Someone over at visioncareforums.com suggested I post my question here.
I'll try to make this as brief as possible. I have some strange stuff going on with my eyes, and really, REALLY want to get back into contacts.
I was far-sighted in elementary school, and diagnosed with an accomodation paresis (I was tested at 20/15 but couldn't read the textbook on my desk). I was told that my eyesight would change rather drastically until I was about 20, then the variances would slow down, and I'd be left with my "standard" vision problems, and experience "normal" degradation from there.
I wore bi-focals in high school, then in my Junior year, my eyesight changed drastically and I ended up with a slight near-sighted problem. At this point I started wearing contacts, because I've always hated my glasses. I've always gotten headaches without correction, so contacts are a better option for me.
At one point an OD told me I wasn't a good lens candidate because I didn't require enough correction. (I was in a .25 and .5 correction at the time) I told him that regardless, I got headaches if I didn't wear correction, and that I'd been wearing contacts with that correction for years. I found another OD who fit me.
This year when I went in, my correction dropped from .75 and 1.25 to about .5 - the OD couldn't explain it other than to say that the OD who fitted me the year before must have messed up. He tried to talk me out of contacts, and I insisted. I couldn't see decently with the new lenses, and was frustrated with the OD who insisted I should wear the same correction in both eyes, despite a .25 variance and I've NEVER gotten my lenses confused, I'm VERY careful. Visual acuity is of the highest importance to me.
I'm a computer geek by trade, so I spend LONG hours at a computer. I ended up earlier in the year having eyestrain so bad that I had to call in sick for 2 days. I went to see my fiance's OD, because he really liked him and said he was very thorough. He was very nice, but told me I'm a poor CL candidate because of my low correction, and the fact that I have an astigmatism. I told him about the accomodation problem (every other OD had ignored me when I told them) and he did some testing and agreed that I do have a fairly significant accomodation problem, and need to use reading glasses. He said my distance vision hardly needs correction, other than the astigmatism. At that point, preventing eyestrain was the most critical, so I've gone with his suggestions. He said that the distance glasses I had were fit wrong, (they're about 1.00 and 1.25 and he has me at .25 and .50) but that I can keep wearing them if they work.
I've been trying to use the glasses for about 4 months now, and they do fix the eyestrain problem, WHEN I remember to keep them with me. However, I am coming to despise my glasses again, and will frequently find myself with a serious headache because I hate the pressure on my face, the acne on my nose, and the reduction in my field of vision. Nineteen years in contacts has spoiled me rotten.
Now. I have read information on the MacroLens, and it sounds absolutely ideal, but all of the people I can find who use them are post-refractive surgery. They don't seem to have a lot of clients who aren't, and I don't understand why. (Incidentally, I also have a problem with enormous pupils, and require the largest diameter of soft contacts my OD's have had in stock... so the diameter of the MacroLens doesn't concern me.)
I spoke with an OD about the MacroLens, and he said it's not really a good idea because of the large diameter and the price, unless you have irregular astigmatism. I'm not sure what irregular astigmatism is vs. whatever kind of astigmatism I have.
I am more than willing to track down an OD that can fit the MacroLens and pay whatever it costs (as long as we're not talking about more than about $600 a year) ... or do whatever it takes to get my clear vision back. I'm frustrated and tired of playing musical OD's. I know my condition is kinda strange, and it's very odd that I see better with corrections that I'm being told are way too strong for me.
My latest prescription:
Sph. Cyl. Axis
OD: -050 -050 60
OS: -025 -075 147
I'm not sure what any of that means, perhaps someone can help out?
Also, can the accomodation problem be causing distance problems that vary from day to day so I'm testing differently in the office than I do otherwise?
Is there a contact out there that can help, or am I really stuck in these awful glasses with the headaches & all forever? If there is a contact out there, how do I find someone who can help? I'm in the Dallas, TX area and would love any and all suggestions.
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