Unexplained Improvements in my vision

[porterron]

I am  a 69 year old male who has been severly miopic for most of my life.  My uncorrected vision was about 20/200 in one eye and 20/400 in the other eye.  This was the case from the time that I was about 8 years of age to around Age 65-66.  Rather suddenly, however, my vision improved radically and No one seems to be able to give me an explanation as to why.  I had to radically change my vision prescription.  The last examination by an optometrist measured vision in my right eye at 20/10 and vision in my left eye at 20/80.  This changed two or 3 years ago and the change has, so far, proven to be permanent. I had thought that it might be due to cataracts or something like that since a few years ago an opthamologist had said that I had the beginnings of cataracts on the periphery of the lenses.  However, when I had the exam by the Optometrist a couple of years ago, he said that he saw no evidence of cataracts.  So...what gives?
Is anyone aware of a similar change in Vision in anyone else or does anyone have any idea what might have caused the change in MY eyes.  I would appreciate any information or comments that anyone might be able to provide.   I would welcome any questions or comments

[Anton_Dubkov]

Perhaps this is age-related farsightedness, compensating for myopia.

[Jaclin33]

My myopia also improved significantly a few years ago. I am in my seventies. I went from 5.50 to 3.75 in one eye and similar in the other eye. I could if I had to now watch tv without glasses or contact lenses. Something I have never been able to do before. Obviously my sight is better whilst wearing my glasses or contact lenses but in an emergency I could see tv without them. My prescription has had to be altered for the better twice in the last two years.

[JohnHaganMD]

A number of explanations for that, none of which is rare:  As you have gotten older your cornea may have flattened making your less myopic; you say you wear contacts, they often flatten the cornea at least temporarily causing less myopia, this is the basis for myopia treatment by contacts called orthokeratography.  Finally you might be developing a cataract which can increase or decrease myopia.

[eileenone1]

eileenone1

I thought that I was the only one with this problem.  I have been wearing glasses since I was 44 years old.  About 2 years ago I kept thinking that my glasses were dirty as I could not see out of them.  My prescription was +3.25 on the left and +3.00 on the right.  So I went to the eye doctor...got my eyes checked and he was amazed to find that my eyes got stronger.  He order me a pair of weaker glasses.  I only word distance glasses as I could not get used to bifocals.  iI could see so well that I  was forgetting to put them on.  Within 3 months the new glasses now were too strong.  I now wear no glasses.  I can read a telephone book without any glasses...distance or close....perfect vision.  Now, here is the best part.  I am having cataracts removed so I can see better. Gee, I should then be able to see through walls.  It will be interesting when the cataracts are removed.  Question:  How the heck am I getting along with no glasses and perfect vision....has anyone hear this before? I can thread a needle without any glasses.

[JohnHaganMD]

your story is a common and old as dirt. It used to be called "second sight"  As the cataracts developed they caused "false or pseudo-myopia" so for a while your farsighted glasses got thinner and your vision without glasses got better, at some point people are able to read without glasses. Not a good thing. At some point both distance and near are blurry and cataract surgery is necessary.   You won't have perfect vision after surgery and you may not be able to thread a needle without glasses.  READ THIS CAREFULLY http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/1648102/Consider-ALL-the-Options-Before-Your-Cataract-Surgery-Working-Through-Whats-Best-For-You

[NightHawkGuy]

Yep, thats the effect my right eye's cataract had for the couple years after it started affecting my vision.  The initial effect was it made my right eye more nearsighted, moving gradually from about -0.5D to about -2.5D where it stopped.  Was changing eyeglasses Rx every few months during that period. But then glasses wouldn't correct the right eye's vision to better than 20/40 or 20/50 and thats when I considered the cataract surgery at that point.

[JohnHaganMD]

=

[eileenone1]

I thought that I was the only one with this problem.  I have been wearing glasses since I was 44 years old.  About 2 years ago I kept thinking that my glasses were dirty as I could not see out of them.  My prescription was +3.25 on the left and +3.00 on the right.  So I went to the eye doctor...got my eyes checked and he was amazed to find that my eyes got stronger.  He order me a pair of weaker glasses.  I only word distance glasses as I could not get used to bifocals.  iI could see so well that I  was forgetting to put them on.  Within 3 months the new glasses now were too strong.  I now wear no glasses.  I can read a telephone book without any glasses...distance or close....perfect vision.  Now, here is the best part.  I am having cataracts removed so I can see better. Gee, I should then be able to see through walls.  It will be interesting when the cataracts are removed.  Question:  How the heck am I getting along with no glasses and perfect vision....has anyone hear this before?

[SJH12]

The common thread might be - CQ10 & D3?

[JohnHaganMD]

=

[JohnHaganMD]

This is not all that unusual and the cause is almost always cataracts.  More often cataracts make the eye more myopic but not infrequently it makes the eye less myopic.  Temporary decreases in myopia are very common in diabetics whose blood sugars are high. There are some rare cornea problems that could flatten the cornea and make the eye less myopic but they should be easy to diagnose. I would suggest seeing an ophthalmologist yearly.

[DrKSanjay]

Mr. Porterron I had a quite similar experience when only about a month ago I realised that my distance vision has got completely corrected ; for which I was wearing progressive lenses since 8 to 10 years.
I am 49 year old male state level power-lifter from 2 years. Strength training scientifically in a drug-free manner from 4 years. So it seems obvious that my changed dietary pattern of lots of veg and fruits along with proteins has a role to play.
Tag vision improvement drug-free power-lifting diet

[Rincer]

Just happened to me too. I am 47, been mildly myopic since age 7, (-1.5) in both eyes. All of a sudden my far uncorrected vision is 20/20 in my one eye, but my near vision in the same eye became worse. This happened in a space of a few days I am sure, still haven't seen a MD about it.

[alicia252002]

I am 35 Yes old, and have had glasses since I was in 6th grade. My vision was getting Horrible,  to the point I could not belive how bad it was. Then I noticed lights seemed brighter, and my eyes were very sensitive to light or anything bright. then I realized I kept taking my glasses off to see things, that they were making things worse. It didn't even dawn on me. I just thought my eyes were so bad that my glasses were not helping. Then I saw a show were a woman claimed to be abducted, and the "Friendly's" had down surgery on her eyes and all the sudden she could see better. so I started testing my vision, not because I think I was abducted,  but because I realized maybe there was a chance they were getting better. Sure enough,  I can see really good now. I am in complete shock. while driving is when I always notices how bad my eyes were. So this evening my daughter and I went to town and I tested my eyes. I could see all the Rd signs, highway signs, and the car lights coming from the opposite directions were not spread out and blurry any more. looking back, it almost seems I had signs of having the surgery. With those couple weeks of sensitive eyes.  Idk. If anyone had answers, please let me know.

[aronjorge]

I am a 63 yr male..have worn glasses for past 35 years...when dr said I need tri-focals (3 yrs ago) , i choes no line glasses. On Dec. 7th this year I got dull headache that would not go away...lasted three days and nights. I awoke on morning of the 10th of Dec. and to my amazement I could see good without my glasses. I spent a lot of time that day threading needles to prove to others I wasn't crazy. Had a liitle trouble focusing from time to  time that first day (Dec. 10) and sometimes my eyes would try to cross. But not any more. Now one week latter and I can see as well as I ever could close up and far off.. Dont have the money to go to doctor, but something sure as hell has happened to my eyes for the better..Wife says it is a mircle. and I agree.
My crazy brother said I had a good stroke, I didn't know there was any such thing. We have eatCO a lot of Tumeric for the last 1 1/2 yrs. and I was taking vit. D-3 and co-Q10....Still doing the Tumeric as of now.
I know spelling is not one of the things I do well.  If you have any ideal what is going on please email me at...***@****
....thanks very much

[bwaddle]

I began wearing glasses when I was 6 or seven. The usual amazement that I could see the leaves on the trees! At one point my vision was 20/400. Wore the glasses all my life up until a few years go, but on a chain for the past 30 or 40 years unless I was driving.


A little over 20 years ago, my nearsightedness improved to about 20/250. I had had a fall where I jarred my head pretty good (no concussion), and thought maybe that had done it.


About 6 or 7 years ago, I went to a free testing for Lasik surgery. The tester said, "You don't need glasses." I had him test me again. Same response. Went to my ophthalmologist. He asked me, jokingly, what kind of water I was drinking. I had been to him the year before, so this change also was pretty sudden.


This year I have had cataract surgery in both eyes, the last one a week ago. The day after the surgery, I tested at 20/20 in both eyes. I can read the bottom line of the eye chart AND the printed card. I might add that I'm 72 when I would be expected to have problems with close vision.


The only explanation I can offer is that I have taken supplemental beta carotene along with other vitamins and supplements for 30 years (because I had been diagnosed with SLE, probably mistakenly).


Any ideas?

[Eva345]

Hi Paris 14,

I'm in a very similar situation! I'm also a 21 yr old female. My left eye has felt out of focus and blurry for about a week, so I thought my eyesight was getting worse in one eye. I went to the eye doctor the other day and she told told me that after years of having the same prescription my eyesight had actually improved quite a bit. Vision randomly went from 6.5 and 6.0 to 5.5 and 5.0.. She changed my prescription, which did make my eyes feel a bit better, but my left eye still feels very off. Hopefully it's nothing serious for either of us! Please let me know when you find out what the problem is or if your situation changes. I have another eye appointment on Wednesday and am going to have her actually look at my eyes and see if she sees anything.

[Ananama]

Hello, thank you very much for your sharing. Did you have had an answer from your eye doctor ? I am scared as well, I am experiencing the same at 22.

[JohnHaganMD]

That post is from 2014

[Ananama]

So probably there is an answer by then

[JohnHaganMD]

Most likely but inactivity means that you are highly unlikely to get a response.

[Paris14]

I am a 21 year old female whose recent prescription was -6.50 in right eye and - 6.00 in left eye. I have been wearing contacts since I was 9 years old and could see perfectly with my last prescription. About 2 weeks ago i noticed my vision was becoming blurry with my contacts in and believed my eyesight was becoming worse, which every year or so my eyesight does get worse, but when i went to the eye doc to check my eyesight my vision dramatically improved to -5.15 in right eye and -5.0 in left eye. there is no explanation for this. I am not diabetic although i do have Lupus, hyperthyroidism and vonwillebrands disease. Does anybody know how this could have happened?? I also found a lump in my neck that is now being tested....could a brain tumor or other cancer be the cause of this??? I am having a CT scan of my brain orbits and neck next wednesday....If you are a doc PLEASE give me some answers i am scared to death

[kathryn241]

What do you think of viscoelastics, which reshape the front inner part of the eye.

[kathryn241]

Would getting in IOL (with silicone oil already in the eye)  PROTECT the cornea in the aphakic eye?  LOL!  I said it wrong before.

[kathryn241]

Would getting in IOL with silicone oil already in the eye PROTECT from aphakia?

[kathryn241]

Too bad you have had all the retina problems, you would make a fabulous eye doc!

[kathryn241]

What does it mean when the retina surgeon says that the posterior pole is still attached?
???

[berrywoo]

also, you didn't state your Rx's so it's hard to tell if there indeed was a "radical" shift in myopia.

[berrywoo]

you say that your UNCORRECTED VISION (meaning you were NOT wearing your normal contacts/glasses) was 20/200 O.D and 20/400 O.S. but you don't state whether or not your new vision is with correction or without. If you were measured wearing contacts or glasses (or getting a refractions through a phoropter) than the visual acuity of 20/10 and 20/80 shouldn't be compared to the 20/200 and 20/400.

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

First of all the optometrist has less than half the training of an ophthalmologist so I would discount what the optom says.

There are several possibilities.
1. Your old glasses were too strong for you (you were over minused which happens in young people)
2. An early cataract is causing unusual changes (usually they make you more myopic).
3. You've had refractive surgery
4. Someting pushing the back of the eye forward or the retina forward will have this effect.
5. Uncontroled diabetes can do this.
6.

JCH MD

[AntonReiser]

Which prescription glasses were you wearing before and which are you wearing now?
While the eyes of millions are deteororating year after year your vision has improved.
So you are the exception that proves the rule.
Congratulations!

The reasons for this should be investigated.
Go and find a myopia scientist who is interested in finding it out.
In Utah there is the Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah.
http://uuhsc.utah.edu/moraneyecenter/