Julie in CA Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 I'm having intermittent blurry vision in one eye. It took me a while to realize that it was just one eye, since on bad days I squint with both eyes in an effort to see. It doesn't seem to be a matter of close-up or far-away, but just that some days I can see, and some days everything is blurry. I've had this for...oh....about 2 years now, but it seems worse lately. About two years ago I had my eyes checked and was told that my vision is actually fine, that it was probably "eyestrain" and that I should go to the drugstore and buy the reading glasses with the weakest magnification and use them for reading only. It just feels like the problem has nothing to do with reading, so I didn't use the reading glasses. I have been tested for diabetes, and that's ok. I have high blood pressure--could that affect my eyesight? And finally, do I need to see an opthalmologist, or could I just go to the eye doc at Costco (which is only $45). Anything else will cost quite a bit more. WWYD? WSID?(what should I do) Thanks, Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yvonne Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 I'd see an ophthamologist. It's more expensive than an optometrist, but eyesight is one area where I would not cut any corners. I hope you can find someone to figure out what's going on. yvonne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 One of the early signs of MS is vision trouble. I'm not at all suggesting that's what this is, but I am suggesting that you get to the root of it. Start wtih your famliy doc and see what he recommends. Good luck... Ria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenneinCA Posted February 12, 2008 Share Posted February 12, 2008 Are you overly sensitive to bright light in that eye? I ask because your description is very similar to what my Dad said and he had a cataract. He has since had it dealt with and is now fine but I would be sure to check. It sounds to me like you need to see an opthamologist. Jenne in AZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 I'm having intermittent blurry vision in one eye. It took me a while to realize that it was just one eye, since on bad days I squint with both eyes in an effort to see. It doesn't seem to be a matter of close-up or far-away, but just that some days I can see, and some days everything is blurry. I've had this for...oh....about 2 years now, but it seems worse lately................... And finally, do I need to see an opthalmologist, or could I just go to the eye doc at Costco (which is only $45). Anything else will cost quite a bit more. WWYD? WSID?(what should I do) Thanks, Julie Yikes!!! My advice is to see an opthalmologist immediately! My mil had this happen and it turned out to be a blood vessel bleeding behind her eye. She needed laser treatment to prevent permanent loss of sight in that eye. (She thought it might be due to high blood pressure, but it wasn't.) Also, my nephew developed slightly blurred vision and finally went to the opthalmologist thinking he needed eyeglasses. The opthalmologist immediately sent him to the hospital. He had a tumor on his pituitary gland that was beginning to impinge on the eyes. He was lucky in that medication was able to shrink the tumor and he never needed surgery. You *really* need to get this checked out by an opthalmologist. If it's nothing serious, at least you will probably find out why it is happening. If it's serious and you don't get treatment, you risk losing your vision permanently. IMO, this is one of the times when you *can't* afford not seeing a specialist! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in CA Posted February 13, 2008 Author Share Posted February 13, 2008 I will make an appointment with an opthalmologist. I'm hoping that when I end up going, they will take my concern seriously enough to follow through, even if my sight is just fine on that particular day. Now to find an opthalmologist! I'm not eager to go back and see the same one I saw last time, even though he has a great reputation. I didn't really feel taken seriously, and the doc was hard of hearing and *very* hard for me to communicate with. Would you all just pick one out of the phone book? It's a relatively small town, and not a lot of selection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Absolutely go to an opthamologist and dont leave until you get an answer. Seriously, dont let any doc get away with not completely answering your questions. I had a similar issue for about 2 years as well. I kept hearing about my age, my glucose levles, fatigue, etc. Finally I told my new eye doc I wasnt leaving until I knew what was causing the problem. She looked a bit stunned and said something like "well, or course not." It took 3 appt on 3 seperate days and several tests to find out teh cause. Turned out to be a cornea problem. Yes, I will eventually need surgery, but thanks to great care that is specific to my problem, so far so good. In fact, I'm going tomorrow for my annual dialation exam and I do need new glasses! Do go to a good eye surgeon - not the Walmart guys. Nothing against the Walmart type docs, they are good at what they do (most anyway) but they are not surgeons and they do not look at the "zebras", just the routine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey in TX Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 I had same symptoms two years ago. It was resolved with OTC reading glasses. When the issue presented itself again, it was time for stronger glasses. Even optomistrist was surprised at how much my eyesight had decreased. (Don't laugh, but distance is still 20/20, which is poor for me.) Hopefully you'll also find a simple solution to your vision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in CA Posted February 13, 2008 Author Share Posted February 13, 2008 So Tracey, are you saying that your eyesight for distance has always been fine? -Or are you saying that using the reading glasses helped your vision overall for a while? On good days I see just fine up close and at a distance. On bad days that eye is blurry both close and far away. I'm trying to determine whether not using the reading glasses could have contributed to the problem. If so, bad me :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yvonne Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 <<Would you all just pick one out of the phone book? Maybe your family physician could suggest a couple of options? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cin Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 One good thing...medical insurance usually covers Ophthalmologists :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 So Tracey, are you saying that your eyesight for distance has always been fine?-Or are you saying that using the reading glasses helped your vision overall for a while? On good days I see just fine up close and at a distance. On bad days that eye is blurry both close and far away. I'm trying to determine whether not using the reading glasses could have contributed to the problem. If so, bad me :( Not Tracey, of course, but I wanted to point out that the intermittent aspect of your problem makes it different from Tracey's problem. My mil's blurry vision was intermittent too. Apparently the blood vessel would bleed a little, then stop. The laser treatment was necessary to seal the leakiness. Without treatment she was in very real danger of permanently losing vision in that eye. Can you ask around to find a better opthalmologist? I tend to prefer younger or middle-aged doctors to older ones. They seem to be more "up" on new research and new technologies. In any case, explain the problem when you make the appointment. If you go in on a day when the doctor can't see anything wrong, ask him about coming in on a day when your vision is blurry. He should tell you to call when this happens and come in right away for a check. It's much more likely he'll be able to tell what's wrong if he can see you on a bad-vision day, but it may have to be the second time he sees you instead of the first. Honestly, if your first doctor had been good he would have had you do this. Talk to the doctor when you are in there and get it all set up beforehand, so you know exactly who to call and how to plan your day the next time the blurry vision happens. Sorry to be so long-winded, but vision is *so* important to every aspect of our lives........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.