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Tell me about vision impairment
Scosglen
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I'm 20 years old and over the past 8 months or so I've noticed that I may have very slight myopia. I really can't say whether it's gotten worse in that time or if I've just become more aware of it so I notice it and it bothers me more. I've always had good vision, and can remember several tests administered in school as late as maybe 16-18 that said I had 20/20 vision, but I definitely am experiencing some loss of visual acuity right now.
I estimate my "normal" distance vision at around 5 feet and anything beyond that just gets very slightly fuzzy or has a subtle halo to it if it's a high contrast edge. It started with me wanting to sit a foot or two closer to the model in figure drawing classes or scooting a bit closer to the TV, and I finally realized I really did have a problem when, on a lark, I tried on a pair of my Mom's glasses and it improved my vision. Night driving is also a bit annoying because traffic and headlights kind of bloom like stars and so I have to keep my focus very intently on the asphalt in front of me--Otherwise it's subtle enough that I can function perfectly fine for most anything.
So, I guess what I'm wondering is should I see an (edit for vocabulary)optometrist, or just accept my genetic fate and go to Vision World or something and let a monkey fit me for corrective lenses? Is there any possibility that this could be linked to extremely heavy computer usage (50-80+hours a week), or is that a wives' tale and wishful thinking? I'm also not totally clear on how I can just now start having vision problems in early adulthood. I guess I had always though that the natural vision loss that comes with age began more around middle age.
I estimate my "normal" distance vision at around 5 feet and anything beyond that just gets very slightly fuzzy or has a subtle halo to it if it's a high contrast edge. It started with me wanting to sit a foot or two closer to the model in figure drawing classes or scooting a bit closer to the TV, and I finally realized I really did have a problem when, on a lark, I tried on a pair of my Mom's glasses and it improved my vision. Night driving is also a bit annoying because traffic and headlights kind of bloom like stars and so I have to keep my focus very intently on the asphalt in front of me--Otherwise it's subtle enough that I can function perfectly fine for most anything.
So, I guess what I'm wondering is should I see an (edit for vocabulary)optometrist, or just accept my genetic fate and go to Vision World or something and let a monkey fit me for corrective lenses? Is there any possibility that this could be linked to extremely heavy computer usage (50-80+hours a week), or is that a wives' tale and wishful thinking? I'm also not totally clear on how I can just now start having vision problems in early adulthood. I guess I had always though that the natural vision loss that comes with age began more around middle age.
Scosglen on
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See an eye doctor to make sure it isn't anything more serious.
Murphy's Paradox: The more you plan, the more that can go wrong. The less you plan, the less likely your plan will succeed.
I included the links because the three different types of eye related people can be a little confusing.
Vision can start to deteriorate at various points in your life. I didn't start needing glasses until I was 14, for example.
I tried on my girlfriend's glasses and was actually startled at how bad my vision had become.
I honestly hadn't noticed. It became more obvious when I started to get chronic headaches from my eyes getting strained. Have you had those too?
At your age, a basic eye exam from an optometrist would probably be OK. A proper ophthalmologist visit wouldn't be a bad idea though - the exam would be far more in-depth. Comes down to cost, really. My current health plan pays for an ophthalmologist exam once a year, so I get one just for kicks.
If you've noticed that things are getting blurry - for God's sake treat it. I cannot understand people who suffer through basic vision impairments. Get glasses, or if you prefer, contacts.
For what it's worth - the previous post about computer use "damaging" eyesight is incorrect. Using a computer does not damage eyesight. HOWEVER - lots of reading, especially off of a screen WILL strain and fatigue your eyes, temporarily reducing your vision. It has been thrown out as an idea that one possible cause of myopia is long-term short-range focusing (i.e., reading) but this isn't really "damage" to the eye, just a change in the shape.
Last time I was at the ophthalmologist she told me that vision tends to change up until about your mid-20s. Then it stabilizes (usually) until you hit your 40s or so, when it begins to decline. If you're only 20, you might simply still be moving towards myopia. But of course myopia is easily correctable with glasses, contacts, or surgery.
I've read this as well, that myopia may be partially caused by or exacerbated by extensive "close-work"-- Does anyone have any solid information on this? Google turns up a lot of results about "computer vision syndrome" but they're all kind of seedy websites with worthless information. Is that kind of change in eye shape permanent? Am I plunging off the deep end of alternative medicine by hoping that my myopia is somehow reversible?
I don't get headaches, but my eyes are often somewhat bloodshot by the time I end up going to bed.
Not sure about this "computer vision" thing but a lot of hours in front of the computer can cause problems. As I understand it's partly that in many office locations the air is very dry and this plus many people do not blink as often when staring at a computer screen can mean tired dry eyes. This should not affect eye sight as such just mean it's good to remember to blink or if really bad get some eye drops to drip the eyes with.
The quality of screen, settings, lighting and stuff all makes for a god or bad experience when using the computer. All this will also have an effect on should muscles, back pain and so on. But it should not really change your vision as such.
As for your vision going back to perfect. Don't expect it to. Most likely it has stabelized where it's at and will stay like that till you get some 50+ years old. A lot more people than you think are either using contacts, glasses for specific situations (reading, driving...) or getting by with a less than perfect view of the world (sorry - I could not help than one).
I have been using contacts since like forever a while it's sometimes a drag there are upsides.
- At Halloween you can wear weird colour ones.
- My eyes are pretty insensitive/shielded so peeling onions is a none issue.
- I'm used to touching my eyes so it's easy to remove mud from them. (And when you mountainbike you do get mud in the eyes now and then).
8-)
Well, you could always try the quack Bates Method
:P