chronic eye strain - asthenopia

[alicat52]

I wondered if an Optometrist could answer this question for me not quite sure whats been occuring I have worn contact lenses since I was 18 was with same Optician not much change in my prescriptions over time with lenses I didn't have a back up pair of glasses just coped well with lenses then I switched to another Optician who gave me lenses and a glasses prescription which the lenses suffocated my corneas they were too tight fitting i ended up at eye hospital had treatment for non bacterial keretitis glasses seemed very strong couldnt get on with them and 6 months after that when i had keretitis i got another glasses prescription ok now my astigmatism right eye was put at -1.25 and both eyes were even stronger in glasses few weeks in couldn't adapt so went back they said they were fine felt woozy and lightheaded im also computer user too laptop from home which do lots of work on now cause of issues in this prescription i visited new optician in June 2009 he said who gave u that prescription i said last optician they said that astigmatism in left was .75 too strong plus they were .75 too strong on the normal vision and in right eye .50 too strong so i was gobsmacked really I came down like 3 years of changes in one year now I have totally lost confidence in my prescriptions really it doesn't make sense.  I was recently using a laptop long use recently had symptons of eye muscle pain like spasm and right temple discomfort and Im sat here thinking is it what im doing or is it my glasses so bit concerned any advice would be good really.  I feel bit confused
have i got eye strain again which is to do with what im doing.

[Sandy Feldman, MD, MS]

Dear alicat52,

I would recommend that you seek the care of an eyeMD to obtain your prescription.  Have your eyes checked undilated as well as dilated, known as a cycloplegic refraction.  If you are on your computer and doing a lot of near tasks, it is possible your muscles are still working during the examination.  Also, while doing near work on a computer, texting or reading, try to take frequent breaks by focusing across the room at an object once every hour.

Dr. Feldman

Sandy T. Feldman, M.D., M.S.
ClearView Eye and Laser Medical Center
San Diego, California

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

There are no optometrists on these forums. This is a MD ophthalmology forum.
JCH MD