Head Ache from my glasses

I have really bad vesion, my contacts are like -6.25 or higher; I have no idea what why glasses prescription is. I wear my contacts all of the time, so I don't update my glasses as frequently, more like every two years. My prescription does change every visit, and I have been wearing contacts since I was 11 (I'm 27).

Here is my problem, a year ago now I went ahead and updated my prescription in my glasses when I had my eye exam and my vision had slightly changed again. After a couple of hours of wearing the glasses I would have killer headache and have to take them off and put my contacts back in. I still had my old glasses, now two prescriptions behind, and I could wear those no propblem, I just can't see as well with them. In July I went back to my eye doctor and told him I was having this problem.He did an eye exam again, checked both pairs of glasses, and suggested the frame be the issue.

I went over to get glasses (i have been using the same doctor and same glasses supplier as long as I have had a need) told them what was up, picked out some glasses. The technician who was helping me went back through all of my records and said somethign about the curve doing a 180 between the new pair and the old pair, and that would explain the headaches. They put in new lenses with the new prescription and the old curve. This hasn't solved the problem.

Looking through my glass is really clear, I can see, but I feel like my eyes are straining, like in the way your eyes strain if you put on really strong reading glasses and try to look through them when you don't need reading glasses. Any suggestions on what it might be, or how to better explain the issue to my doctor so I can actually see. Assuming my eyes ever stop changing I'll eventually do lasic, but I need to be able to see for the two weeks prior to the surgery I can't wear my contacts, meaning I need to be able to wear my glasses. Plus sometimes I just need to wear glasses.

Thanks

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

1. People that wear contacts often have trouble wearing glasses. The problem is called spectacle blur. It occurs because the cornea changes the shape of the cornea, which changes the glasses RX. When the contacts are taken out the glasses RX may change for up to 3-4 weeks. Bigger problem with strong RX and gas perm/hard contacts. Its like trying to get a pair of shoes that fit when your foot changes sizes every hour.
2. If you are going to have lasik you will have to make due for 2-3 weeks with the glasses you have prior to surgery.
3. Glasses that blur or that are uncomfortable nevertheless will not damage the eye and are usually better than nothing

JCH MD