Prisms vs. eye patch
 

I went to get new glasses today and the muscle relaxants have done a number on my double vision. In order to fit the prisms into the lens they need to use a special high index glass which is really expensive and will have to go into my reading glasses as well.

I went ahead and ordered them figuring I didn't have much choice, but now I'm wondering if I should have them correct the vision and just use tape over one eye for the double vision. Does anyone else use prisms, or do you just cover one eye? Quick response would be good so I can call them up tomorrow morning and tell them to put the order on hold. Thanks.

Jeff

I used the patch over one eye. Didn't matter which one. However my depth perception was horrible. Didn't drive for one year. The double vision finally cleared up. Not sure what stopped it. I was on Imuran, Prednisone, IVIG, and mestinon at the time it cleared up.
Mike

An eyepatch would drive me crazy.

I've been wearing a patch for about 2 months to help with my double vision. It's not terribly uncomfortable, but it does take some getting used to.

That being said, I will second what pingpongman said, that it completely wipes out your depth perception. I've hardly driven at all in the last 2 months, too.

The double vision bothered me more than any other symptoms of MG. I played serious table tennis and the double vision kept me from playing. The depth perception just wouldn't allow it. Once they figured out all they had to do was drop it over the net I was toast. I drove to play table tennis when my double vision first started and had a friend with me. When I got home I realized I had not only risked my life but my friends as well I gave my keys to my wife and swore not to drive again until my double vision cleared.
Mike

This subject has been discussed before.

One member suggested using your glasses and covering one eye lens with scotch tape. I did the same thing and put it on the inside of the lens and used a magic marker to color it black. Just as good as a eye patch without the aggravation.

scrubbs

You can also try just using the scotch tape over one lens, makes it fuzzy which takes the pressure off your eyes/brain to converge the two images, yet leaves you with some sense of what you're seeing and peripheral vision.

Why do they HAVE to use high index to add a prism? How much prism is it? I have had prisms made in regular plastic lenses. I cannot tolerate the high index material, nor polycarbonate, nor any change in the base curve of my lenses, nor anything (I am the original Princess and the Pea). And the lenses should not be so much more expensive. The eyeglass chains, especially, push the fancier materials at insane cost. We go through our local optometrists, two different ones, and the fancy lenses, even polycarbonate, cost the same if not slightly less than standard plastic, because they are not out to gouge their patients (their frames, however, do cost more, but most will let you bring your own frames in).

Put the order on hold, shop around because you should not lose your house over lenses, and meanwhile try covering or taping over one eye/lens.
But the depth perception thing when only one-eyed is very real, so if you cannot avoid driving, the glasses are a better bet.

I've tried both, but my problem with the prisms is that my dv doesn't remain the same. If I'm having a good day, the prisms work fine. But, if I'm having a bad day, they don't. I have found that putting scotch tape on one lens works fine. I drive all the time and yes, my depth perception is off, but you can learn to adjust. I'm am now a much more careful driver than I ever was!

I think I made the decision to use then scotch tape when I spoke with my interinst. Turns out he has a glass eye he received at age 17 and has lived his entire adult life with single vision. Yes, he still has perception problems, but he has learned to adjust as do all other people with only 1 eye.

Good luck with your decision.

My neuro-opthalmologist gave me stick-on prisms. He realized my eyes change and gave me TWO different strengths -- one for early in the day and one for later when my eyes are weaker. I absolutely LOVE my stick-ons! Of course they don't weigh anything. :) I am careful with them, using soap and water to clean -- as you would also have to be with plastic lenses. Here is the link:

http://www.fresnel-prism.com/product...ess-on-optics/

My doc attached them to readers for me -- I can DRIVE and SEE when I'm walking -- and I just feel NORMAL, now! The readers were about $20 each at Walgreens and I think the prisms cost about $40 per lens? (Insurance may take care of some or all of this.) I'd recommend GOOD quality readers because you are gonna wear these things ALL the time!! ;)

Thanks for the replies. I had my neuro appointment this morning and then got to work and had several tasks and never got back to check here. My neuro thought I should use tape over the lens and just correct for the vision, wait 6 months and then retry the prisms. My dad recommended the opposite, however, since the optometrist will remake lenses as my double vision changes for up to a year and I still need new lenses for blurriness. He thought I'd just be paying the difference in a few months when I went back to have it redone, plus he thought it would look bad at the office I work in. I might still call in the morning and see if its not too late to cancel.

I don't think they're trying to gouge me as last year they sold me plastic lenses, but this time the doctor wrote for such a high prism that she said it would be impossible to make with plastic, I'd be uncomfortable with standard high index and special high index was the only one that made sense. It didn't even occur to me until later that maybe I'm getting beyond what a prism is meant to correct.

Double vision was the first MG symptom I had and it was really bad DV. Add to this the Valium and Baclofen and my eyes no longer converge. The problem with the traditional eye patch was that my other eye would never stay open. The few times I've tried tape over the lens, I didn't have that problem as bad, but it drove me nuts, but I suppose you get used to it in time. At least maybe I should try it before spending too much on glasses. The biggest problem is I have to keep retaping the lens, unless you can learn to drive with it. Not driving is out of the question as I need to be able to get to work.

I'm already 15 min late leaving, so I need to head out. I'll think about it tonight. Even if they put the order in, I doubt the lab started working on it yet.