 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Medical Forum / General / Vision / December 2005Reading with one eye shut
Over the past year or two, I've caught myself closing my right eye when reading a computer screen, and more often, a book. It seems to happen more often when I'm tired. I'm 28 years old, and have been wearing glasses/contacts to correct near-sightedness since 1991. I don't have a very strong prescription, -2.00 in my right eye, -1.75 in my left. This hasn't changed very much in the 14 years since I first got glasses. In spite of this "read with one eye open" thing, I can actually see the text on the screen/page perfectly well with either eye up to a distance of about 12-18". I've found that I can even switch which eye is closed when reading, without any vision detriment. I think I'm just left-eye dominant, so my right eye is the one I subconsciously close. The question is though, if I can see fine up close with both eyes, why do I often find myself closing one in order to read? Is it a focusing issue, a convergence problem of some kind? This seems to happen regardless of if I'm wearing my contacts/glasses or no correction at all. If it helps, I work as a computer programmer by day, and sit in front of a monitor a lot, and I'm a prolific reader at home. I read books for 1-2 hours each night, almost every night. Thoughts? - Chris > -2.00 in my right eye, -1.75 in my left. This hasn't changed very much > in the 14 years since I first got glasses. > [ ... ] > I work as a computer programmer by day, and sit in front > of a monitor a lot, and I'm a prolific reader at home. I read books > for 1-2 hours each night, almost every night. Apparently the Intelligent Designer has fixed your eyes for close work. Maybe you should always read without eyeglasses. Otis thinks so, too, but what does he know? Maybe the O.D.'s want to saddle your eyes with prisms. That would be a nuisance, but perhaps a learning experience. -- Dicky In my original post, I stated "This seems to happen regardless of if I'm wearing my contacts/glasses or no correction at all." The last thing I expected was a reply that was little more than a polemic against certain belief systems. I was hoping for some insight into my eyesight. - Chris > The last thing I expected was a reply that was little more than a > polemic against certain belief systems. Sorry, but with a myopic refractive error of ~2 diopters, reading without your eyeglasses will brand you as heretical, even if it works and makes good sense. > I was hoping for some insight into my eyesight. Your best hope would be oversight. Tell people you lost your glasses when they catch you reading with your naked eyeballs. Now, if you have a problem with convergence or astigmatism, your naked eyeballs might need some more help. But what do I know? -- Dicky Retired x-myope. But Dick, reading with my naked eyeballs doesn't help. I still find myself closing one eye, especially if I'm tired. Sorry if I haven't been clear. > But Dick, reading with my naked eyeballs doesn't help. I still find > myself closing one eye, especially if I'm tired. > > Sorry if I haven't been clear. Yes, I understand. Well, you may have some trouble converging. That could be simple, or because the images in the two eyes are different, as might occur if you had moderate uncorrected astigmatism, or similar. What do you see if suddenly open you eyes towards a test pattern of object after having 'em closed for a while? What is the pattern of their movement? -- Dicky Professional Myope, Ret. Do you every few minutes relax your eyes and look in the distance, or do you keep your eyes in a steely death grip on that world a few inches away for hour after hour? Years ago I had a not too disimilar problem after intense 50+hr weeks at the computer screen, and my company offered a free vision therapy class. To make you more flexible and aware of convergence process, they had you try tasks with distorting prism glasses and various eye exercises. And the looking away stuff, as well as not having the screen right close in your face (and preferably not with a wall immediately beyond). Main benefit seemed to be just the awareness of when you dropped into a strained, harsh viewing mode and could back off. Otherwise it can be sort of self anethesic, at least for some personality types or in high stress yet passive activities, to just strain away which may not be good. Try glancing away and reading more "softly", if no better ideas come up... try reading and using the computer WITHOUT correction Don't mistakenly assume you are too young for a cataract. I don't know your medical history. If you are a diabetic, have rheumatoid arthritis or some other autoimmune system disorder, or have ever had an injury to that eye, even one you don't remember, it could be forming. We all know that websites are no substitute for competent medical advice, that is - medical advice driven by the best interests of the patient and not by the profit motive. Is there any of that around anymore? m >Don't mistakenly assume you are too young for a cataract. I don't know >your medical history. If you are a diabetic, have rheumatoid arthritis [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >patient and not by the profit motive. Is there any of that around >anymore? m I'd say that the doc's who participate on this forum exemplify that first kind.... Good luck with your challenges, Melinda. I believe I just may understand....  SignatureLive simply so that others may simply live I hope you've gotten some answers about your vision by now. If you can't afford a specialist, and who can these days, go to the Lions Club home page and look for free vision screenings in your area. I'm telling you, you may very well have a slow-growing cataract. I had strongly favored the left eye for years without thinking much about it until I was diagnosed. By the time they took the cataract off, it was quite dense and resulted in a lot of damage to the eyeball just in the process of removing it (I've told my eyeball tale on this site before - no need for a repeat). Good luck to you. Melinda > no need for a repeat). Good luck to you. Melinda And good luck to you, also. Keep us posted. SignatureDan Abel dabel@sonic.net Petaluma, California, USA > Over the past year or two, I've caught myself closing my right eye when > reading a computer screen, and more often, a book. It seems to happen [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > regardless of if I'm wearing my contacts/glasses or no correction at > all. Either a focusing issue or a convergence issue. It is time for an eye examination. You may need some exercises to improve convergerence. Or possibly the refractive error has changed in one eye and the two eyes are not focused on the same plane. Dr Judy > If it helps, I work as a computer programmer by day, and sit in front > of a monitor a lot, and I'm a prolific reader at home. I read books [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > - Chris FWIW, I was doing a similar thing (and was noticing other symptoms as well) and after seeking out a doctor that would take the time, I was diagnosed with a convergence problem. It's worth getting checked out. Maybe they'll put you on vision therapy, which is no big deal except for the expense of it. It seems to be helping me some. I'm about half way through my program. > Over the past year or two, I've caught myself closing my right eye > when reading a computer screen, and more often, a book. It seems to [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > - Chris Hey, you might have a cataract forming on one side or the other - probably the side you use less. I had had my cataract a long time before it was even discovered due to lack of consistent health coverage. Needless to say, have a qualified opthalmologist, not just an optometrist, examine your eyes right away. And don't say you can't afford it. No price is too high to save your sight, because in your case, it's your livelihood. M Bad diagnosis and advice. No indication of cataracts from the history and from the age, entirely unlikely. Even if there were a cataract, an optometrist is indicated here. Why bother a surgeon with a non surgical problem like this? I would think you of all people woul be skeptical of running off to a surgeon at the first sign of trouble... w.stacy, o.d. >Hey, you might have a cataract forming on one side or the other - >probably the side you use less. I had had my cataract a long time [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > > Hey, you might have a cataract forming on one side or the other - > probably the side you use less. I had had my cataract a long time [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > afford it. No price is too high to save your sight, because in your > case, it's your livelihood. M Or maybe not. Just because you had cataract doesn't mean that everybody with a vision problem does. Young people can have cataract, as you say. I've known a couple, who had eye injuries. However, any competent OD can diagnose cataract. If that's it, they should refer. If that isn't it, the OD may be the very best person to fix the problem. SignatureDan Abel dabel@sonic.net Petaluma, California, USA > Or maybe not. Just because you had cataract doesn't mean that everybody > with a vision problem does. Right. > However, any competent OD can diagnose cataract. and, I hate to say it, but even an incompetent O.D. can diagnose cataract. It's perhaps the easiest eye diagnosis of all. Only a blind O.D. couldn't see a cataract. One thing I'm finding these days is I'm referring cataracts way earlier than I used to, and many surgeons are too timid to take on such early cases, mostly for fear that insurance might not pay them. They are SLOWLY coming around, but I've had a few disappointed patients who are made to wait unnecessarily, IMO. w.stacy, o.d. > > However, any competent OD can diagnose cataract. > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > SLOWLY coming around, but I've had a few disappointed patients who are > made to wait unnecessarily, IMO. You're the professional, and I'm a layperson, so I won't try to tell you how to do your job. IMNSHO, I think that it is appropriate to refer immediately. It ain't gonna go away. I had many arguments with my first OMD about when to do my first cataract surgery. He won, of course. I can't make him do it. I wanted to see. He said it wasn't time yet. I thought it was time to see. He said that only God can make an eye. I didn't like that. Why did God make my eye broken? There are a number of compelling reasons to delay surgery. One is money. My HMO doesn't make money by doing surgery. Another is risk. We have a posting right here on this group from a woman who's vision is actually worse much after surgery, who has missed major time from work, who is in constant pain and is considering suicide. It's not going to take many of these patients to make a surgeon think long and hard. I had an excellent outcome, as did you. Most people do, but not all. The third reason is accommodation. Some people just don't understand, even if it is explained. They understand fast enough when it is gone. They know how to call their lawyer, too. I wouldn't want to explain to a judge or jury about why it has to happen. It's just surgeon incompetence. Pay up. SignatureDan Abel dabel@sonic.net Petaluma, California, USA |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.