Headache with new eyeglass prescription

[xhevoice]

I have an astigmatism and am told I am far sighted... things to me whether close or far are about the same it is only slightly fuzzy, like a hazy day and the glasses clears that up for watching tv, looking at the computer, driving at night. Over the past few years I noticed that my vision for extreme closeups was quite blurry, even with my glasses on. Also I have been experiencing greater weakness in my left eye.

I went to the Optician to get my eyes checked, the Dr used Optomat and my eyes are healthy. He did a check and noticed that my eyes began to cross slightly when looking at items that are extremely close. So he put a prism in my prescription for the first time. I thought that would fix the extreme close up problems, but it did not. Instead I have a headache when I wear the new prescription. It feels like my left eye is in a vice, my eyes are fatigued and my left eye just feels tired like it has been working really really hard and needs a rest.

The Dr said that I did not need progressive lenses. But I am concerned because I could see in focus the entire focal length and it is only recently  (the last 3 - 4 years) that I can not see in focus on extreme close up. Also I am concerned that there is a prism correction in my lenses and now my eyes are fatigued.

Why would I be getting headaches (which is centered on the left side of my head) and stabbing pain in my left eye wearing this prescription?

[xhevoice]

Thanks, my previous prescription from May 2007 was:

        SPHERE    CYLINDER   AXIS
OD   +.050          -1.50           093
OS    +0.75         -1.75           077

I don't know what the DIST is on my new prescription. Maybe that is what is bothering me.  I will see the Optometrist this afternoon.

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

That is such a small amount its rarely helpful AND they are set to help eyes that turn out not eyes that turn in or cross.

JCHMD

[xhevoice]

I just realized I omitted the prism part:

   HZ PRISM    BASE
OD   .5               IN
OS   .5               IN

[xhevoice]

Thanks Dr John,

I will have them remove the prism and work on the prescription.

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

Most people can do without prisms. Once you put them in the glasses the eye gets lazy and fusion decreases and its often impossible to take the prism out. However its not normal for you to have pain when you put on the glasses.

If you can return the glasses for full purchase price that might be a good way to start. If you can't then you want them to remake them till they "don't hurt"

Because of your age your near vision will deteroriate over the coming years.

JCH MD

[xhevoice]

I am 41 years old.

My prescription reads:
     Sphere      CYL     AXIS     DIST
OD  +0.75       -1.75    93         31.5
OS   +1.00      -2.00    77         32.0

My previous prescription only corrected the astigmatism and the farsightedness, the prism piece is new. I think both the left eye and right eye went up by .25

I never had a prism problem before, I just know my left eye feels weaker and I get a headache immediately when I put on those glasses.  My sight is good without glasses, the glasses just sharpen the image.

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

What is your age? What is your glasses prescription?

JCH MD