Am I Going Blind????? - Eye & Vision Message Board

OkieGal · 01-16-2003, 04:57 PM

I have worn glasses and contacts since I was in 5th grade. I have had the same prescription ever since I first needed glasses.
Over the past couple of months my eyes have gotten worse. I am nearsighted and have 5.0 power in my left eye, 5.25 power in my right eye.
I have disposable contact lens and have a bad habit of leaving them in for a long time and not cleaning them. I am down to wearing my glasses now because I am out of contacts and have no money to get more.
With my glasses on things I look at just a few feet away are sort of fuzzy and I have starbursts at night and really have to focus in on something even with my glasses on. Could I have damaged my eyes and made my vision worse by wearing my contacts for a long time when they are not extended wear? Why would my eyes get worse in just the last few months. I am as blind as a bat without my glasses. If my husband is sitting right next to me on the couch or I am reading a book I have to hold it close because it is so fuzzy without glasses. I thought with nearsightedness you were supposed to see things up close but not far away. It's neither for me without glasses.
I am worried that something is wrong with my eyes to suddenly get worse or I am going blind. Help!
Is 5.0 left and 5.25 right a very high prescription? I know people have worse eyesight but is this prescription bad?
Please any advice, my glasses lens on the outside already look like coke bottles lol.
No not that bad but I can't get the small, tiny frames because the lens are too big, even with the special lens they can make now where the lens won't be so big.

purple2067 · 01-16-2003, 11:23 PM

Has your prescription been stable over the last few months? I mean, do you feel like it keeps changing, or do you feel like it just changed over time and now it is going to remain the same for a while? The reason I ask is because there are certain eye diseases that can cause rapid changes in vision. What was your prescription the last time you got a new pair of glasses? (the time before this)

BettyRose · 01-21-2003, 12:19 PM

My vision right now is 5.25 left eye and 5.5 right eye. I don't think this is bad as far as perscriptions go. We're prime candidates for the LASIK surgery. I'm just not sold on it yet. I'm legally blind without my contacts or glasses and my night vision sucks. My vision changes every year.

It doesn't say how are you are. I'm 28 and ever since I've been out of college - that's when my vision started changing - my eye dr. said it was the aging process! Ha!ha! Both my parents are contact/glasses wearers as were their parents and all 4 of my brothers and sisters. My kids are doomed except for the fact my husband has better than perfect vision. Hopefully they get his eyes.

I, too, can't read unless it's up against my face (w/o contacts or glasses). Plus, what do you consider coke bottles. I have tiny frames and they did special work on the lenses to make them thinner. Granted they don't fit within the frame itself but I wouldn't call them coke bottles. Talk to the guy who actually does the glasses - not the guy who examines you - if your eye dr. doesn't do both. My eye dr and the guy who fits me for my glasses are 2 different people.

Goodluck!

Opti_Sno · 02-04-2003, 06:14 AM

OkieGal,

Over wear of your contact lenses would not change your prescription

That is something which naturally happens to all of us over time. A yearly examination is recommended with your eye care professional and in fact it is NORMAL to experience an annual change. It sounds to me like you need to book yourself an appointment. You have what is considered a moderate prescription. Fortunately these days, we have polycarbonate and high-index lens materials which reduce thickness and weight by about 50% compared to standard plastic. These materials will suite your prescription just fine

If you are near sighted, the smaller the frame the better! The thinnest portion of a minus power lens blank is the center, meaning, the larger the frame you choose the thicker your lenses will be! (yuck!) Other options I will reccomend for you are "rolling" of the lens edges (not polishing, as this will creat shine, thus drawing attention to the lens edge) and Anti-Reflective coating which reduces glare for computer usage, work under fluorescent lighting, and for night driving. Prolonged contact lens over wear is very unhealthy for your eyes and you will suffer the consequences later. Depending on the severity of your overuse, blood vessels may have grown into your cornea, which may obstruct vision. Your best bet is to have an exam done, receive a new prescription, and put the money together to get a GOOD pair of glasses with the options I recommended above. Your eyes will appreciate the difference and the oxygen!

[This message has been edited by Opti_Sno (edited 02-04-2003).]

hotsong · 03-09-2003, 02:27 PM

Do you happen to have very hazy vision, especially first thing in the morning, that gradually clears as the day goes on??? You know, like everything is kind of foggy looking? Also, at night...do you tend to see "halo's" around street lights and such? If any of this applies to you, go get checked for Fuch's Corneal Dystrophy. The rapid changes in your prescriptions is what clued me in...my hubby experienced that...I mean, less than 6 months after his eye exam his prescription seemed to "change" again, and luckily the eye doc caught the Fuch's and sent him to a specialist. He has now had cornea transplants in both eyes since 2001. He is only 33.