EYESIGHT: What can cause sight in one eye to change one dioper in 2 years with little change in other eye?

Question

My right eye has changed by one diopter in 2 years. My left eye is about the same. I have cataracts in both eyes but not so advanced that Medicare will pay to have them removed. What can cause change in one eye?

Answer 1

That is really not unusual or alarming. Just like your right hand can be different from your left, your prescription will generally not be the same in both eyes.

I would not worry unless your best corrected vision got worse, not so much about the prescription itself. (Generally for cataract surgery, your best corrected vision has to be 20/40 or worse.)

So, as long as both eyes are corrected close to 20/20, don't worry about it. : )

Answer 2

In your case it is the cataract. As cataract develops it causes refractive error change. Usually one eye cataract develops faster than the other.

As long as the vision is good with the change in glasses, you will not qualify for surgery.