capable optometrists with suitable testing equipment. In the years of 1935 and 1936, 6,560 pupils were examined in eight public schools in Detroit, Michigan.
This report is not the only basis for my conclusion about astigmatism.
I have many other basic proofs from my own experiences and observations. I also have reports by other optometrists which concur with my conclusion. A pair of plus 1.00 glasses for a child for near work is much safer and more beneficial than a minus 0.50 or even a plus 0.50 cylinder glasses.
Notes
Nearly ninety per cent of astigmatic eyes are of the low grade type, that is they are fitted with cylindrical lenses of less than one diopter (1.00d.) either plus or minus. In most cases, the wearing of plus spherical glasses would reduce or cure the astigmatism and eliminate the need for cylindrical lenses.
My advice to parents would be to have their children wear a pair of plus one (+1.00d.) spherical glasses for at least one year before they allow their children to be fitted with cylindrical glasses.
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