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How long does it take for a seniors vision to change?
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Default How long does it take for a seniors vision to change? - 12-14-2008, 08:49 PM

My friend who is 68 noticed her distance vision getting blurry a couple of weeks ago. Then a few days ago she noticed double vision while looking at a turning arrow traffic light. We went to the optometrist today and was told her vision had changed for the better, so the far sighted segment of her tri focals were now too strong and causing the current vision problems. Other two segments of her glasses seem to still work fine. Her vision has gone from a 2.50 needed correction in both eyes to a 1.25 needed correction in both eyes. Being trifocals they are expensive glasses and due to changes occurring in last 3 days we are wondering how wise it would be to immediately get the new glasses. If her eyes are still in transition then wouldn't we risk having to get yet another pair of glasses in the near future? As an expierament we went to the dollar store and got a single vision pair of 1.50 glasses and she drove home seeing better (while driving) than she had since her visin began to change a couple of weeks ago. She has been wearing her current prescription glasses for past five years. So what to do? Get prescription glasses now or wait awhile and continue using the new"driving"glasses as needed? If she needs to wait awhile, then how long should she wait? Thank you in advance for your help.PS, This is not real important but I am curious. The eye doctor asked her if she ever saw"lightening". She hasn't, but why did he ask her that and what does seeing"lightening"just within you individual field of vision mean? Thanks again !!You are right about the cataract!!! Doc told her she had a small one just getting started, but its nothing that needs to be immeadiatly dealt with. Are you suggesting that the presence of the cataract is reason her vision improved? It is my understanding that cataracts are relatively slow growing when they are first starting, so is first responder correct in suggesting that we go ahead and get the glasses now?Sorry, got the answers mixed up in my head withouy being able to look at them while writing. Thanks for the information I will tell her about this and any other info that may come in! Thanks Again!I will also be asking her the questions asked by first responder and post the info in here. We were both kinda baffled by what Doc said, and he is a well known and highly reputable Doc so I believed him. There is normally about a 2 week wait for a new patient to get in to see him, but when she told them what was happening they got her the very next day. I think he may have been a little rushed or would have explained more. She will be seeing him again and the information and questions from these answers will help tremendously in the list of questions she is taking with her on the next visit!! Thank You!
   
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Default 12-15-2008, 08:49 AM

The"lightning"could be a sign of glaucoma, an approaching migraine or stroke. The double vision could indicate a stroke, or TIA, as well. At your friend's age many other medical conditions can affect vision and she should be having yearly routine eye exams by an opthalmologist. Is she diabetic? Have high blood pressure? Family medical history of stroke or coronary artery disease? Migraine? Glaucoma? At any rate, five years is WAY too long for her to be going without an exam by an ophthalmologist. Only an ophthalmologist is qualified to assess eye diseases, BTW. Optometrists can only do basic vision checks and prescribe corrective lenses.
   
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Default 12-15-2008, 08:59 AM

Changes towards shortsightedness in the elderly are often (but not always) an indication cataracts are on their way. She should get the new glasses and have regular checkups.The question over lightning would probably relate to what is known as a'vitreous detachment'a very common and nearly always harmless condition in older people. The optometrist would have been checking for indications the vitreous detachment had progressed to a retinal detachment. Don't worry about it.Contrary to the previous post, optometrists are highly trained in diagnosing eye disease, in fact it is the main part of their job.
   
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Default 02-23-2011, 08:27 PM

It's also recommended for those over 60 years old to get an eye exam at least once a year due to deterioration and diseases that are more prevalent in the older generation. Unless of course your optometrist (or ophthalmologist...sometimes they share clinic space & patients), has suggested you get check more frequently.
   
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