20/20 and Farsightedness

I have gone to an O.D. for the first time back in Nov. 05 (because of migraines). I never had glasses and was prescribed +2.0 and +2.25.  I went again in Sept. of 06 and was prescribed  (less than a year)a higher prescription and went back 3 weeks later and was prescribed +3.25 and +3.75.

The problem being here, is I can re-focus my eyes. (I do it as naturally as digesting, salivating - I just do it!) so my doctor is having a very hard time giving me the right prescription, all along, I suffer with migraines because of it.

My question being - he states I am a rare case. Most would be cross eyed. Are there others out there? How do they cope? I work on a computer all day and sure isn't helping not ever having the right prescription.

The O.D. wants to do a 24 hour eye dilation (to totally relax my eye) and see in the end what prescription I would have. He also stated that I'd be legally blind probably by 40. With how much my eyes have adjusted/changed (since I can re-focus) makes me really think my eyes are worse now. Kind of scares me.

Anything I can do? I don't believe lasik is an option for my case (don't even know if I could pursue with how much my eyes have changed). Is it really a rare thing for one to be able to see 20/20 - yet need this stong of prescription? I've been told by my O.D. that once my eyes are dilated because of my condition I will not be able to see to drive. I called an othomologist and made an appt for Nov. 8th and they dialate as routine (making me a little nervous) as they don't know my scenario and will dilate.

Thank you in advance!!

[Forum-OD-MP]

"latent hyperopia".  i agree, you need a cycloplegic refraction (the "24 hr dilation").  no, you cannot have lasik.

since you're asking my advice, i'll give you my opinion.  i realise there are many differring opinons on this.  the following is MY OPINION:

stick with the O.D.  its been my experience that most MD's dont have any idea how to treat this.  the MD's i know dont, anyway.  i wouldnt bother going to the ophthalmologist.  they'll give you *NO* new or helpful info.  the info they'll likely give you will just be confusing.

a technicality here...your OD is not "having a very hard time giving me the right prescription".  this is not his fault.  you can and do change your rx on the fly by focusing.  all of you latent hyperopes want a LOW rx and complain that higher Rx's make you blurry at great distances.  but the LOW Rx's give you headaches.  this happens to every single latent hyperope on the planet.  its not like your OD doesnt know what he's doing or cant figure you out or something like that.  eventually you and he will have to make the following choice...do you want to:

a) wear the stronger Rx and see blurrier far away but have less headaches
or
b) wear the weaker Rx and see more clearly at great distances but have more headaches

not a great choice, i know.  but there is usually no middle ground in cases like these.  a PROGRESSIVE lens would probably be a great idea for you.  

also, expect your Rx to change quickly and drastically and frequently between the ages of 45-55.  you're likely going to have a frustrating next 10 years visually.  i know...bad news, right?  sorry.  but at least now you'll know what you're probably in for...

[qtrandi]

BY THE WAY, I am 27 y/o. (if that helps any)
Randi

[maximum01]

you seem to be suffering from what's known as latent hyperopia....this is when the accomodative muscles in the eye loose their power due to natural aging.....in your case your muscles were masking your hyperopia which was probably present from birth.

this is not serious at all.  whay on earth would your optician say you'll be legally blind when 40??

and by the way +3 is not a large prescription....if it helps u i am long sighted to +9 diopters in each eye and have gone through many increases in precription throught my life (i'm 31 now).  it's unlikely your eyes will get much worse having recieved a +1 increase recently.  

one other thing that puzzles me....to determine your full prescription your OD would normally apply a drop called "atropine" which paralyzes the cilillary muscles temporarily.  why would he dillate your pupils???

[Ag-i-doc]

maximum is obviously overseas.  no one in the States uses "atropine".  not since like the 70's.  we all use CYCLOPENTOLATE.  both atropine and cyclopentolate cause paralasys of the pupil constrictor muscle as well as the ciliary (focusing) muscle.  you cant have atropine or cyclo w/o also being "dilated".  for that reason some docs explain cyclo as "a really long dilation".  its not technically correct but its a simplification that is commonly used.

one CAN, however, be dilated w/o being cyclopleged...this is a routine "dilation" using tropicamide.

[Ag-i-doc]

i am not trying to pile on maximum here, but you could still very easily be +9.  he/she cannot accurately say "it's unlikely your eyes will get much worse having recieved a +1 increase recently."  maximum has no idea.  neither do i and neither does your OD or MD or anyone else until/unless you have a cycloplegic refraction.  you *could* be +9.  or +4.  nobody knows w/o a cyclo.

[qtrandi]

Thank you very much for the explanation! I feel a bit better now at least understanding wise.

As for my O.D. I realize it isn't his fault for the wrong rx. It's my eyes constantly focusing and unfocusing making it very difficult (and I can tell) frusterating for the O.D. He hasn't seen many cases in his 30 years (live in a small town) and so he kind of sees it as a "science/learning" too.

Interesting on the M.D. I'll take your opinion and really think about it. I have the appointment scheduled, but really - all their going to tell me is probably nothing new and/or confuse me.

Also, do you know where I can find out what legally blind is in Washington State?

Thank you in advance-
Randi

[maximum01]

sorry if my comments were misleading.....the reason i say he is probably not +9 is that this would mean his muscles were masking a massive 9 diopters for 27 years.

my long sight became manifest when i was 2 years due to its severe nature, and between the ages of 12 and 31 my prescription only increased by +4 diopters).  i have also been atropined and informed i am at my final prescription at +9.  this seems reasonable as my prescription has remained steady for 10 years now.

[qtrandi]

I had my eyes checked when I was approx. 8 years old. I never had my eyes checked until now (age 27). So, being able to mask that (and I can re-focus my eyes and see perfectly fine without my glasses!) it being that much of a change - wouldn't surprise me.

I've learned a lot from this thread. :)
Thanks again.
Randi

P.S. I am female :)

[maximum01]

yes, 2 - 3 diopters is a reaonable amount of hyperopia to mask for 27 years (your case) but not +9 diopters.  i have never heard of a case where someone has had that degree of long sight and didn't become aware of it till they were 27.

that's the only reason i am saying you are probably nowhere near +9 and more likely a mid range hyperope.

btw, i am interested in your doc talking about you being legally blind.  can you explain that?  i have never heard a doc refer to me as legally bling because spectacles corrects my refractive error.