New Glasses or Bad Prescription

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robinson.william@gmail.com - 08 Sep 2006 21:01 GMT

I've been wearing contact lenses now for over 6 years and I have relied
on the pretty much exclusively. When I first got my contacts I also got
a new pair of glasses and no problems with either. Since then my
prescription has gone up twice (slightly). For my first upgrade I chose
just to get contacts but the second (just recently) I chose to get both
glasses and contacts. The new contacts work fine and I have no problems
with them, the glasses however have been a nightmare so far. Here are
my problems

1) My vision isn't nearly as clear as the contacts
2) When I move my head objects bend
3) When I look at something that I know is flat (such as a wall) it
appears to have a hump in it, 4) When I look at object that move fast
or spin (car wheel or someone running) I see a blue blur next to it
5) I have headaches and I can feel my eyes straining

I went back to the doctor's office and the technician told me that my
eyes should "get used" to the new lenses in 3 hours. It's been almost a
day now and things haven't improved in the slightest. Is this normal or
should I get my eyes re-examined

Thank you

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Mike Tyner - 08 Sep 2006 22:32 GMT

> 1) My vision isn't nearly as clear as the contacts

This is the most important item, because all the others can be pretty
normal. Your statement makes me question the accuracy of the prescription,
or at least the accuracy of the glasses, and you should pester your doctor
to get this taken care of.

We have to be sure you mean the same thing as doctors do when you say "clear
vision." If you mean seeing small details at a distance (road signs, cable
guide) then soft contacts are rarely "better" than accurately-made glasses.
Ergo your glasses are off.

> 2) When I move my head objects bend

This is a geometrical distortion called "barrel" distortion. It increases
with prescription, thickness, base curve and with distance from the eye, so
it can never be the same from one prescription to another. Or even from one
frame to another. It can be completely normal but it can be intolerable if
the refraction is off.

> 3) When I look at something that I know is flat (such as a wall) it
> appears to have a hump in it,

That's also barrel distortion.

> 4) When I look at object that move fast
> or spin (car wheel or someone running) I see a blue blur next to it

That might be a result of polycarbonate material but otherwise it doesn't
suggest anything more important than #1.

> 5) I have headaches and I can feel my eyes straining
>
> I went back to the doctor's office and the technician told me that my
> eyes should "get used" to the new lenses in 3 hours. It's been almost a
> day now and things haven't improved in the slightest. Is this normal or
> should I get my eyes re-examined

You've already paid one doctor and you should ask for an opportunity to have
him repeat the refraction. Ask the technician if your acuity should be
better with contact lenses and if she says "yes" then it's time to find
someone else who knows better.

-MT OD

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Mark A - 09 Sep 2006 00:21 GMT

> I've been wearing contact lenses now for over 6 years and I have relied
> on the pretty much exclusively. When I first got my contacts I also got
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> Thank you

To get the best answer it would help if you post your exact Rx, the
manufacturer/model of the lens, the lens material/index (1.5. 1.60, 1.67,
polycarb, etc). Your optical shop where you got your lenses will provide
this info. If you obtained your lenses from your OD the they are legally
required to provide a written copy of your Rx (just ask).

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