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Sunday, June 03, 2007I EyeWell, didn't see Pirates III on Friday, my plans were cancelled. I tired to make the same or similar plans with others, but ended up not and that was good as it turned out I was still fighting off whatever cold thing I've had last week and it got bad again on Friday night.Saturday morning I went to the eye doctor, for the first time in almost six years. The doctor told me a lot of things. The most important of which is that my cornea in both eyes are swollen. Not something that immediately injures the eye, but can end up causing scratches or retina damage long term. And I can easily fix the problem. Doesn't sound like bad news, except that it seems I've had this problem for at least six years, if not more. I know because when I told him the reason my glasses prescription was way off - according to people at the last visit I had six years ago, I didn't have my contacts out for 24 hours before hand, and they warp the eyes, so that an accurate exam could not be performed - and the symptoms I had when switching between contacts and glasses - it takes at least an hour before my eyes adjust to the glasses - he told me those were both symptoms of swollen corneas. And the switching from contacts to glasses issue is not due to glasses with an incorrect prescription. I was also told by his nurses and him that contacts can not warp the eyes so much that an accurate exam cannot be performed. The reason I only went to that last eye doctor once is because it was such a bad experience all around, and I knew they were jerking me on things I just didn't know what. Anyway, the eye doctor also told me that the eye doctor I have been using from MA, the one I had in high school and college and went back to after that bad experience, has been giving me bad advice. Good contacts, but improper instructions for their use. And that's what's caused the swollen corneas. Because I don't dispose of them after their intended duration and start using new ones, deposits that can't be seen build up and restrict air getting into my eyes which causes the swelling, which then can warp my eyes. Plus, since the MA eye doctor said whenever I needed new contacts to just call and they'd send them and bill me - which is what I've been doing since I moved to MI - and therefore I haven't had an exam for anything, that eye doctor had no way of knowing. It turns out contact prescriptions are only good for a year, then they have to be renewed. I guess my old eye doctor has just been writing me new ones sight unseen. *shrugs* My new eye doctor was very surprised by all that, not only because of what I've already said, but because it also makes my old eye doctor liable for any eye problems I develop since he's prescribing me things but not examining my eyes. But there's a whole lot of good news. My eyes are healthy overall. Except for using my contacts longer than they are meant to be, I have good contact habits. Once I get my new contacts I'll be following instructions to prevent the cornea swelling. My new eye doctor is just that, I liked him enough, even with the lectures, because he explained lots and lots to me, and he was professional and personable. His office has really modern equipment, including a special camera that can digitally photograph inside your eye! It's $20 more that insurance doesn't cover, but it allows the doctor to see everything he needs to to evaluate eye health, without having to dilate your eyes. And the picture gets saved so that it can be compared with future pictures, which also helps the doctor see if there's a slow developing problem. The eye doctor showed me my pictures and explained all the various parts of my eyes. SO cool. Last thing. I figured out today why wearing glasses is so weird after wearing contacts. It's because glasses don't cover all your viewing area, and so your peripheral vision is blurry, but when you wear contacts they cover all the seeing parts of your eye and so even peripheral vision is focused and clear! It can be a tripy experience for us habitual contact wearers. Happy Seeing! Comments
David V. said:
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Thanks for the health update. I'll be scheduling an eye appointment for myself this August or September, even w/o insurance. I don't have the contacts issues, but I should protect what vision I have. If you need any tips on long-term glasses wear, let me know. ;-) *hugz* |
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