Should I go back to CR-39 plastic?

[Fidelio1st]

I've been having problems for over 1 month now trying to get a pair of glasses that work.  One optometrist put me in polycarbonate lenses, then a 2nd one did with a new frame, and I saw distortions using both.   Pretty sure I'm a "poly non-adapt."

Optometrist #2 then put me in Essilor Thin & Lite 1.60 MR-8 with an ABBE of 41.  Better than the poly, but still problems when reading and looking at computer.  I just got the 1.60 yesterday, and I understand there's an adjustment period to the new prescription, but I feel like I can see fine in regards to distance, but still have glare-like problems when looking at computer or reading book/magazine.

The lab confirmed that my old glasses that I wore for 4 years with no problems had CR-39 1.50 plastic, an ABBE of 58.

Does it seem logical that I should just go back to CR-39 plastic?

The optician says CR-39 break more easily than high index, but again, had them for 4 years before, and never any problems.  I'm not into active sports, just bike riding really.  I don't see any cons to going back to it - appearance wise my prescription is R -3.50 L -3.25, and they looked fine in my old frames.

So any other suggestions other than going back to CR-39?

[Fidelio1st]

Once again, thank you, your advice has been very helpful - if for nothing else than for saving me money - I see no reason to spend triple the amount on 1.60 lenses when CR-39 worked fine for me for 4 years and cosmetically have no problems either for me.

I just got my CR-39 lenses last night in new frames that have lenses that are closer in dimensions to what I had before (still not quite as small though as my Dr.'s office has limited selection).  Honestly, I still don't notice too much of a difference between these and the 1.60.  I'm not sure if the base curve is the same though.  I had an Optician measure the base curve of my old glasses and it was around 5.  They said that's pretty high and normally that causes problems, but they worked for me for 4 yrs.  I'm not sure of the base curve of the ones I just got.  The Dr.'s office I'm going to doesn't seem to know to much about base curve or believe it will affect the problems I'm having.

I've read I need to give the new pair a few days to adjust.  So I will do that.

But in the meantime, if they don't work, what could be the next step, or the next variable?  Another variable that is new is Claris A/R coating on the last two classses made, and I've read some people have alergic reactions to A/R coating, however, I didn't have it on the poly's from the rimless from the first place, so I think that rules that out (and my eyes aren't really red or iritated, it's just eye strain).

How good of a brand is Essilor and how good are their labs at making glasses?  That is the brand and it's an Essilor lab my Dr. is using to make the lenses.

Here's something I noticed - my prescription in my old glasses from 2007 was:

SPH   CYL            AXIS
-4.00   -0.50            120
-4.00   -0.50            055

When I had an exam (by a different place) in 2009, they said my prescription was:

SPH   CYL            AXIS
-4.00   -0.50            125
-4.00   -0.50            060

Since it was basically the same I didn't get new glasses then.

Now in 2011, the first Optometrist told me my prescription was:

SPH   CYL            AXIS
-3.75   -1.00            122
-3.75   -0.75          045

And then my current one told me:

SPH   CYL            AXIS
-3.50   -1.00            127
-3.25   -1.00         047


From my understanding the CYL is my astigmatism.  So from 2007 - 2009 my astigmatism did not change at all.  But now in 2011, two dr's are diagnosing me with different astigmatisms, the first one saying it went from -0.50 to -1.00 in my right eye and -0.50 to -0.75 in my left.  And the 2nd one is saying it went from -0.50 in both eyes to -1.00.  Is it possible they are misdiagnosing my astigmatism and that is why I continue to get this slightly blurred vision, now at both a distance and while using the computer and reading?

Also, what about the change in Axis from the 2007 prescription - could that be the problem?

Should my next step be to just see an Opthamologist - and when I see him to ask him to diagnose my prescription cold first, without looking at my previous prescriptions and then compare notes?

Or is base cure so important that I need to press my doctor to switch out the frames again - or can they change the base curve on a lense - i.e. is base curve specific to what frames you choose, or can it be just changed in a lense?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

We have pointed out that the glasses RX is only one of over a dozen variables on a pair of glasses. Your first step would be to go back to the lens material and base curve of your old comfortable glasses.

JCH MD