Vision issue no doctor seems able to solve - or am I trying to see better than I should?

[gwencalon]

I have myopia and astigmatism.

For the last 5 years I keep complaining to my doctor that the prescribed spectacles aren't exactly correct. I think things don't look as sharp as they should. This is especially noticeable at particular light conditions, such as reading traffic signs at night, illuminated advertising (sometimes quite huge letters) or just at a presentation in a meeting.

I notice my vision gets better if I look from the corner of my eyes/spectacles. As I move away from the center (where the spectacles should be more accurate) things get sharper.

I've been to several doctors, I get 20/20 at the regular vision tests, I've done a perimetry too and they say my eye is perfect and my vision is just fine. However, how can it be fine if I feel these issues? I don't think they take me seriously, they think I'm addicted to high definition and want to see more than humanly possible.

Do you have any idea why this is happening? I switched spectacles a few months ago, but I have the same problem. I have a feeling it may be something about the astigmatism. When looking at bright things, especially, I see ghost images and that's what makes the blurry effect. The moon at night, for instance, I can't see a perfect clear circle. I see 2 or 3 layers of semi-transparent moons a few inches apart. I don't think this is how someone with perfect eyesight should see it.

A few years ago, my doctor said I could have photosensitivity and prescribed me some eye drops - it changed nothing.

If you have any hints, I'd appreciate.
Also, if you want to share how you see the moon, be my guest. I'm beginning to believe that - since I have no reference - I am indeed trying to see better than I should...

Thanks in advance.

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

I do not conclude that when looking through two pairs of glasses it gets better but not perfect indicates it is a refraction problem and my original advice stands.
JCH MD

[gwencalon]

Thank you doctor, for your opinion.

One more thing. I have a pair of lenses from some old glasses. When I put those lenses in front of my spectacles, everything looks sharper! Well, not perfect, but it improves a lot. The slight ghost effect goes away. Is this because I'm actually zooming in the image? Yet, I don't notice the objects are magnified. The fact that this happens, leads me to think this is only a refraction issue, but the ophthalmologist insisted I have the right prescription.

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

For persisting complaints you would need a meticulous refraction, corneal topography, careful exam of lens for cataracts, corneal disease and macular pathology possibly OCT and visual field. If all of these are normal then what they say about your fixation with the images is probably correct. Depending on what distance you are looking at the vision may be clearer outside the visual axis/optical zone and more towards the peripheray or with the glasses tilted.

JCH MD