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When New Eyeglasses No Longer Work
Lately I've been dealing with some dissatisfied patients. No, not angry patients - just puzzled because new eyeglasses prescribed just a month ago no longer work.
Whenever I hear that a large alarm goes off inside my head: Put on your thinking cap, doc!
Although it is true that refractive errors like nearsightedness or farsightedness gradually change throughout life, a significant shift occurring within weeks or a few months deserves careful attention. Three common situations ought to be explored.
In general, the more questions you ask the better health care you will receive.
Related Topics: Diabetes Control Benefits Surgery, Healthy Diet May Help Seniors' Vision
Technorati Tags: eyeglasses, vision, diabetes
Whenever I hear that a large alarm goes off inside my head: Put on your thinking cap, doc!
Although it is true that refractive errors like nearsightedness or farsightedness gradually change throughout life, a significant shift occurring within weeks or a few months deserves careful attention. Three common situations ought to be explored.
- It is possible that the original prescription did not completely correct the optical error. This can happen with farsighted hyperopes. Initially the patient may have been able to compensate by accommodating (borrowing near-focusing power to see at distance) but eventually the person can no longer tolerate such 'optical embezzlement'. A dilated cycloplegic refraction will quickly unmask any hidden refractive errors.
If the new glasses no longer work ask the eye doctor if you were prescribed the full correction. - Progressive corneal thinning, as happens in keratoconus, can generate all kinds of wacky focusing problems. As a young ophthalmologist-in-training I encountered a patient who had purchased four pairs of glasses over six months before his keratoconus was recognized. Corneal topography can confirm the presence of keratoconus.
If the new glasses no longer work ask the eye doctor if there is any chance you have keratoconus. - Finally, untreated (or inadequately treated) diabetics experience wide fluctuations in blood glucose levels. The body responds by altering the chemical pathway used for energy metabolism. This shortcut causes the crystalline lens to swell and distort the optics of the diabetic eye. Simple blood tests can verify the presence of diabetes or a pre-diabetic state.
If the new glasses no longer work ask the eye doctor if you might be glucose intolerant.
In general, the more questions you ask the better health care you will receive.
Related Topics: Diabetes Control Benefits Surgery, Healthy Diet May Help Seniors' Vision
Technorati Tags: eyeglasses, vision, diabetes
