Ask "Snort" the Opti-dragon!

Located on this page are some of the questions that Snort hears and his answers to those questions. 

Snort is rather opinionated and 
he has a tendency to tell it like it is.
(Dragons get a bit grouchy at times.)

Q. I had the unfortunate luck of my glasses breaking today.  The screw in the frame went lose dislodging the lens (which thankfully the lens hasn't broken).  I have a backup pair, but they're about eight years old and I of course cannot see that clearly with them (I won't be driving anywhere, though).  Would it be harmful for my eyes to wear the old pair for a couple of days? Would it be less harmful to just go without glasses?                                    Daniel

A. Daniel, that is a complex question. The short answer is... it depends on your prescription. If you are moderately to extremely nearsighted or farsighted, the old RX would probably be your best bet. If you have a very mild RX, you might be just as well off without your glasses. Experiment to see which give you your best vision. Regardless of your vision, wearing your old glasses won't "hurt" your eyes, but you may experience some degree of eye strain. Get your glasses repaired as soon as you can. Remember to always keep the previous RX as a back up pair and have your eyes examined at least every two years. If you are in the Kingsport, TN area, we would be happy to repair your glasses for you. Hope this helped!

Q. My glasses won't stay up on my nose. I only use them for reading and never fold them up. Most of the time, I leave them on top of my head until I need them. Why won't they stay adjusted?

A. Eyeglasses are made to rest on your nose, not on the top of your head. The top of your skull is wider than the rest (to make more room for your brain). When you wear your glasses on top of your head, the combination of body heat and gentle pressure stretches the glasses and therefore, they slide down your nose. Have your glasses re-adjusted and then, when you are not wearing them, keep them in a case. They will be much more comfortable and you will be able to see better.

Q. I have an old pair of glasses that I keep in the car to use as a backup since I frequently find I left my normal pair someplace (I leave the house wearing prescription sunglasses).  The prescription is the same but they are scratched a bit. None of the scratches seem deep and they are simple, uncoated glass lenses. I am a teacher and I would much rather spend what little money I have on school supplies than on eyeglasses. I am wondering if some sort of fine glass polish, like that used by astronomers when they grind their own lenses, might be able to take out the scratches? Please let me know.
Thank you!

A. I have never heard of any astronomers trying to polish their eyeglass lenses that way and frankly, I don't know how well it would work.. Just like a telescope lens, optical lenses must retain the proper surface curves. Any time the curves are altered, the prescription is changed. The greatest danger comes from uneven polishing which results in waves of distortion in the lens. If the lenses are, in fact, a material other than glass, the fining compound would not work and would likely result in milky lenses. If the lenses are glass, they must have been tempered either by heat or chemically (federal law requires that all glass lenses must be tempered for safety purposes). Any time you modify glass lenses after tempering, you reduce their impact resistance and could possibly put yourself at risk for an eye injury. For safety's sake I would not recommend trying it.

Q. I went to get my driver's license and I flunked the eye test. My eye doctor told me that I am nearsighted and agreed with the DMV that I should be wearing my glasses not only to drive but anytime I want to see past two feet in front of me. I'm afraid that if I give in and wear my glasses all the time I will become dependant on them and my eyes will get worse. Is this true?                                            Kyle

A. In a one word answer, NO! If your eyes are going to get worse, they will do it regardless of whether or not you wear your glasses. The only way you become dependant on your glasses is that you can see clearly with them and not without. Look at the results of wearing your glasses versus not wearing them. 

Wearing glasses:      You can see clearly

                                    Eye strain is reduced

Not wearing them:    Vision is blurred

                                     Eyes are straining for optimum vision

                                     Driving becomes more dangerous

                                     Traffic citations become expensive

By driving without your glasses, you become a traffic hazard to both yourself and others.  You have to make the decision. Which is more important, you not wearing glasses or the risk of taking a child's life because you couldn't see him chasing his ball across the road? Be responsible. A person's safety is always more important than vanity.

Q.  My glasses always seem to be out of adjustment and they keep getting bent.  It almost looks like someone sat on them. I wear my glasses on a chain around my neck so I won't loose them. Why do they get bent?                 Frank

A. Ah-hah! Break those chains and set those glasses free! People don't realize just how many things they run into with their chests. You bend over and your glasses bump into whatever you're leaning over. The result..... scratches on your lenses. It's cold outside, you zip up that heavy jacket over your glasses. Or you lean up against a desk or counter and your glasses are caught between your body and a hard object. The result..... your glasses are flattened. This causes unwanted stress on the hinges and after being bent several times, they can break. Think of a strong coat-hanger. If you bend it, it is hard to bend. But if you bend it one way and then back the other, and then back and forth again, eventually, the hanger will weaken and break. Eyeglasses are remarkably strong  however, they are only as good as the care you give them!

Q. Can my contact slip behind my eye?                    Tori

A. No. There are connective tissues around the eye that prevent that from happening. The contact can get lodged under the eye lid but can go no further.

Q. If I put some fingernail polish on the head of the screws in my glasses, will that keep the screws from backing out?             Sue

A. No. If you put fingernail polish or glue on the head of the screw, it will just prevent you from inserting the screwdriver into the screw to tighten it. If the polish is applied to the threads of the screw, it will hold the screw in place. Never glue your lenses or screws into the frame. That makes it difficult or impossible to replace the lenses or the screws and essentially renders a perfectly good frame useless.

Q. I use glass cleaner on my glasses to remove the oils that build up. That won't hurt my glasses will it?                            Hilda

A. YES! The window cleaner you use on your windows at home will hurt your glasses. Window cleaner contains ammonia. That is what makes it so effective at cutting greasy residue.  Harsh chemicals like ammonia can break down the scratch resistant coatings on plastic lenses and also fade the tinting. On some metal frames, it can damage the finish and fade the colors. On plastic frames, the chemicals can ruin the finish of the frame and dry it out, causing it to become brittle. This reduces the life of the frame and makes the frame look old before its time. The best cleaner for any eyeglasses is dishwashing liquid and water. It will not harm any delicate coatings (such as Anti-reflective or mirror coatings) or damage any frame finishes. We also carry bottles of lens cleaner for plastic lenses and lens cleaner specially formulated for anti-reflective lenses for your convenience. On non-mirrored or non-anti-reflective lenses, if you need something stronger to eliminate skin oils, use a cloth with a little bit of rubbing alcohol. It will effectively clean the lenses and the nose pads of oil build-up without harming the frame or lenses. When cleaning your glasses, use a soft cotton cloth or soft facial tissue. The cheaper brands of tissue can scratch your lenses so if it's too rough for your nose, it's certainly too rough for your glasses. Never use paper towels. They will scratch your lenses.

Q. My sunglasses are all out of shape even though I don't wear them that much. They spend most of the time in their case on the dash of my car. Why do they keep getting out of adjustment?       J.T.

A. J.T., stop and think about your car on a summer day. How hot is your car after you have been shopping for a while? A plastic frame will become soft and pliable when exposed to heat. When they are folded in a case, they can flatten and warp. When they cool down (like in a garage or when the sun goes down), they retain their new shape. Likewise, plastic lenses can warp in metal frames and polycarbonate lenses can actually experience stress fractures. A hot car is not the place for glasses. Either carry them with you or at least put them in the glove compartment or somewhere out of direct sunlight.

Q. My contact has a small chip out of it but it doesn't seem to bother me that much. It won't hurt to wear it will it?          Linda

A. Yes! Anytime you have a damaged contact it can damage your eye. The damaged edge can abrade the cornea and cause serious problems if left untreated. Anytime you tear or chip a contact lens, discard it. Do not try to wear it. You should always have a back-up pair of glasses for emergencies so there is no reason to even try to wear a damaged contact. Your sight is more important than your vanity!

Q. My eyes get tired when I read at night and I don't seem to be able to focus. I just had my prescription changed and I can see fine when I read at work. Why is that?            Hazel

A. The main factor is probably the light you are using. The main cause for eyes feeling tired while reading is inadequate lighting. It is recommended that if you are under 55 years old, you read with a light bulb rated a minimum of 100 watts. If you are over 55 years old, use a minimum of 150 watts. The light should be positioned so it shines its light over your shoulder onto the reading material where there should be no shadows on the reading material. More than likely, this will take care of your problem.

Q.  I have an eye infection that I just can't seem to get rid of. I took my contacts out like the doctor told me to but when I put them back in a few days later, my eye infection comes back. Why can't I get rid of it?                    Kashira

A.    More than likely, you are re-infecting yourself with your contacts.  Bacteria and viruses can live in your contact lenses. The disinfecting solution will destroy most microbes however, there are some very resistant little beasties that can cause eye infections. The best way to handle an eye infection is to let it heal COMPLETELY before you try to wear contacts again. When you do start wearing contact lenses again, start with a new pair of lenses. That is the ONLY way to assure the lenses will not re-infect your eyes. You should always have a back-up pair of glasses that you can wear in case of eye infections.

If you have a question you would like to ask

Snort the Opti-dragon, E-mail him at

snort@specks-n-shades.com

(please enter  attn: Snort  in the subject box)