Migraine

I'm about ready to put my fist thru a wall.

I have been for 3 eye exams and had 2 different pr of glasses made in one week. The first pair distorted my vision so badly I thought I was going to vomit on the carpet of the shop where I picked them up. Using them for more than 60 seconds made my left eye feel like somebody had hauled off and punched me in it. The 2nd pair I can wear for maybe 5 minutes before the ache begins (not as severe as the first pr) and then eventually the nausea starts to creep in. I thought I was going to have to take some phenergan after trying to use them for maybe 40 minutes.

And it gets weirder. When I take them off, it's sort of like my left eye is flash blind - the odd empty spots in your vision thing when somebody sets off a a camera flash fairly close to you. That's not exactly a good description but it's the closest thing I can think of for an explanation.

I have used a pair of drugstore "cheaters" off and on for a couple years. I use them a few times month when my eyes are tired and "my arms aren't long enough". But the cheaters are +1.00 in both eyes. The eye people claim this is incorrect. That I am near sighted in one eye and far sighted in the other and have some astigmatism in both.

Here's the kicker- unless I'm really tired ( or have a migraine) I see just fine. Road signs, print, computer - the whole lot. The only reason I embarked on this whole complete fiasco is that I thought it might somehow help with the migraines.
The "cheaters" never made my eye hurt. And they never made me feel like I was somehow losing vision in that eye. I have now spend VAST quantities of time and a fair bit of $$ on a pair of glasses I cannot bear to use.

Suggestions? Can I tell the eye place people just to give me +1.00 in one eye and +1.25 in the other and forget the whole astigmatism thing ---or are they going to laugh in my face and tell me to take a hike?

Hi Amy,

Adjusting to new glasses usually takes a few days, especially if you're near in one eye and far in the other. I have the same problem with that, and also have astigmatism.

The last time I got new glasses I had problems with triggering migraines initially. Your focus is going to pull in and out until your vision reconciles with the lenses, especially with astigmatism. I got dizzy and nauseous too. Once I adjusted to the new Rx they calmed down...As much as the migraines will.

If I were you, I'd see an opthamologist or neuro-opthamologist and get another opinion. I hit up those optometrist offices every couple of years but they aren't as investigative as the opthamologists are.

I'd keep on trying to wear the glasses a few minutes more each day and see if that helps...Headaches can come about with any change in vision with corrective lenses but in my experience it's only been temporary.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

quote:

eply

Hi amy,
Funny I was just thinking about needing to vent myself and I read your post.
I can totally appreciate your frustration with glasses etc. I have amblyopia and I find getting glasses that are comfortable in all aspects of my life and work difficult at best. Not to mention getting an eye exam and the person giving it to understand your frustrations. I think we miraineurs are definitely more sensitive and that makes it tough. I vote for the opthamologist visit. (Make sure they listen)
Best wishes

I tried to read with them for about 15 minutes last night. It made the left eye hurt. Half an hour later the neck pain signal that the migraine is coming set in. So today = migraine. The nausea is so bad I had to take phenergan so I wouldn't vomit on my way over to a meeting at work. It was mercifully short. I have to be back at work 3 hours from now, so I dare not take anything for the pain.

I have always found it difficult to get used to eye glasses. I have ahd some opthomologists say I need them but my neuro-optho says I don't.

I had trouble when wearing new glasses like I felt as though i was waking about on stilts - and it was unsettling as I was never sure if i was going to fall off them!

Or I get eye pain, or head pain.

I have a great deal of trouble with focusing. It is the worst if I have been doing up close work and then glance up at the computer screen. It is all blurry and weird. So is the room. Its almost as though I have glasses on smeared with vaseline. I am NOT wearing readers usually when this happens but sometimes I am. No difference in symptoms!

My neuro-optho says I just need stronger readers. Readers (any strength) make me feel like my eyes are attached to spots on the back of my head that then throb and feel like someone is pulling on them.

I don't think I need different readers.

So I do get your frustration!

Good luck finding glasses, a prescription that works for you, and a doctor who can figure out what you need. Eyes have so much to do with head pain!

Be blessed!
Dawn