help with eyeglasses

[valis2]

So. I put off getting new glasses a bit longer than usual (2.5 yrs instead of 2 yrs). The eye doctor I used to see has closed down shop, so I went to someone recommended by my sister.

I went to the appointment and I think I squinted waaay too much during the exam. When the new lenses came in ($450), I thought I'd be happier, but I could tell something was wrong. The left lens was fine, but the right lens...there was a double image. It wasn't very strong at first, but by the end of the day I had a headache.

When I look at text on a blank page, I can see a faint line of text in the blank space above a line of text. With my left there is no double image; with my right there is a faint double image, slightly stronger than both eyes together. This isn't just for closeup stuff; it's for everything. I still can't read street signs easily, and when it's dark, instead of seeing a round headlight on a car, with my right eye I'm seeing a comet-shaped light instead (tail going upwards). I couldn't quite articulate this at the time; all I knew was that something was wrong. I went back in and they said that my frames were crooked. After they fixed them, they said it should be better. It wasn't. And I went away for a week and endured headaches the whole time.

On Monday I went back in, and saw the doctor. I was feeling awful about the whole thing because I think that squinting during the exam messed things up. I mentioned it to the doctor, that it was better if I squinted.

He went through the lens modification maneuvers (and I did not squint!) until he got to a fairly clear image, and then he held another lens in front and asked me if it was better. It was a little better, and I said so. But it didn't seem perfect. He took me out into the hall and asked me to look out the doors of the building with my glasses, and then held a lens in front of my glasses. I said it was a little better.

Honestly, though, it wasn't really taking care of the doubling-when-not-squinting issue, I think. But he started telling me that my eye was rejecting the new prescription because I was in between two powers. Well, that's interesting and makes sense, so I thought, what the hell do I know? And they ordered a new lens.

And the lens was put in Friday. And it is slightly better but I am still getting horrible headaches.

Worse yet, those of you who know me in RL know that I have issues with atrophying muscles in my eyelids, and I've had surgery at different times on both eyelids to adjust the height of the lid so I don't have droopy eyelids. This new prescription is blurry/doubling when my eye is at a full and naturally open position, but normal if I squint with it, and now after three weeks I can feel that my eyelid is starting to droop to adjust to this. I don't want to have to have the next surgery prematurely.

I will have to call again tomorrow and deal with this, but I feel horrible about it--they've already made me two very expensive lenses, and now I am bugging them again. This is the kind of situation that makes me feel awful and stuff. Yes, I understand that they have a responsibility to get me good lenses and I really must go forth and try to get this fixed, but I can't help but know how things work from the other side of the counter and I feel like such a heel.

Anyway, the point of this whole tl;dr is this: does anyone have any insight about eyes and glasses and this matter? Anyone ever have or ever have had a similar issue? Any help would be appreciated.

Comments

[kaiz.livejournal.com]

Not a doctor here, but...tt almost sounds to me as if they're screwed up the astigmatism portion of your prescription. However, given that you've had eye surgery before and you've tried to fix the problem with this current doctor (is this person an ophthamologist or an optometrist?), I would get a second opinion from someone else. And if you haven't been seen by an ophthamologist, I would definitely try that as well.

[catyah.livejournal.com]

I *totally* agree with what kaiz says. And I know the feeling of what you're going through, that you're *bothering* them, but they owe it to you to get it right.

My BFF has been in the SAME situation several times, she has a difficult prescription as well. She had to keep going back to the place to have them re-do it, and eventually they got it right.

But yes, if you saw an optometrist, you should be seen by an opthalmologist. That doctor will be able to check your eyes AND your new glasses and should be able to figure out what's wrong.

It's NOT your fault that the lenses are wrong, it's theirs, and the glasses place should be GLAD to keep on fixing it for you until they get it right.

*HUGS*

[tudorpot.livejournal.com]

You need to take care of your eyes- glasses are massively overpriced- so don't feel guilty- I bought two pairs bi-focal with astigatism for $100 on the net-- Zennioptical.com

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Being a nuisance is a nuisance, but getting headaches - and maybe worse (driving?), is worth troubling them some more.

Mr. Maus is having some kind of troubles with his eyesight, and not TRYING to fix it not only drives him up the walls, but makes my life miserable, too.

I´d drag him back by his ears, if I´d know he wouldn´t hate me forever, if I did.

At least try to get it fixed, Love. It will be worth it.

Sorry, this probably isn´t the kind of advice you wanted....
I just couldn´t keep my mouth shut.

*hugs* Rain

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

Get your eyes seen to, as soon as possible, they are not anything to dither with.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

I agree w/the others--it does sound like the astigmatism. And I'm sure they have a policy about doing it right if you bring them back right away. There's no way you'll be able to stand that for long. It's like throwing away all that money.

[lady-branwyn.livejournal.com]

They should be able to eliminate the double vision, especially if you weren't having it before.
When I get new glasses, they measure the location of my pupils so they can center the lenses correctly in the frames. Could you be dropping your eyes slightly because the lenses are not centered properly in the frame?
Don't feel guilty--my vision is extremely difficult to correct (in all her years in practice, my sixty-year-old optometrist has never seen another patient with my particular set of eye issues), but a good optometrist and a good optician will eventually get it right. That's their job, and the cost of rework is built into the cost structure of their charges.

[todayiamadaisy]

I agree with the others. Your eyesight is too important. When I get new glasses, I sometimes get headaches for the first day or so until I adjust, but anything longer than that definitely needs seeing to.

I know you're thinking that you're being a costly nuisance, but, honestly, the optometrists I've dealt with over the years have all been very proud of their ability to get it right with trial and error. It reflects on their professionalism. So remember: to them you're not a nuisance, you're a challenge. :-)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I've always just gone to a chain before (Pearlevision, DOC, etc.) and this is the first time I've ever had an issue--and it's from an independent shop, so this is weird. The doctor is an optometrist. I do have an ophthalmologist but I haven't seen him in some time. I'm going to call tomorrow and see what the optometrist can do.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

The thing that I feel guilty about is squinting so much during the first exam. I didn't even think about it. And afterward, when I got the prescription and realized that I could only see correctly by squinting--well, let's just say that I feel hellafoolish.

Still, I thought by telling him about the squinting and everything that he would catch on and figure it out. I'm so unhappy at having made them go through all of this when I should have been more careful in the first exam and stopped him during the second and said, wait, this does not solve the problem, I think. I'm a little pissed at myself for not being assertive. But my first impulse is to go with the flow. grah!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I'm going to call again tomorrow, even though I feel awful about doing so. But I can't handle this. The headaches and the vision issues are making me mental. And I don't want another ptosis correction surgery too soon.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh, no, this is very helpful and reminds me that the end result is that I need a pair of glasses that work. *nodnod*

Thank you so much for the sweet comment! You're wonderful.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I am going to call tomorrow, even though I hate to do so...but I can't stand the headaches any longer so I must! :(

[valis2.livejournal.com]

They have a year guarantee, so I don't feel too bad. What I feel bad about is my lack of assertiveness--I really should have stopped him and said that it didn't seem fully corrected at the end of the second exam. :(

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I really hope that they will be able to fix this. What worries me is that when I squint, it's clear. I just wonder what sort of weird issue this could be. And I feel really silly telling them this, too. We'll see what they think tomorrow, I guess! :(

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, then I could totally relate to that. I probably would have done the same thing and then been kicking myself later.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

heh. Well, I've never been a challenge before so this is a new experience!

And the optometrist has been okay--the staff, though, is just a little unhappy, I think. Hell, I'm unhappy when I come in. I feel awful. I do hope they can fix it because I can't live like this. :(

[valis2.livejournal.com]

It was one of those situations where I'm just trying to follow orders, and at no point at the end did he say anything like, "This is the final correction. Do you still see the double image?"

Instead, he asked if it was "better." Well, yes, a little, but not fully. He seemed so confident--but I should have stopped him and said, "Wait, then this will be what it looks like?" Hindsight is 20/20, of course. grah.

[catyah.livejournal.com]

See, I'm very interested in the fact that you're feeling so guilty about this. I really do understand it in that I often blame myself for a lupus flare or depression/anxiety issues, no matter how many times my doctors have told me that it's my *body*, not something I can control.

The fact that you were squinting sounds to me like you were doing your best to be a "good patient" and see what the doctor was *asking* you to see.

Not to blame the doctor, but I'm feeling surprised that he didn't *notice* you were squinting during the eye exam and that he didn't question you further.

Anyway -- sending you LOTS of :: reassuring hugs :: and I hope to chat with you tomorrow about the results of talking to the doctor.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I have a seriously overdeveloped guilt monster. I wish I could do something about it, but it seems like it wants to stay. lol.

And yeah, I was just in "follow the orders" mode and didn't even THINK about the squinting! grah. That's why I made sure I mentioned it to the optometrist. And now I'm not sure that it really registered. I'm going to have to be very clear, but that can be hard for me in situations like this. :(

[ook.livejournal.com]

Old-hand here at the myriad problems one can have with eye prescriptions, eyeglasses, and the problems you can have. If it can go wrong, it's happened to me, and it's always the fault of people who aren't doing their job correctly. :P

I've got severe astigmatism and a really odd eye prescription and I've experienced Fail at every step of the process: from people who can't do a proper eye prescription reading; people who can't write things down correctly; clerks who try to sell me the wrong type of lens material; people at the lens-making lab who can't/won't follow instructions. Every pair of glasses I've had for the past 25 years has had to be redone at least 3 times per pair and the process is so frustrating that I will go for years without getting new glasses.

Anyway, go back and demand that they re-do your prescription. Don't tell them about your squinting (NEVER admit guilt) -- just say that the eyeglass prescription is screwed up and they need to re-do it -- BOTH EYES. Remember NOT to squint this time and make sure you don't have your face smashed in too far into the face holder or too far away. The idea is to simulate your actual eyeglasses sitting on your nose. Be sure that the little letter images (E G C L D F) that you look at are CENTERED in the little mirror on the wall and not running off the edge. If the letters aren't centered, then you can't read them correctly.

The idea is to get the letters as sharp as possible with your face/eyes relaxed like normal. If the letters are not sharp and you can't read them, be sure to speak up. My prescription is so tricky that only my eye doctor (as opposed to his technicians) can do my prescription correctly.

One thing you might take into account is the type of material that is being used to make your lenses. My prescription is so bad that I can only use glass or old-fashioned plastic (which is heavier than the new-fangled lens materials they now use by default. The new-fangled lenses are lighter). Since my lenses are so thick, I have to use old-fashioned plastic (like they used in the 1970s and early 1980s). I never gave lens material a thought until I got a pair of glass in the late 1980s and everything around the edges broke into double patterns of blue and yellow. Now, I have to be careful to specify the old-fashioned plastic. :P

[taradilien.livejournal.com]

*hugs* Good luck.

[sigune.livejournal.com]

I don't know anything about eyes and strange effects, except that it's vital to have good glasses/lenses and that you are comfortable with them. I recognise your guilt thing all too well, but glasses are just too important. You have every right to bother people until they give you what you need. As others have said above, the things are expensive enough, plus it's the doctor's and shop people's job to make sure you are fine with what they prescribe/deliver.

*hugs*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks! *hugs back*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

It's just so weird that I haven't had any issues with glasses like this before! This is so annoying. I'm just miserable with the glasses, and with having to go back in again and again. I have shows and trips where I have to drive and this is a pain! :(

You're totally right, though, I need to get this fixed. *nodnod*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Remember NOT to squint this time and make sure you don't have your face smashed in too far into the face holder or too far away. The idea is to simulate your actual eyeglasses sitting on your nose.

No one has ever told me this before. When I was about eight, I had an optometrist yell at me (seriously) about squinting, but since then it's just been the litany of "better or worse? better or worse?"

I'm a literal person, and common sense doesn't always come easily to me, and things like this need to be explained because my brain is already in shutdown mode when I get to an appointment like this.

The idea is to get the letters as sharp as possible with your face/eyes relaxed like normal. If the letters are not sharp and you can't read them, be sure to speak up. My prescription is so tricky that only my eye doctor (as opposed to his technicians) can do my prescription correctly.

I can read the letters, and they're sharp, but there's a double image above them. Also, while driving last night, I noticed a cone of wavy light above each headlight. Right eye only. So yeah, something weird is going on here. The left eye is much worse than the right, so this is really strange to me.

One thing you might take into account is the type of material that is being used to make your lenses.

My lenses were being made out of polycarbonate up until a couple prescriptions ago, when they switched to something fancier--spectrolite or something like that. When they switched, it was a big change--the polycarbonate can distort things at the edge of the lenses, and switching to the spectrolite was a little off at first. In fact, I got nearly motion sick a few times, even though I've never had motion sickness in my life. And I started having to be careful how I looked out the window of a moving car and things like that, because it would make me a little dizzy.

You poor thing! Those lenses are insane--I remember them. Do they at least have better anti-scratch coatings now?

I'm going to call them a little later and see what's up.

[jaelle-n-gilla.livejournal.com]

kaiz got it completely right. The only way you can have a double image with ONE eye is something wrong with the prism or the cylinder included in your glass (usually for focus or astigmatism).

If it didn't get better through the day but worse, go to the person who did the prescription and let them recheck it. Don't go before they found the error, either in their test or in the glass vs. the prescription.

In Germany I would go back to the optics shop and they'd test me themselves and offer to exchange it for free. I don't know about the US. You may need your doctor for that. None of it is your fault though, so you shouldn't have to pay for it.

[artystone.livejournal.com]

I think you should go see the opthamologist. He can prescribe lenses too.

[jaelle-n-gilla.livejournal.com]

Oh, and another thing: The headaches are completely normal if the astigmatism correction is a teeny little bit too strong. My optician keeps telling me that. I can see sharper with a little more, but when I look around, the room looks slight crooked and despite my protests he keeps taking part of the correction away again, saying "it won't help you to see sharp if you can't focus because you have constant headaches".

I think I trust him even more now...

[valis2.livejournal.com]

If the optometrist can't get me out of this mess, then I will definitely visit my ophthalmologist. I really am going crazy without a proper set of lenses!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

The only way you can have a double image with ONE eye is something wrong with the prism or the cylinder included in your glass (usually for focus or astigmatism)

This is why I ask the flist about these things! This is such great information--thank you so much.

My optometrist is set up within an eyeglass shop, and they give a one year guarantee, so I doubt they'll charge me. They didn't charge me last time. I am really crossing my fingers that it works out.

I'm going in at three, and hopefully I will be able to really get through to them this time.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

heh. Yeah, I'll take a little fuzzy vision over headaches ANYDAY. definitely. ;)

[verdenia.livejournal.com]

wow, what a burden!
*HUGS*

I just started getting a little astigmatism a prescription or two ago, and it isn't TOO bad of a correction, so I've been pretty lucky. It's been awhile, though; I should probably get my eyes checked soonish. Right after I finish this pack of contacts, LOL. ;p

*HUGS*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you have to really keep up on that stuff, sadly enough. :)