I went back to the eye doctor yesterday for a check on my new contacts. When I got the new contacts I told the doc that I was seeing double out of the left eye. He wanted me to wear them for a couple of weeks to see if they would settle down.
That didn't happen and I soon found out that I actually saw quadruple. Seeing 4 moons is quite the sight; the real moon, 1/2 a moon to the left, 1/2 a moon to the right and 3/4 of a moon (and a distorted, oblong shape) below. I also got quite interesting color distortions as the parts of the 3 "fake" moons that overlapped the real moon would be a mustard color - when the real moon was white. Driving at night became quite the challenge!
With my previous contacts, I saw double in my left eye, but my brain was able to cut out the doubleness as long as I was using both eyes. If I just used my left eye, I still saw double. Seeing quadruple, my brain compensated to an extent. Using both eyes, sight would be switched mainly to the right eye. However at night, with glowing lights, apparently my brain couldn't compensate.
Taking the vision test yesterday was a challenge. Although I could tell what a lot of letters were, the sequence went something like A-A-A-F-F-F-T-T-T and 3 somethings that could be D, O or Q (I could ignore the stuff that appeared under the letters). Technically, my vision comes out better than the 20/80 I was seeing with my old contact, but functionally, I saw worse.
So, the doc has ordered a new contact to try for that eye. He said, much to my relief, that I could go back to using my old left contact until the new one is in. My right eye has its problems too; it turns so sometimes I see very well (about 20/25) and other times everything is blurry. If I blink several times or roll my eye around, I can get that contact back in place. Unfortunately, there is nothing he can do for the "turning" as I am currently in the tightest fitting contact available.
Ah, the trials and tribulations of Keratoconus.
Hopefully the new contact will bring you back close enough to something you can deal with. That would drive me nuts. But I'm sure you've heard how sensitive my eyes are.
Other than the fact you have no choice, I don't know how you deal with it.
Posted by: Wichi Dude | December 24, 2003 at 07:26 AM
Bogie,
Wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy, clear-eyed, healthy and safe 2004.
Jim
Posted by: Parkway Rest Stop | December 24, 2003 at 10:50 PM
Does this mean that you get more Merry Christmases than most? (Bad humor, Cop Car!) I feel for you. I recall that in college I could see 7 moons. (Isn't that a thrill, Bogie?) Good luck in your quest for the "perfect" left contact. They should invent spray on contacts that adapt to the eye's contour on the inner surface and may be shaped on the outer surface. (I'll let you know how fabulously rich I get off of THAT idea!) Have a great Christmas, you and WS. Put all worries on "hold".
Posted by: Cop Car | December 25, 2003 at 07:22 AM
Very bad humor CC! But if you get rich off that idea, does that mean I get an inheritance?
WD - Just as WS lives with a bad back, this is m "l;ive with" condition. It's amazing how one can compensate for a myriad of different problems!
Posted by: Bogie | December 26, 2003 at 08:39 AM