My eyes have become a mystery to me, they have changed considerably, and suddenly I no longer require glasses to drive. I have asked the opinion of various people that I thought might be able to offer me an explanation, but to date have drawn a complete blank.
For much of my adult life I have worn glasses to drive, but recently I experienced poor eyesight whilst driving - the world looked 'fluffy'. I felt irritated with my glasses and when the road was quiet, I pulled over to removed them. Suddenly the world became defined and sharp and I realised that I could drive perfectly without them.
My 'new' eyesight has remained, but I have had no spare time to visit the Optician due to various other happenings requiring attention. I did, however, finally manage to make an appointment this week.
As I explained to my optometrist what had happened I observed a flash of scepticism in his eyes. He first checked me out for glaucoma then cataracts, and finally carried out all of the usual reading and light chart checks. He said everything was fine, but acknowledged that my sight ability had dramatically altered. I mentioned that I did understand that the shape of your eyes can change as you get older resulting in some sight improvement, but he immediately retorted by saying not to the extent that yours have.
With the glaucoma and cataract checks being good, he said that he thought I must be diabetic. I was alarmed to learn this, and assured him that I had had a blood check not long ago and that I was normal.
He said he wanted me to go to the doctor immediately and have another one done. By this stage the happiness at my improved eyesight turned to anxiety, but I returned home and immediately visited the doctor's surgery. The nurse at the surgery took my blood and said she had never heard of such a thing, nor had the doctor, diabetes normally tends to have the opposite effect on eyesight.
Four days have gone by, and after several rather sleepless nights I have just been informed by the surgery that my two blood samples have returned from the hospital lab, and that both were completely normal. One blood test was for diabetes and the other for my kidneys.
I am left feeling totally perplexed but at the same time I am very happy with my new eyesight.
Look - no glasses!
WOW! As your eyes and bloods check out normally I hope everything continues to stay well for you. It's always sensible to get everything checked out, even though it does make us anxious. I wear glasses for close-up, like reading and crochet etc, but otherwise my eyes seem to be OK. Best, Jane xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Jane - the comments I have received have been very encouraging.
DeleteSome specialists seems not to be a specialist..... Lucky you with your new sight!
ReplyDelete💙
DeleteI know it sounds obvious but my eyesight improves in the sunlight.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do believe you are right, sunlight does make a difference!!!
DeleteLong may your improved eyesight continue. I'm not entirely surprised as when I worked with children with special needs it was not at all unusual for the experts to get things wrong.
ReplyDeleteIf it lasts then I will be very happy John.
DeleteIt sounds to me like you have had a visit from the good fairies! It must be a thank you for creating such a beautiful garden for them.
ReplyDeleteIf it was the good fairies then I am pleased that they came visiting - thanks Catherine
DeleteIt may be time for a new optometrist! In the meantime enjoy your new vision!
ReplyDeleteI have received several very reassuring comments David.
DeleteWell, miracles do happen. I heard that somewhere. But you can certainly be grateful whether fairies or other powers are at work, or it was pure circumstance of your good life...what great news! Thanks for sharing, and I wish you many years of good vision!
ReplyDeleteThank you Barbara - not sure how or why this has happened, but I do hope that it remains with me forever.
DeleteWhat a wonderful thing to be able to drive without glasses, and as Barbara Rogers says, miracles do happen ! 'Experts' are not all the same :-))
ReplyDeleteMiracles, fairies, good luck, or whatever the reason - I am feeling happy Jane, and reassured by so many interesting comments.
DeleteWhen I had my regular eye test last year I was told I no longer needed to wear glasses for driving (which is great), but I DID need them for reading - and I have to admit that the teeny tiny print I used to be able to read with no problem had been more of an "ask". Now my eyes have gotten used to relying on specs for reading, only in very good light can I read a book without them. Glad there's nothing wrong with your health and your not needing specs for driving is "just one of those things".
ReplyDeleteThank you very much - it is very encouraging for me to learn what happened to you - I needed to hear something along those lines.
DeleteHow fantastic Rosemary. I would find a new eye doctor and at the same time keep a close watch on your eyes. Eyes do change with age, mine have, and not for the better.
ReplyDeleteDear Gina - I have received so many reassuring comments now. I know that with age your eyes normally deteriorate more, and that is why I was confused. I believe that my optometrists had my best interests in mind, and wanted to reassure himself that there were no hidden underlying causes responsible for my improved eyesight. I shall go and see him again tomorrow and see what he says.
DeleteHello Rosemary, Congratulations on your improved eyesight. I don't know if in England they make the same distinction between opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists, but for your next appointment I would see an accredited ophthalmologist. I have heard of vision improving, but not to such a complete extent. I would accept it as a gift.
ReplyDelete--Jim
DeleteHello Jim - An Optician is the general term used in the UK for the place where you go to have your eyesight tested and then choose which glasses you want should they be necessary. These are done on prescription only following a proper eye examination by a fully qualified Optometrists who is the person that you see first when visiting an Opticians. Optometrists in this country are all fully qualified and accredited by our National Health Service. Should the Optometrists find a problem that requires surgery then he will refer you on to an ophthalmologist.
Because my improved eyesight appears to be quite unusual I believe that my Optometrist was making extra sure that everything was alright with my health and also that he did actually have my best interests in mind.
I shall return and give him the news about the tests that I have had this coming Monday, and see what he says then,.
I've never heard of that before and I hope everything stays OK for you. People tend to take things for granted until something changes. Having to take reading glasses everywhere for small print now- like reading sell by dates and info on packets- small print outdoors, threading needles, finicky work etc... is a pain. Ten years ago I could see fine. A hobby writing books does not help your eyes much due to the long hours you have to put in.
ReplyDeleteThere are very few people that can get away without some eyesight problems as they age - reading glasses, distance glasses, or both.
DeleteI used to require glasses for driving/movies/distance etc., but around age 50 I suddenly didn't need them any longer, and still don't. BUT, I must have readers with me always, can't see a thing close up without them, and that seems to be getting worse.
ReplyDeleteJust had annual check with opthalmologist, no cataracts or glaucoma thankfully. Perhaps all I need now are a pair of 'rose-colored glasses' which might make my view of the world a little brighter!
Take care dear, J too XX
I am so pleased to learn this Mary - thank you for letting me know. I have been very confused by what has taken place with my eyes especially as I have never met anyone else who has experienced this too.
DeleteI am feeling exactly the same as you dear friend so a pair of rose tinted glass would probably suit me too.
Hope that you and Bob enjoy your break and that you both return refreshedX
Quite peculiar!
ReplyDeleteIt has confused me.
DeleteMy mother had the exact same thing happen as Mary reports above. She was around 54 years old, I believe, when she very excitedly reported to me that she did not need her glasses for distance any longer and threw her bifocals over for readers. Her opthalmologist at the time did not seem to think this unusual. This same vision pattern continued until her death in her mid-eighties and she, unlike myself, never developed cataracts.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Sandy for this information. I am so pleased that I wrote this blog as prior to this I had not heard of anyone else who has experienced something similar, and I now feel much more reassured thanks to all the comments.
DeleteMy mother-in-law's distance sight improved when she was in her seventies. I have heard of this happening, but can't quote any other person's experience. I think you are very fortunate!
ReplyDeleteReally pleased to learn this Betty - thank you. I never imagined that this could happen and I do now feel very fortunate.
DeleteDearest Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteYes, you are quite lucky! That is a big bonus you earned at full maturity that is!
My eyes have changed the other way around. As a child I wore glasses and then years without and when an optometric locally suggested I use bifocal reading glasses instead of reading glasses acquired at an optician it made me so dizzy and affected my balance that I quit using them except for reading. Now I've come to the point that I love wearing them while driving, not only do they make me read easily my iPhone's GPS but also the signs etc. Quite puzzling too as I never needed them for distance.
When I do a lot of writing on my Mac or touching up old photos etc. and then have tea with Pieter, I put my glasses down and let my eyes rest. That causes me having problems focussing for 'normal' vision without reading. But it adjusts and sure we all are getting more mature!
I did make an appointment with a good ophthalmologist in the next city for November, there was no earlier opening and it served me well with all our trips etc.
Wish I would have such great improvement like you had and indeed, my Thai born friend's Mom, back in Thailand went completely blind because of being diabetic... Sad though!
Sending you hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette - I have heard that when you first start wearing bifocals they can be difficult to get used to, and do sometimes make you feel dizzy. It seems to take a bit of time for the body to adjust itself.
DeleteI shall return tomorrow to see the optometrists and see what he says now about my blood tests being normal, and of course now I am much more reassured by all of these comments made by my blog friends.
💛
DeleteThat sound wonderful. I am going to the optician this week because my eyesight has declined rapidly. Would love a visit from your "kind fairy".
ReplyDeleteI am sending her over to you post haste💙
DeleteRosemary
ReplyDeleteThe same thing happened to my husband....but the opposite.Due to cataracts Tom was having trouble driving but no longer needed reading glasses. The Doc said the cataracts were causing him to be nearsighted which improved his close vision. Since you don’t have cataracts....and the opposite happened to you.....not sure this is very helpful. Enjoy your improved eyesight. Maybe you are aging in reverse 😊
Thanks Janey - I didn't realise that cataracts did that to your eyesight. Nothing appears to be amiss, I am off to see the optometrist today to see what he says about my results.
DeleteSo interesting Rosemary - I'd love it to happen to me! I have a vague idea that I have heard of vision being improved after a knock or jolt, but don't remember any details. So pleased all your tests came back fine, and I hope the improvement is permanent. My sight has been deteriorating for years, and spectacles upgraded on a regular basis. Last week I was tested again, and told I now have 'mini cataracts' ... 'should not bother me for another five years'. Ugh, not so nice to look forward to, but I am loving my new upgraded lenses.
ReplyDeleteI think that eye deterioration is the normal scenario Patricia and perhaps that is why my optometrist was taken by surprise and needed more convincing that there was nothing more amiss. I hope that your mini cataracts don't bother you for a long, long time.
DeleteIntriguing Rosemary. When I reached 40 my optician told me my eyesight would start to change and it did. I'm quite a bit older than you and I now only wear my glasses for driving and watching tv. I'm glad all your tests were ok.
ReplyDeleteThanks Polly - it is great being without glasses for driving now - I just need them to read and for the computer - long may it stay that way. By the way, I think that you may have underestimated my age!!!
DeleteYou've been given a worrying time and I'm so pleased that the results of your tests are good. I am lost without my all-singing all-dancing glasses - if you find out the secret of your improved eyesight do let me know!
ReplyDeleteOne blogger has suggested that I have had a visit from the good fairies to thank me for creating such a beautiful garden for them. You have a beautiful garden too, so maybe they will visit you too - fingers crossed.
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