Sorry to make a fuss !!!!!!!
Over the past month or so I have noticed a detrition in my eyesight.
I have been needing glasses for reading for some years now. About 3 months ago I had my eyes re-tested which led on to getting new (stronger) reading glasses. At first everything seemed fine, however I was noticing that without my glasses everything seemed blurred and I could not read anything without my glasses. I find it hard to believe that my eyesight has so rapidly gone down hill in 3 months.
I went to see my HIV doctor last week to get my bloods done. I mentioned the problems with my eyes and the headaches I seemed to be getting more and more. He looked into my eyes and could not see any infection which was good. He also suggested that I have another eye-test.
As I left the clinic I realized that I was not very happy with the outcome of this consultation. Of course I am very pleased that there is no infection. But I was left feeling that yet again I seemed to be making a fuss over nothing. I often feel that my concerns are not always taken on board, my HIV doctor is very good and I know that he is interested in my health.
Maybe its me, maybe I am the one that needs to get a grip?
I guess the longer you live with HIV, it does not always mean that you worry less.
The suggestion to get your eyes retested is a good one. You will then be able to see if there has been a change. Experience tells me that there is probably another reason. If there was a big change between your old and new glasses, it could just be a natural accomodation of the eyes, where they needed a new prescription and were working overtime to see clearly through old glasses. If this is the case, now you have new ones, you would see a marked difference in what you can see with and without glasses. The second reason could be that the lenses have been made up incorrectly and again your eyes are over working to see through them, which throws your vision out when you don’t wear them. Both of these issues can give the impression that your eyesight has deteriorated and leave you with headaches. If it is a case of a big difference in precription the optician may modify your glasses or suggest you stick with them and adjust over time. Although I’m sure you wanted an immediate answer from your HIV doctor, he is right to send you back to your optician, where they can check your eye test results against your glasses. If you can get a copy of both your old and new prescriptionsI’d be quite happy to take a look, and perhaps be able to tell you a bit more. But for now, try not to worry, I would imagine there is a straight forward answer to your problem! I work in optics by the way!!
Best wishes, Andy
Thanks for the advice Andy
[...] about his experiences being a dyslexic, HIV-positive, gay man on his blog The ramblings. In this recent post he talks about how bringing up headaches and a potential eye infection during a doctor's visit [...]