Peter wrote:
ive been having some problems with vision. when im in a lighted room within minutes my eyes start to hurt and it gets worse and worse until i go into a dark room which makes them stop hurting almost instantly..

secondly, everything looks really weird to me, as if it was more vivid, and like everything is smaller in my eyes, so just by looking at my hands they dont look normal, they look much smaller.

thirdly, sometimes when i close my eyes it seems like the darkness has moved back and so its much bigger and i have to open them, cant sleep for a few hours until it goes away

lastly, i wake up randomly and my eyes are sort of zooming in and out, and i cant stop it for a hour, like it is focusing in and out like its in the distance, which then my head feels all messed up

ive been having the last problem about once every month, and then others constantly the last month, i have to sit in my basement to feel good and i wear sunglasses when i go outside, it helps me deal with the eyes hurting(which they dont ALOT when wearing the glasses) and helps me deal with everything looking weird like as if my eyes are automatically focusing in without me wanting them to..

i have BPPV and my family doctor is sending me to a eye doctor, but i still am looking to find if someone might know whats wrong with me

ANSWER

Dear Peter
Without having access to all your medical data it is hard to say exactly what is going on. My best advice would be to ask your optometrist to refer you to a neuro-ophthalmologist who can investigate with scans and/or MRI if there is a vascular or a brain dysfunction that could explain your symptoms. Some of them could be related to ophthalmic migraine but I doubt that it is as simple as that. A thouroughful exam would determine what part of your symptoms are related to BPPV and what else could de linked with other systemic dysfunctionc. Only a neurological examination would deternine these aspects.
Thanks for your question
Dr. Langis Michaud, Optométriste, MSc, FAAO (Dipl)
Associate Professor – Université de Montréal

Kevin wrote:
I had worn reading glasses for a few years.  Two years ago I got progressive lenses (trifocal?)  glasses I needed to wear all the time.  After about a month I can say I got use to them and couldn’t do without.  They are polycarbonate lenses with Silhouette rimless frames.  Love them.  Now it time for new ones.  I’d like lenses with better optics then polycabonate and will get rimless frames again. Any recommendations for lenses? OD Sph+1.00, Cyl-.50, Ax090   OS +1.25, -.25, 075

ANSWER

Dear Kevin
Polycarbonate glasses should be as efficient as plastic glasses. With a rimless frame you have no other choice than relying on either one of these 2 type of material. In my opinion, look for the latest generation of designs which are more accurate and easy to adapt compared to the older ones. My favourites are Hoya Lenses.  Other manufacturers (Essilor, Nikon or Rodenstock) are also offering state-of-the art glasses but I did not find easier progressive lenses to adapt to than Hoya Lenses.
Ask your optometrist about them and if this is not as expected, consider a 10 day adaptation period at the most and go back to your provider if a problem remains. My best advice would be to get the glasses from the one who did your exam: no one knows better your eyes than your optometrist.

Good luck
Dr. Langis Michaud, Optométriste, MSc, FAAO (Dipl)
Associate Professor – Université de Montréal

Ian wrote:
I am 74 years old and need glasses for reading. My present glasses as prescribed by the optician are a magnification of 4. These are not very effective unless the print is a very bold black on white. What is the limit of magnification available for reading glasses?

ANSWER

Dear Ian,
It is very difficult to answer to your question without knowing your ocular and visual condition. Near vision should be addressed after a proper evaluation of your distance vision and of your ocular health, to make sure that there is no pathology involved, such as cataracts, glaucoma or macular degeneration. These diseases can limit the level of visual acuity and no glasses can help to restore it.
My best advice would be to consult an optometrist, not an optician, and to have a thorough ocular and visual examination. Your optometrist will determine the cause of your visual deficiency and will prescribe, if possible, the best power to you. You have only 2 eyes, working together as a team. It is unwise to play with them by juggling with the powers without knowing the underlying ocular conditions.

Good luck
Dr. Langis Michaud, Optométriste, MSc, FAAO (Dipl)
Associate Professor – Université de MOntréal

John wrote:
Had my eye’s tested three weeks ago, sinse then my eyes are sore, irritated, I am sensitive to light, my vision seems affected? My pupils feel like they are still dialated. Is it possible that the fluid that dialated my pupils could have caused this?

ANSWER

John,

It is not likely that the drops to dilate your pupils are still having an affect.  Having said that, it is possible to have a mild allergic reaction to one of the components of the drops - most often the preservative - but that would usually wear off the next day.  I would suggest that you have your Optometrist check your eyes to see what is happening.  I cannot diagnose it without looking at your eyes through a microscope.

Dr. Joan Hansen, Optometrist for CAO

Anthony wrote:
I use binoculars frequently for work (wildlife surveys) and recreation (bird watching since age 15). This demands that I be able to resolve fine detail to accurately resolve multiple animals in the field of view, or to resolve fine details on an individual animal so that I can identify it to species, age, and gender.  Since I began using good pairs of roof-prism binoculars in my late 20s, I noticed that I frequently have to adjust the diopter to keep both eyes in focus even though the diopter adjustment on the binocular has not been moved. That is, if I set the diopter at zero (because my eyeglasses correct my eyesight), sometimes only one eye
will be in focus when I put the binoculars up to my eyes and sometimes both eyes will be in focus. When only one eye is in focus, I adjust the diopter (typically to beyond -2)), but after lowering the binoculars for a few minutes, then raising them to my eyes, about half the time one eye will be out of focus.  What could be the reason for this?  This is a problem whether I use my $350 Minolta binoculars or my $1,300 Zeiss binoculars.  The collimation has been checked on both binoculars and both are 7X magnification).  The problem is less noticeable with porro-prism binoculars (also 7X power), which have a greater depth of field than roof-prism binoculars.

I have been wearing eyeglasses for strong myopia and slight astigmatism since age 7.  I am now age 48.  There is a small difference in prescription between the two eyes, however, over the years my optometrists have typically given me prescriptions so that the lens for my weaker eye gives a sharp image at reading distance but not at infinity, whereas the lens for my stronger eye gives a sharp image at infinity, but not close up.  The adjustable diopter on binoculars should take care of that slight difference but the binoculars cannot be
blamed for the difference between the two eyes frequently varying from -0.25 to -3.0.  The problem with frequently needing to adjust the diopter on binoculars seems to have been present before I developed
noticeable presbyopia and at least 20 years before I began using multifocal lenses.

ANSWER

Anthony,

At age 40 you still have “some” focusing ability, and you are using this as you adjust the binoculars to clear the image. Then when you go back to use the binocular again, your focusing
will not instantly adjust.   The difference in
your two lenses in your glasses likely adds to this and I might suggest a special pair of glasses that you wear in the field that has the two eyes balanced for distance vision.  The other culprit may be the pupil distance - the separation of the lenses of the binocular.  Perhaps your Optometrist could let you know what your PD ( the distance between your
eyes) is, so that you can set that correctly on your binoculars.

I know it is frustrating when you need to quickly use your binoculars, but setting them before you leave home and using balanced glasses may help greatly.  If it is any consolation, I often have the same problem, but find it works OK when I adjust and lock them into focus for me.

Dr. Joan Hansen, Optometrist for CAO

Aimee wrote:
I have worn glasses since I was 12 and fulltime since I was 31-32.I have always had 1 pair of glasses that I used for everything.2 years ago my optometrist started me on hidden bifocals.I couldnt stand them so this time when I went back in nov I told him I didnt want hidden bifocal and just wanted my normal lenses back.So I got them(or so I thought) and I cant use them on computer at night*(I always could with all my previous glasses)These make my eyes seem blurry .I have transitions glasses for the first time could that affect them?.Also when I read now I have to take them off,cant read with them.Ive never had this problem before ever.I have always had 1 pair that did it all/So I called and told them I couldnt read with them or anything.
They said bring them back and I will pay 130.00 to put hidden bifocals in!!!I dont want hidden bifocals.I have a feeling they really messed up here and I shouldnt have to pay to correct their mistake.Why all of a sudden after all these yr s cant I read with them? Which is exactly why I got them in the first time when I was 12.
TY for any help you can give,Aimee

ANSWER

Aimee,

Since you have not mentioned your current age, I will write this with the assumption you are in your 40s, the time when most everyone needs some help with focusing up close.  I will also assume that the “hidden bifocals” are progressive lenses.

By the time we all reach our 40s it becomes difficult to see print at normal reading distances.  Those who are short sighted (Myopic) can often take their glasses off to read, but this is not very convenient in many situations.  Those who are far sighted (Hyperopic) have no choice but to get reading glasses of some sort.  Help for reading comes in several versions  -  separate reading glasses, old fashioned lined bifocals, or todays Progressive lenses (also called Multifocal lenses).

There is no going back unfortunately, we have not yet found a way to restore focusing ability as you had in your 30s.  So yes, I am afraid that you will need progressive lenses from now on.

Dr. Joan Hansen, Optometrist for CAO

Allison wrote:
Hello,
I am 49 yr old female.  Just had routine eye exame and was advised some improvement in one eye for distance but need more power in both eyes for reading.  The change for reading is from 1.50 to 2.00.  The optometry recommends new lenses (and frames). I have no coverage.  Is a change of +0.50 for reading significant enough in your estimation to spend the money for new glasses lenses?

thank you

ANSWER

Allison,

Yes +0.50 is a significant change for reading, and one I always recommend be updated.  It is very normal at your age for the eyes to change every 1 to 2 years.

Dr. Joan Hansen, Optometrist for CAO

Jeff (in Ontario) wrote:
I was diagnosed with Diabetes 5 months ago. I have noticed my eyes doing weird things. I have been outa work for 17 months and I have no income whatsoever. How much will a trip to the optometrist cost?

ANSWER

Jeff,
In certain provinces people with diabetes are covered under provincial health care for annual eye exams.  Ontario is one of these provinces, so you would not have to pay to have an eye exam.  I would highly recommend that you do have annual eye exams now that you have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Dr. Doman

Keeley  wrote:
Hello, My daughter is one month old and I am beginning to worry that there is something wrong with her eyesight. Everywhere I read says that at one month of age she should be turning her head towards me, following objects with her eyes and smiling when we talk to her. She does not seem to do any of these things. She rolls her eyes back and moves her eyes in really weird ways. I have also noticed that she will cross her eyes for over a couple of minutes and make them shake. Is she okay? Is this normal??
Thank you in advance.

ANSWER

Keeley,
At one month it is very normal that children would not be able to control their eye muscles well.  If you are concerned you could take her to visit your Optometrist or discuss your concerns with your Physician.  Generally it is recommended that children have their first eye exam at 6 months of age.

Dr. Doman

Melanie wrote:
I recently began swimming and want to wear corrective swimming goggles. My prescription is R (-2.75) L (-1.75/-1.50/77). In my city, I have not been able to find a retailer that sells swimming goggles corrected for astigmatism, nor are there any that sell individualized lenses.
My right eye is my dominant eye and a salesperson suggested to me that I just wear goggles that correct for my right eye and forget about the astigmatism in my left. I am thinking of purchasing a pair that is -2.50 (both eyes) because they only sell them in .50 increments. My questions are: 1) Will lack of correction for astigmatism have any adverse effects on my vision in my left eye? 2) Will the stronger correction for myopia in my left eye have any adverse effects?
I tried the goggles on, and I did notice the floor looking clear but slightly distorted and I thought that since the water will be moving anyway, it might not be a problem - I just want to be able to see the clock and not crash into the bulkhead without causing vision problems later.
Thank you.

ANSWER

Melanie,
To the best of my knowledge swimming goggles are not available with astigmatism correction.  The correction you are considering buying would work fine.  To answer your questions, neither the lack of astigmatism correction or stronger correction for myopia will have any adverse effects on your vision.  If you were wearing them for hours you may develop eyestrain or headaches, but there will be no long-term problems.  Of course you will not get perfect vision out of your left eye, but as you said it will give you sufficient vision while swimming.  The vision through the goggles may seem a little funny at first because you are accustomed to having your astigmatism corrected, but this should improve with time.  Happy swimming!

Dr. Doman