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

[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?

[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]

=

[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.

[Anton_Dubkov]

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