Rapid Change in Eyesight?

[IROC]

So, I'm experiencing an interesting phenomenon. A few months ago (June) my eyes became very red for no apparent reason. It cleared up after a few days (this is not uncommon for me - I wear contacts and have very dry eyes). After this episode, though, it seemed no matter what I did (contacts or glasses) I really just could not see very well.

Fast forward to August and my eyes get really red again, but now have a burning sensation. I go to the eye doctor and he messes around with some different contacts but nothing seems to help. I give up and schedule an appointment (had it yesterday) to simply get my eyes refracted for glasses.

I go the doctor and he wants to pull the string on the redness/dry eyes and actually figures some stuff out. Then he does the refraction. I am nearsighted and have been since my early-20s (59 now). My prescription has stabilized out to -4.75 in the my left eye and -5.50 in my right. Yesterday, my right eye tested out at -1.75. A change of 3.75!??!? I can actually see well enough out of my right eye now to drive, etc. My left eye did not change.

The optometrist is baffled. I am going to go to an ophthalmologist and see what he says.

Very, very weird to be able to see (even if it isn't perfect) without any sort of corrective lenses after 40 years.

Anybody ever experience something like this?

[Bill Douglas]

I'm wondering if you have blepharitis. Maybe google that.

I have it and find if I give my eyelids/eye lashes a good ole scrub once a week it fixes it. Sort of like blocked pores in the skin, dandruff of the eyelashes (LOL), or skin mites. A good ole scrub in the shower, maybe with baby shampoo, may help. good luck.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Get your blood sugar checked yesterday. Rapid change in eyesight is what alerted my optometrist to my possible type 1 late onset diabetes. I was a few days away from being hospitalized. Type 1 now for 5 1/2 years.

[Tobra]

yeah, blood sugar can affect vision profoundly

I developed "inflammation" in my eye, only one, responded to the drops, but I watch the symptoms, I know what Dr Nick says about a lot of stuff, "Is inflammation."

[pwd72s]

Do see an opthalmologist. Glad you mentioned that in the opening post.

[IROC]

Originally Posted by jhynesrockmtn

Get your blood sugar checked yesterday. Rapid change in eyesight is what alerted my optometrist to my possible type 1 late onset diabetes. I was a few days away from being hospitalized. Type 1 now for 5 1/2 years.

I actually had a physical at the end of July. Blood sugar was good (79). No family history of diabetes.

Could blood sugar change rapidly? And have this effect?

[jhynesrockmtn]

Originally Posted by IROC

I actually had a physical at the end of July. Blood sugar was good (79). No family history of diabetes.

Could blood sugar change rapidly? And have this effect?

I'd get it checked again, but my guess is, not that rapidly. My A1c, which measures glucose level looking back for roughly 3 months, was over 11 when I was diagnosed. It would be cheap and easy peace of mind though to get new labs. Best of luck with figuring this out.

[oldE]

Last spring when I had my biannual check up, I mentioned to my optometrist that my distance vision was better than it had been 40 years ago. She reminded me that our eyes are constantly changing in various ways, some not to our benefit, but the opposite is possible.
I'll take it.

Best
Les