Getting Glasses When You Have ME-related Variable Eyesight

I had superb vision even for many years with ME/CFS though my eyes did tire easily. I had a virus when I was 40 and was in hospital for a couple of days. When I went to read the newspaper after I came home I couldn't see well enough to do so. I could read it by moving it an arms length away though.

The optometrist I saw shortly after laughed at me when I said it happened suddenly that I couldn't read at a normal distance. He said it was because I was 40, that the changes happen slowly and that I must have been compensating by moving things further away to read for quite some time. I didn't bother to argue with him.

For reading I went through 3 script changes in 2 years which surprised the optometrist.

For the last few years my eyes tire to the point I can't focus properly after a short time reading. The last optometrist I saw actually understood that. When I mentioned the difficulty with focus he said that would be because of the ME/CFS that he saw in my notes, that the eyes are muscles and would be expected to fatigue quickly. Turns out his wife has a post viral fatigue syndrome so he is somewhat familiar.

 

What are the chances of that hey? Do you live in my area?

 

Since I got my varifocals last year my eyesight seems to have really deteriorated. I have just bought some ready readers because the varifocals are either now too weak or I am having problems adjusting between long and short vision.

Its so frustrating trying to watch tv.

I suppose I should go for a new prescription but it does seem like the more I depend on glasses the more my eyesight deteriorates.

What to do!!

 

I've got a similar problem, I got given varifocals the last time round and TBH they are pretty damn useless most of the time, for a lot of things I have to take them off to be able to read. They now need replacing because the frames are going, haven't decided whether varifocals are good enough for general sight and to get a couple f grades of reading glasses as well, if they'll allow that, or just to get medium distance lenses with some reading glasses.

I will probably be asking for a home visit this time around, even tho it means I'm stuck with whomever they send for the duration.

 

Is that right? It seems to say so on the leaflets I have too, but when I phoned up I was told I would have to come to the surgery for a test as usual. I am 64.

 

NSW, Australia.
I wonder if that info can be displayed on our avatar? I couldn't see a way to do it.

 

Specsavers will come and do a home visit if you can't attend their stores without someone else coming with you.

 

When most of the my symptoms hit me hard in 2014, vision problems were among the most noteworthy. Prior to that, I had always had better than 20/20 vision. Since 2014, vision issues have steadily improved somewhat.

• Fluctuating vision clarity.
• Reduced ability to focus on moving objects.
• Reduced ability to notice things in plain sight.
• Extreme tightness in muscles surrounding the eyes.
• Reduced ability to shift focus near to far and vice versa.
• Increased tendency to simply stare at one point in space with corresponding "reluctance" to shift focus elsewhere.
• Increased density of floaters.

 

[QUOTE="Trails, post: 9601, member: 128" Fluctuating vision clarity.
[/QUOTE]
I definitely have this. My vision used to be so good that I used to joke that I could even see things that weren't there! But I did actually hallucinate occasionally before getting M.E., but didn't take it too seriously as I took hallucinogenic drugs sometimes...

But recently my vision has varied enormously, and it's more than 2 years since my last optical appointment, when I had slightly stronger glasses prescribed, I think, and I'm not sure if I need new ones or not. Sometimes I think I definitely do, whilst at other times I don't, and the thought of attending an appointment is not pleasant, as I have deteriorated quite a lot cognitively.

 

Thanks. I note that it says it's for "those who cannot get to their local store unaccompanied."

I can get there, but surviving the range of tests is another matter...

 

I have that too, but for me I'd put that in the cognitive issues category rather than vision. It's the information processing that isn't happening properly. It goes along with seeing things but not recognising what they are, it takes a while to get it.

 

I agree

 

"Those with focusing problems or blurry vision should not wear bifocals. These acquired defects are especially found in the first year of CFIDS and getting prescription lenses could compound the complaint! Half-glasses also have a negative effect. Bifocals and half-glasses only make the defect worse because the center of the focusing mechanism has to "jiggle back and forth across two different visual corrections." No-line multi-focals with graduated lenses are still worse and may cause a PWC to stagger, become uncoordinated, and disoriented. Two pair of glasses should be purchased. One is for reading and the second for distance viewing."
- from Keep Your Eye on CFIDS http://www.anapsid.org/cnd/diagnosis/eye.html