“DO NOT WEAR your glasses when you leave here,” she warned. I listened. I didn’t want Heidi picking me up off the pavement outside the eye clinic.
“Be careful going up and down steps tomorrow,” Randy warned Tuesday evening. I listened.
A MAJOR CHANGE
Just hours into my first day of wearing new prism-heavy prescription eyeglasses on Wednesday, I understand why my optician and my husband issued those warnings. These new glasses, which are supposed to help me deal with double vision via prisms, are a big change. Make that a major change.
Time will tell whether I can handle the “5 base in” horizontal prisms ground into each lens. That’s ten total, which Heidi says is a lot. I don’t pretend to understand all of these numbers. But the neuro ophthalmologist who did recent surgery to realign my eyes said I really needed fourteen. He didn’t think I could tolerate that amount.
TRYING TO AVOID ANOTHER SURGERY
Hopefully I can manage the prisms added to my glasses. If not, I will need to consider more surgery, something I’m hoping to avoid. I’ve already had bilateral strabismus surgery twice—at age four and most recently in late January. Immediately post-surgery, my eyes were in near perfect alignment. But then they reverted to being misaligned in a “significant regression of surgical effect.” This happens sometimes.
So here I am today, trying a new prescription with more prisms in hopes it will help me achieve “comfortable binocular vision” and avoid a third surgery on my eyes.
AN OVAL DINNER PLATE
As I type, I am looking at a computer screen that appears slanted, curved. My world is distorted. I’d been warned, but didn’t think the distortion would be quite this bad. A dinner plate, when tilted, appears oval rather than round. And when I pulled a key lime pie from the oven, I nearly dropped it. I saw a pie that was sliding; it wasn’t. I feel almost like I’m up high looking down on the world. It’s weird and odd and disconcerting.
But I’m trying. I intellectually understand that my eyes and brain are adjusting. I must give it time. Two weeks minimum, my surgeon said.
My optician, Heidi, who has supported me from pre-surgery through today, advised me to keep wearing my new glasses, as tempted as I am to pull out my old ones with fewer prisms. I stashed them in a drawer. Out of sight, out of mind. Well, maybe not out of mind.
HOLDING HOPE
I’ll check in with Heidi today. She asked me to do that, going above and beyond because she gets it. She also deals with double vision and prism eyeglasses. Her positive attitude and encouragement have helped me tremendously. The word “hope” runs strong in our conversations.
And that is my focus, along with being really really careful on steps and elsewhere as my eyes and brain adjust to these new lenses through which I view a currently distorted world.
© Copyright 2024 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
I know this change must be very challenging to say the least. Luckily, you have good people supporting you in this transition and reminding you and offering you hope. I’m hopeful for you to have this make a difference and it will be worth it all if it can save you from another surgery.
I assuredly have good people who have been here for me. I’m into day two with my new eyeglasses. Distortion hasn’t improved. But I keep on keeping on. Time will tell. I’m determined, if anything.
My goodness, Audrey. I hope you make that transition in these new lenses and that they give you back the eyesight that you need! Sending light and love. ❤
Thank you, Penny. I can see and that is reason to feel thankful, even if (right now) my vision is distorted. Onward.
We cannot even imagine what this all entails for you but yes keep on keeping on and we Hope that your brain adjusts to this change. hoping for no need for another surgery. Prayers for this to help you see more normal. kg
Kathy, I appreciate your prayers and encouragement as I adjust to these prism-heavy glasses. Onward.
WISHING You the BEST (((((prayers, healing vibes, fingers crossed, love and hugs))))))))
You’re such an incredible cheerleader. Thank you!
How challenging and a bit scary, Audrey. Hoping for the best that you can avoid a third surgery.
Thank you, Bernadette. I was really carefully carrying laundry up and down the basement stairs this morning.
Alongside all your other well-wishers, I am hoping for the best for your vision. Glad to hear you have good people to offer their support and hope.
Thank you, Rose. I appreciate all the support of my readers and of my healthcare team. So many reasons to feel thankful.
Wow, that sounds really hard Audrey. I pray you’ll adjust quickly and not need a third surgery!
Patience is key here as I give my eyes time to adjust to my new prescription. And if I can’t handle the prisms, well, I’ll deal with that if that’s the outcome.
I’ve been praying for you and that these new glasses help with that double vision. Prayers continue!
They are helping with the double vision. It’s just now I’m dealing with visual distortion due to the prisms.
Oh, I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with more eye issues. I do pray this works for you!!
Thanks, Gretchen. Hopefully time is all I need to adjust to these glasses. They are helping with the double vision. But the distortion, oh, my.