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Getting Glasses When You Have ME-related Variable Eyesight

Discussion in 'Home adaptations, mobility and personal care' started by Ysabelle-S, Oct 30, 2017.

?

Have you developed problems with blurred or variable eyesight since falling ill with ME?

  1. Yes

    43 vote(s)
    93.5%
  2. No

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  3. Not sure

    2 vote(s)
    4.3%
  4. I've developed other eyesight issues

    1 vote(s)
    2.2%
  1. sea

    sea Senior Member (Voting Rights)

    Messages:
    476
    Location:
    NSW, Australia
    Multifocals are working for me. I've had them for the last 3 script changes now. They only work until my eyes are too tired to focus, but that's not because of the multifocals.
     
    MeSci and Wonko like this.
  2. Trish

    Trish Moderator Staff Member

    Messages:
    51,841
    Location:
    UK
    @Stuart, thank you for the link to that article. It sounds fascinating. I was using 2 pairs of glasses before I switched to varifocals. I had mild ME and was still teaching part time, and found that forever switching glasses from distance to see the class, to reading to read my notes was a nightmare. As soon as I switched to varifocals the problem was solved. I was amazed how quickly I adjusted.

    I have no idea whether my current problems with accommodation, unsteadiness when walking, difficulty focusing sometimes etc, are a natural result of my ME worsening or attributable to my glasses.

    Does anyone know whether Dr James work was ever followed up?
    This is a pretty big claim:

    "I do not yet know how the ME virus causes abnormalities in 5HT transmission but it does inhibit its function," says Dr. James. By administering drugs to stimulate levels of 5HT together with treatment aimed at fighting postviral disease, Dr. James believes ME sufferers can be cured.
     
    MeSci and Wonko like this.
  3. Trish

    Trish Moderator Staff Member

    Messages:
    51,841
    Location:
    UK
    I've just googled Dr Ian James and found his obituary from 1998 which includes this:

    ''At the age of 31 he was appointed Consultant in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the Royal Free Hospital and subsequently became Reader. He made a study of the drug treatment of hypertension, depression and ME. His understanding of this tragic illness and his holistic management transformed many lives, as witnessed by the deluge of letters to his widow.''

    http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-dr-ian-james-1176614.html

    I've now done a search in 'the other place' where it was discussed last year. It seems to be about using SSRI antidepressants. Mixed results, no proper clinical trials. Looks like another dead end.
    http://forums.phoenixrising.me/inde...-by-ssris-dr-james-dr-smith-dr-le-fanu.53069/
     
    MeSci, Wonko and Scarecrow like this.
  4. Liv aka Mrs Sowester

    Liv aka Mrs Sowester Senior Member (Voting Rights)

    Messages:
    1,201
    Tagging @Pickle to this thread
     
    Pickle and Ysabelle-S like this.
  5. TigerLilea

    TigerLilea Senior Member (Voting Rights)

    Messages:
    1,816
    Location:
    Metro Vancouver, BC - Canada
    I have progressive lenses and I hate them. Most of the time I don't bother wearing them unless I need them for distance or I'm going out. For reading I have readers. I'm at the point where I need glasses when I'm on the computer but computer glasses didn't work, and to be able to see with the progressives, I have to tilt my head at a strange angle and then I end up with neck ache. But if I don't wear my glasses and I'm on the computer for too long, it makes my headaches much worse.
     
    Ysabelle-S and Wonko like this.
  6. TigerLilea

    TigerLilea Senior Member (Voting Rights)

    Messages:
    1,816
    Location:
    Metro Vancouver, BC - Canada
    How does that work getting a home test? With all the different pieces of equipment they use these days for testing eyes I'm wondering how they do this. Or is it a mobile van that parks outside your home?
     
    Wonko likes this.
  7. Wonko

    Wonko Senior Member (Voting Rights)

    Messages:
    6,674
    Location:
    UK
    I have absolutely no idea, my friend had it done a few months ago, in her home, and said it was fine, but she lives in a bungalow, I'm on the 2nd/3rd floor lol
     
    TigerLilea likes this.
  8. Trish

    Trish Moderator Staff Member

    Messages:
    51,841
    Location:
    UK
    The optician and his assistant carried everything into my home. He used his tablet screen set up at the right distance for me to look at, and had a box full of the lenses to slot in to test. He used a hand held instrument to look in my eyes and had a simple way (which I can't remember) to test for glaucoma.

    For choosing frames he and a nifty case that folded open to display lots of frames. It all worked just as in the consulting room. Didn't seem like he was missing anything out.

    There would be no problem carrying everything upstairs, don't let that put you off.

    When the glasses were ready his assistant delivered them and checked they were OK.
     
  9. TigerLilea

    TigerLilea Senior Member (Voting Rights)

    Messages:
    1,816
    Location:
    Metro Vancouver, BC - Canada
    Thanks for the explanation, Trish. I don't know if we have home service here in my part of Canada. So it isn't actually an optometrist who does the eye exam but an optician. Is it just a sight test you are given or are they checking for diseases also? Things like brain tumours? high blood pressure? macular degeneration? diabetes? peripheral vision? retinal detachment? My eye doc's office has two different rooms I have to go to for testing with different pieces of equipment before I actually see the doc for an eye exam and vision test.
     
    MeSci likes this.
  10. MeSci

    MeSci Senior Member (Voting Rights)

    Messages:
    4,437
    Location:
    Cornwall, UK
    I see various people before seeing the doc as well, if I remember correctly. I don't think they test for high blood pressure or brain tumours, but I know I have the former and take medication for it.
     
  11. Trish

    Trish Moderator Staff Member

    Messages:
    51,841
    Location:
    UK
    I can't answer your question as I'm not very clear about the different levels of optometrist, optician, etc. It may be different in the UK. They are not doctors, but they are trained to spot things that show up by looking at the retina, and they do glaucoma tests. They are not just testing lenses.
     
  12. TigerLilea

    TigerLilea Senior Member (Voting Rights)

    Messages:
    1,816
    Location:
    Metro Vancouver, BC - Canada
    I believe that these are things that they can actually see from looking at the back of the eyes.
     
    Trish and Wonko like this.
  13. Pickle

    Pickle Established Member

    Messages:
    24
    Another question: Does anyone get a crash from an eye test? Felt like I was dying afterwards and I had a killer migraine for 24 hours afterwards. All the flashing lights maybe?
     
    Liv aka Mrs Sowester, Trish and Wonko like this.
  14. Wonko

    Wonko Senior Member (Voting Rights)

    Messages:
    6,674
    Location:
    UK
    Yes - I detest them, and am "bad" for several days afterwards. This is the main reason I haven't had one for several years despite having major problems reading, or anything requiring clarity of vision within a few feet, with it often being impossible, the very thing my last pair of glasses were supposed to resolve.

    Of particular dislike are the puffer machine, and the field of vision machine. I always have to have these redone at least once as they don't believe the results.

    Even the basic lens test (number 1, or number 2 etc) causes problems due to the jiggling in my vision. I found the word for that in a previous post but have now forgotten it. * edit - that word is - Oscillopsia :)

    Soon I will have no choice as the frames on these are now going :(
     
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2017
  15. Pickle

    Pickle Established Member

    Messages:
    24

    Thanks! I haven't crashed this hard in over a year!
     
    Liv aka Mrs Sowester and Wonko like this.
  16. PandaEyes

    PandaEyes Established Member

    Messages:
    22
    Location:
    UK
    Ten nine seven.. uh where was I? *static noise*
     
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