Repeated Change in Eyesight

[gorillapina]

I went to the eye doctor for an eye infection. I was on antibiotics (which, without insurance are so expensive!) for weeks and came back for check-ups. She waited a long time to make sure the infection was cleared before checking my eyes for glasses. (I was told I can no longer wear contacts because I got an infection another time before and switched to breathable contacts and still got an infection).  She gave me a prescription and I took it to buy two pairs of glasses.  When my glasses came in two weeks later I tried them on and I had trouble seeing.  I thought my eyes would adjust, however, it was too blurry to even wear- it hurt my eyes.  I went back to my eye doctor and she checked my eyes again and she said they had changed quite a bit.  I had much less astigmatism and the prescription was just so different. So I had my glasses changed. Two weeks later I got my glasses and again I had the same problem- I couldn't see out of them.  I went back to my eye doctor and again my eyesight was vastly different.  She didn't attribute it to the eye infections because they had cleared up and there wasn't any swelling. So, she told me to be checked for diabetes. I was checked and I am healthy with no problems. I should mention I am female, 24, mother to a three year old.  For the past six months before I went to the doctor to be checked I haven't been wearing glasses or anything( I don't have insurance so I put off going to the doc- and now I have until March to get a new prescription for my glasses or I have to pay again).  My eyesight has been fine to the point I don't feel I need glasses badly- and I've been wearing glasses since sixth grade. However, the past couple weeks my eyes have been getting a little blurry and I notice that I should wear glasses.  I am so frustrated because I can't afford to keep going to the doctor or eye doctor and yet I need to. I can only afford -time and money wise- to go back to the eye doctor one more time for a prescription! Has anyone heard of such a case as mine? I'm sorry this is so long but I really appreciate any help/advice. Thanks again~

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

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[gorillapina]

Thank you.  I still need  to see this eye optomologist so I can have my glasses changed for free.. otherwise it will cost me hundreds again.  I also do not have medical insurance so nothing would be covered if I did have a health problem.  When I did have health insurance through Iowa State last year (where I no longer attend so insurance is not an option) I was referred to an eye doctor because of an eye infection and unfortunately my insurance couldn't cover it because I ran out of whatever amount they did cover. I'm still paying off that bill.  It was a lot more expensive when I saw the eye doctor as opposed to the eye optomologist.  I guess I am hoping that nothing will be wrong with my eyes and this will be the only visit I need...  

It's upsetting that the recent stimulus bill had cut out the health insurance coverage for those who lost their job and are on unemployment. My husband lost his job last year which is why we moved an I no longer attend ISU and he lost his insurance. We were hoping that this part would be kept in the bill.  Unfortunately it was not so I don't see health insurance in our future... Luckily our three year old son is covered right now!

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

I looked at their website and training and its nothing outstanding and about half of what an ophthalmologist has. PLUS it is wrong to think that seeing a Eye MD is a greatdeal more expensive than an optom. In many cases it less expensive since studies have shown that optoms are much more likely to do extra tests that might not be necessary and prescribe glasses that may not be needed.

Also if any medical problems are found and you see an Eye MD then your health insurance will often cover some or all of the exam whereas it normally doesn't cover an optom.

JCH MD

[gorillapina]

I guess I didn't realize the difference.  I already made an appointment for this week at the place where I bought my glasses (not the place I had my eyes examined) because they told me they could help me.  But I looked on their website and they are all OD's... I'm afraid that going to an MD Opthalmologist is going to be too expensive for me...   My situation is not good.. I'm finishing my bachelors right now and then getting my Masters so have no reasonable way to obtain healthcare. Do you think the OD I will be seeing may be able to help me? If you are interested this is their website :http://www.aec2020.com/doctors.html. Thank you again!

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

Yes, early cataracts can cause that, corneal disease other than contact warpage can also cause it (example keratoconus), and any disease that reduces accuity such as macular degneration/edema can cause it.

As I said be sure your office are physicians MDs ophthalmologists. In my opnion optometrists cannot provide the level of care your situation indicates.

JCH MD

[gorillapina]

First, thank you for your response! I believe the contact lenses I wore were Acuvue Advance Toric. I've only used soft contact lenses. I was wearing contacts for about six years along with glasses and I never went to sleep with them in. Even while wearing the breathable contacts- which I wore for only a few hours a day- I still got an eye infection.

The office where I purchased my glasses has been helpful and I decided to have my eyes rechecked there instead.  Hopefully this will eliminate any eye problems in the future. I still don't know what caused all these eye problems and I'm hoping that it was just an error... But is there an eye problem that would cause your eyes to fluctuate in prescriptions?

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

Sometimes the glasses RX will change for several months after contact lens are discontinued especially if there were gas permeable CTLs.

I would suggest you go to a different "eye doctor" and I would be sure that you see an Eye MD ophthalmologist. Find one at www.aao.org

Note in our office if a patient is unhappy or not adjust well to glasses (we ask they report this within a month of getting them) we do not charge for the repeat exam and repeat glasses testing. We work with the patient and whomever made the glasses to make the charges at no cost if within a month (our own optical shop gives 60-90 days changes without extra charge).  Most Eye MDs have a similiar policy.

JCH MD