A few years ago at an annual eye exam I was told I was just on the verge of needing reading glasses. Before my next yearly check-up, I experienced two days of sudden double vision. I was told after having transverse myelitis that there was a 20% chance of it turning into multiple sclerosis, so I was really concerned about this vision problem having to do with the optic nerve. Dashed off to the eye dr., and he said the optic nerve was fine, I just needed trifocals. Trifocals? When less than a year before I was only on the verge of needing reading glasses? I kept trying to stress that this wasn’t something that crept up but rather happened suddenly. He was convinced it probably was happening all along but I had just noticed it. 🙄
I didn’t have a lot of confidence in that diagnosis, so I didn’t get the glasses. I’m not opposed to getting glasses, I just didn’t think this diagnosis was accurate. The blurry double vision lasted for a couple of days, went away for a couple of weeks, then returned. I had seen my personal family dr. in the meantime for something else but mentioned this. My eye dr. happened to be someone he knew and had confidence in, so he trusted his diagnosis, but sent me to an ophthalmologist. That dr. told me I had an astigmatism. I wasn’t sure that was right, either. I didn’t want to get prescription glasses for a problem that only occurred occasionally, and I wondered why no one considered there might be other non-glasses related problems that might be occurring.
I saw the ophthalmologist again less than a year ago for a regular check-up. My eyes weren’t blurry then, and I had 20/20 vision.
But the double vision and blurriness come and go. My eyesight in general had gotten worse — I use little Wal-Mart reading glasses generally to read but can’t wear them all the time because everything else is blurry when I have them on.
The double vision is occurring again today. It’s good I wasn’t planning to do much blogging today!!
So I guess my question is — does this happen to anyone else? I know that after passing the mid-40s eyesight begins to wane anyway. And it does seem to occur more when I am tired or haven’t had enough sleep, but I haven’t really kept track enough to say that always affects it.
Stray Thoughts 
I am by no means an expert. I wear glasses and have for almost 30 years now. I guess my only suggestion would be to get a 3rd opinion from another Dr. You may not even want to mention the other 2 diagnosis. Just see what the other Dr. says. The other thing that I can think of is that you really may need reading glasses and the WalMart glasses may not be strong enough, so you are putting strain on your eyes causing them to do more work. Maybe if you are reading more on certain days (books and certainly the computer) you may be making your eyes work harder and that is were some of the double vision comes into play.
I have astigmatism. I can not see far away without help and my night vision is terrible without correction (lights have a blurred or “star” effect around them making driving very difficult). Do you have any of that? I have other unexplained vision disturbances (dots and black lines) that no one can seem to explain so I live with it.
With your medical history, I don’t think I’d just let it go. I’d either get the 3rd opinion or get the glasses and see if it helps.
Only other thing I can think of is: My father used to get wavy lines, blurred vision and bright spots and they were optical migraines. Just a thought.
I hope you can figure this out and get it taken care of. Anything like this that is unexplained can be stressful.
praying for you
Barbara, I was only needing to wear over-the-counter magnifying glasses for reading when I started working at the library in 2000. Once I began working on the computer at work, which I did constantly during my six hours of work each day and reading more, my eyes deteriorated very quickly and within the year, I was wearing progressive trifocals. So, I’m wondering if you have been using your vision more on the computer and various other things. I think as we get older, our vision and our bodies tend to be compromised more quickly, especially if we are doing specific things ALOT more. This is just my personal observation. Hope it helps. I’ve had my lenses changed twice since then. Most recently, just last month. I’ve just accepted it as part of getting older. *smile*
Jewel, I think that may be the case — I know I feel a little blurry when I am on it for very long, and these days I use the computer a lot, both for blogging and ladies’ ministry stuff.
I think I am going to take ChupieandJsmama’s advice and go to a completely new eye dr. and see what he says. I can tell I need something more than what I have now.
hi i have transverse myelitis will be four years january 08. last week i got double vision for the first time. a dr in hospital suggested it was because of the t.m. i am going to see my g.p tomorrow. wonder what he will say? will let you know. sharon