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1. Fluctuating blood glucose - watch for patterns associated with what she eats. She may have been told she is "bordeline" diabetic. This is by far the most common cause of this type of problem. Get her tested, even if she has had a physical within the last year. They need to check fasting blood glucose and her A1c. If she is careful about her diet she may test in a high normal range but actually be diabetic.
2. Medication reactions - does she take the same prescriptions daily, or is there variation?
3. Problems with the prescription itself - too many eye doctors use digital measures for prescription glasses, but this can be highly inaccurate. Make sure the doctor checked her prescription out of the instruments with a trial frame and had her looking at the distances she uses.
4. Poorly fit progressive lenses - although convenient, progressive lenses are not for everyone. They do not give best sight in all conditions, and often impair balance and coordination. The peripheral distortions can be more obvious as lighting changes.
5. Dry eyes - must be managed with good quality eye drops and possibly ointment at night. There are also some nutritional supplements that can help.
6. Fuchs dystrophy or other corneal problems - this is usually related to a recently discovered genetic anomaly, MTHFR. She would need to take methyl folate and possibly methylcarbolamine in addition to eye drops.
7. Psychiatric disorders - patients with bipolar or dissociative tendencies can have multiple prescriptions. There will be a pattern and there are specialists (not many) who will know how to manage this.
8. Other undiagnosed vision problems - this probably should have been much higher on the list. This includes double vision with a small angle so that it looks blurry instead of completely separate; visual field defects; late effects of concussion or a small stroke.
Cataracts should not cause daily fluctuations unless there is also poor control of blood glucose. There are other more obscure possible causes but these generally have other symptoms associated with the fluctuating vision such as headaches, incontinence, changes in sleep patterns, etc.
Check the website of the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association for someone near you who is experienced with these types of problems. If there is no one near enough, contact the association and ask for a referral. Other sources are COVD.org and OEPF to find a specialist who will understand the specifics of Mom's issues and may be able to prescribe appropriately.
Also there is a new lid scrub that you don't rinse off that is GREAT! and really easy to use.
I also keep my old readers. Some days the stronger powered glasses work better than the older weaker powered glasses. Does she have her old glasses? Perhaps one set works better than another on certain days.
I'd say if its the 3rd RX from the SAME place, its time for a NEW DOCTOR and maybe she would feel comfortable in an older rx. (that has happened to me before too, I just went back to an older RX)
Also talk to her regular docs about MEDICATIONS, many have weird side effects, some affect vision, some vision side effects can be a warning that a medication is bad for her. And have her checked for vertigo as well-inner ear troubles, that can really mess up our vision and we are blaming the wrong organ!
If her glasses have progressive lenses vice bifocals or trifocals there is a bit of a learning curve for getting clear vision. The near, medium & far progressive "zone" is in a vertical strip centered on the front of the eyes. To see clearly you must keep that zone in front of your iris & lens. You have to turn your head & look directly at things. You can't just move your eyes. Keeping the glasses correctly aligned is real important to keeping the vision zone where it does the job.
The progressive zone comes in various widths. The narrowest width absolutely requires keeping the glasses aligned & looking directly at things for best vision. Hope this helps some!
My mom was in assisted, the to extended, I spoiled the staff crazy like, it did
work they were always ready to help my mom. Bribery works. Choclate, donuts, flowers, cards of thank you. anything to support them.