Re: Drusen

Posted By Marianne on June 07, 1999 at 21:07:18
1. Can wearing glasses that aren't quite right change your vision on eye exam?  I went from 20/20 4 weeks ago to 20/30 today.  
2. Do you recommend anti-reflective coating on lenses?  Can this distort vision?  
I've been having a very hard time with new glasses. The prescription is only slightly changed, so I don't understand. Mid to long distance vision seems fuzzier.  I'm constantly aware of my vision like I have to physically refocus when I look at different distances.  Have been trying to get used to them for 4 weeks.
Was told glasses were fine, maybe it's my eyes.  Eye MD re-examined me today and my vision has changed (in a month?). I have to go back in 2 weeks for re-exam, and we'll talk some more then. Told me he couldn't make my vision any sharper.
He mentions, oh by the way, you have drusen on your retina. Actually has been noted on my chart for 10 years, but he didn't ever tell me.  Is this standard practice?  Maybe I wouldn't be so flipped out if I had known about the drusen before.  How common is drusen?  I was 30 when he first charted it.
I'm 40 yo, non-smoking female. Good health. Worn glasses since age 10 for nearsightedness. No family hx of macular degeneration.  At my first appt 4 weeks ago, MD mentioned that I'd need bifocals within a couple years.  So far, my close-up vision seems OK with single-vision glasses.  Looking at the computer screen I can see & make out letters, but it just isn't sharp.
I'm glad this forum is here - I'd appreciate any comments you might have, as well as how alarmed I should be by all of this.

[HFHS M.D.-NI]

Posted By HFHS MD - NI on June 07, 1999 at 22:07:30
Small fluctuations in vision and prescription are not uncommon.  For this reason we do not always prescribe new glasses when there is a small change.
Wearing the wrong power glasses especially if the difference is small should not change your eyes.  The vision will be a little blurry with the wrong prescription but it should not effect the eye.
Drusen are one sign of macular degeneration which generally occurs in people much older than you.  There are some types of drusen which can occur earlier but are not usually associated with the major problems of macular degeneration.  It is important to keep followup with your ophthalmologist to make sure there is no change in the retina.
If your vision cannot be corrected to 20/20 there may be something else going on.  I cannot comment on the cause without examining you.
This information is for educational purposes only.  

[Mariane__0__0]

Posted By Marianne on June 07, 1999 at 22:33:45
Thanks for the info.  
I had a real hard time with eye exam today.  When being asked is this better or that way better when flipping those lenses I answered they're ALL blurry - how can I choose?  Blurry is blurry!  Frustrating as a patient.  I felt like I was just guessing.
So if drusen is seen in people much older than myself, what would cause it in someone my age?  
Do you have any comments on the anti-reflective coating for lenses?  
Recommend or not?

[HFHS MD JL]

Posted By HFHS M.D.-JL on June 07, 1999 at 22:50:25
I personally do not like the anti-reflective coating because it causes the glasses to look smudged freqently.  I personally do not have any special coating on my plastic lenses.
It is hard to comment on your drusen without examining your eyes.  Are they drusen for sure?  If so they may still be age related drusen that we usually see in patients with macular degeneration.  Even though it is not the norm some people do develop drusen at an earlier age.  If this is the case you may benefit from taking a multivitamin with antioxidants for eye protection.
This information was provided for medical educational purposes only.
HFHS M.D.-JL

[Mariane__0__0]

Posted By Marianne on June 08, 1999 at 14:36:41
Thank you very much!  I'm grateful for your opinions.
I had already planned on looking into the nutrition angle - Maxivision, Ocupower, etc.  Also, maybe I need to get a 2nd opinion re: the drusen!!  It's been diagnosed by the OD in a large eye clinic in Seattle - not one of the ophthalmologists.  










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