Friday, July 18, 2008

Eyeballs

An eye can threaten like a loaded and levelled gun, or it can insult like hissing or kicking; or, in its altered mood, by beams of kindness, it can make the heart dance for joy.... One of the most wonderful things in nature is a glance of the eye; it transcends speech; it is the bodily symbol of identity. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

So, yesterday I mentioned headaches... and also mentioned that I might have a remedy for them. Over the past year or so, when I get tired, my eyes won't focus together. I spent my evenings reading with one eye (typically my left eye) closed or covered. Even when I'm NOT tired, I frequently have to look away from something to "reset" my eyes before they'll focus.

I finally gave in an scheduled an eye appointment. The last time I got glasses (about three years ago), they really didn't help much. They were, essentially, reading glasses. I don't need things magnified -- that isn't the issue. I see things fine, up close AND far away.

DD needed her appointment anyway, so I scheduled one with her. This doc discovered the problem almost immediately... my eyes see at different angles. My left eye actually sees higher than my right, so I basically have double vision. He told me that I've probably had it my entire life, after noting that I tip my head to the left. He asked to see picture ID, so I showed him my drivers license and warehouse club card. He pointed at the photos and said, "See how your head is tipped?" -- and, honestly, if you look at 90% of pictures with me in them since the day I was born (just look at the profile picture in my Blogger profile!), my head is tipped to one side. He said it was my unconscious way of making the vision field level and helping my eyes focus together. But, now my eyes are getting old and tired (and, no he didn't put it like that, lol) and don't want to work together any more.

So I'm getting glasses with a special "prism" in them that will level out my vision field. And, maybe I can stop winking at the computer...

Better, maybe I can go through a day without massive headaches. We'll see... I should have my glasses next week.

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I picked three more squash yesterday, and a "mess" (that's for Judy *G*) of green beans that even DD enjoyed eating (she doesn't usually like green beans). I have about fifteen more baby squash that will be ready over the next week, and twice that many blossoms. Still, the squash doesn't worry me nearly as much as the cucumbers. I think I'm making pickles this year!

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What Your Sunglasses Say About You



You are spontaneous, open minded, and optimistic.

You are very youthful and free wheeling, no matter what your age happens to be.

You need to be shaded from the darker, more depressing aspects of life.

You feel sunniest when everyone around you is up for a good time.



Um... no. Not even close...

But they were pink :-)

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14 comments:

Allie Boniface said...

Double vision! I feel like that should be a super power, or something. Glad that you'll get some extra-special glasses to even the world out. (And I wonder how weird the first few hours/days will be when it is??)

Cheers :)

Dru said...

Wow, I never met anyone with double vision before. Wow.

I'm so glad he was able to solve your problem and the glasses will correct it.

Funny that I looked at your profile before you mention that you head tilted in your blog.

What Your Sunglasses Say About You

You are clever, unique, and a total nonconformist.

Your sense of fashion is based on your own personal creativity.

You need to be shaded from the mundane parts of life.

You feel sunniest when you can express yourself freely and without judgment.


Have a good Friday.

Lisa said...

I have the same focus problem and the minute you said you close or cover one eye I could have diagnosed you! When I'm tired I read with one eye too, and as I get older it gets worse. I am 33 now, and I first noticed it about 8 years ago. The prism in my glasses increases faster than my prescription. I've never noticed that I tilt my head though. The biggest PITA about it though, is that you can't wear contacts- they don't have prism. So I have a pair for special occasions but if I wanted them for full time I'd have to wear reading glasses with prism on top of them. My dr also used "double vision" and the dreaded "cross-eyed" but fortunately my eyes LOOK normal!

MJFredrick said...

I'm glad the dr. was able to pinpoint it! I notice I tilt my head a lot, too, but I thought it was that one eye is worse than the other...hmmm...

Melissa McClone said...

I hope the new glasses help! Hugs!

Marianne Arkins said...

Super power... LOL...

Lisa, I'm so glad to hear of someone else with this problem. I was feeling a little lonely. And, yeah, sucks about the contacts. **sigh**

Oh well. Better than constant headaches.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I hope the glasses help! Headaches are no fun, and I know when my eyes get tired, I'm prone to headaches if I try to do anything that requires decent focus. Hugs on the double vision... not just the headaches, but the neckaches! Oy.

Can't wait to hear how the glasses work.

Anonymous said...

I hope the new glasses work out for you!

Now I have the song Double Vision stuck in my head....

Ceri Hebert said...

I've got my eye appt today. I definitely need new glasses. My DD is going too. She has FINALLY discovered reading (two books in one week... awesome for her) but she's stopped because her eyes have been hurting and getting blurry.

Have a good one.

Brandy said...

Can you figure out those picture within a picture things? At least now you know what was wrong and will hopefully be able to read without headaches!

My Sunglasses: You are down to earth, stable, and practical.
You see the world as it is. You accept facts easily.

You need to be shaded from overly dramatic and problem prone people.
You feel sunniest when things are calm and peaceful

Hmmm, not too far off actually. *G*

I hope you have a great day!

Marianne Arkins said...

Ceri, so glad your DD is reading!

Amy, the neckaches are an entirely different story, lol.

Brandy, actually I can't figure out those hidden picture things... my DD loves them, and she gets so frustrated because I can't see anything in them!

Tori, for whatever reason, I ended up with "Hot Blooded" instead of "Double Vision" as soon as you mentioned it. Yes, I'm strange!

Diane Craver said...

I'm glad you found out what you have and are getting your glasses soon. I hope you get rid of the headaches.

Sarita Leone said...

I hope your new glasses solve the problem. I cannot imagine having headaches all the time. That's got to be rough.

Sending hugs.

groovyoldlady said...

My FIL got a prism. It helped him tremendously!