HomeAnswersOphthalmology (Eye Care)vision chartUnable to read fourth line during eye test. Why?

I cannot read the fourth line on the eye test chart. Is my condition amblyopia ?

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Published At May 9, 2018
Reviewed AtFebruary 11, 2024

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I have done my eye test. During the test, I cannot read the fourth line of letters even with the lenses they provide. All the lenses I have tried. Is it serious? What is the problem? I am very tensed.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

In order to answer you, I need little more details. Have you been using glasses? Are you unable to read the fourth line with both of your eyes or only from one eye? What is the correction you were given for 6/18 line, I mean the prescription of glasses? How did you notice you had a problem in your eye? If you noticed this all of a sudden, then I have to think of something like keratitis or severe dry eyes. But If you do not have any other problems like gritty eyes, red eye with blurred vision, an inflammation (like keratitis), is unlikely which is a kind of a swelling in your cornea. If you are a frequent computer user and mostly live in air-conditioned rooms, dry eye can be an issue. Then you feel a discomfort in your eyes as if you got sand in your eyes. If so, there is no harm in using a tear supplement like refresh tears. It will make you at ease. Next, if you have been using glasses before or you should have been using but you ignored it then there is a problem. There is a condition called amblyopia where if your eyes have a problem since childhood that is ignored the brain starts forgetting your eyes. If you start full correct glasses at a very young age hopefully before 10, then there is a chance of reversing but after 17 years it will not correct and it is not possible to do anything. At your age, we have to consider keratoconus where your cornea is getting weaker, making it protrude like a cone. Usually, there it is present as a frequent need to change spectacles. There we need to see a map in your cornea with its thickness which is called a topography. And further, we need to see the back of your eyes to see your retina and optic nerve. I suggest you consult an eye doctor not a family doctor to sort this out for you. You need to be physically checked with an instrument called a slit lamp with lenses and sometimes may need investigations.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Magalage Thilanka Kashyapa Perera
Dr. Magalage Thilanka Kashyapa Perera

Ophthalmology (Eye Care)

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