I just wanted to post this in case it helps someone else.

I've had some residual vertigo for a number of years after a fall and concussion. It's improved significantly over time, but some days I've still found the episodes very debilitating indeed.

Anyway, long story short, I've been wearing graduated lenses (short and long) for years. I recently got new glasses and decided not to go with the graduated lenses this time. I wanted two separate glasses to see how it would go. The optometrist tried to talk me out of them saying I would most likely find them very inconvenient. Truth is, I'm finding them so much better.

I especially find walking around so much better with my new long distance glasses. I'm thinking that with the graduated lenses I was bobbing my head up and down all the time attempting to find the balance in distance between my short and long sight. I also feel the graduated lenses were affecting my peripheral vision.

Hope that makes sense.

Did you have the blended lenses or the ones with the line in
them?

I get dizzy with the blended ones too.
I also have separate ones.... one with trifocals.. and one
with bifocal close and intermediate (for computer and desk work).

One can reach a stage, where the bottom or close lens is too
blurry for walking. Then you can trip over things, or fall on stairs.

I totally think that whatever you do, it should be for YOUR comfort and safety.

When I first started on bifocals, the optician I went to had
a trainer frame that he could put the blended (progressive type) in or the ones with lines . close to anyone 's RX . I couldn't
even walk with the progressives. At work I'd have to turn my head to watch anything sideways... and the counter at work was LONG. I've never regretted my choice of lined bifocals!

Progressives. That's the word I was just trying to think of...

They were the blended ones. No line. No real definition.

Before those ones I was wearing contacts. Short distance one eye and long distance other eye. Took my brain a few weeks to adjust but they were great. Now with my new ones being in separate glasses I'm finding it so much better and you're right, I'm not falling into things or tripping over things, and I live in fear of falling again as it is.

I have Progressive tri-focals. The problem they can cause for a head injured person is the need to constantly raise and lower the head. This can cause the inflammation to upper neck injuries. Sometimes, I will lift my glasses up to use the bottom of the lens rather than tilt my head. It can be much better. I have some reading glasses too, without the progressive lens grind. They work at my desk computer.

I found that I needed to put my desk monitor as low as possible. Bi and Tri-focal lenses are normally ground for driving as the primary use. This means the middle distance lens is set for looking at the dashboard instruments. Computer monitors are rarely below eye height. The need to tilt the head to see the high monitor can be a strain on the neck.

Glad you found a good system. I need new glasses but the current styles of frames have such small lenses I have hesitated to get new ones. Maybe a cheap pair of near and another of distance would work. I may check out your suggestion.

All my vision specialists tell me that progressives are the worst thing for brain injuries. Even among the non-injures population, many people are not able to adapt their brain to the variety of focal points within each lense. I loved them, but they were so horrible with my injury...but it took the neuro-opthamologists to tell me that.

I have bought 8 pairs of glasses in a year.... First new progresives because the normal optomotrist said I needed them, then single vision reading, distance and sunglasses, and then single visions with prisms and blue blocker tint for reading, computer distance, distance and sunglasses!

I asked this week if I will ever go back to progressives, and the specialist said....when you have a brain injury, you all of the free cognitive space you can get. Why use up space for progressive lenses because it would mean I would have to sacrifice something else (playing with kids, talking with a friend, working, etc.)

It is tough to juggle all of the glasses (have lost a pair and sat on two). Oh well! It could be worse!

I saw Dr.Cheryl Letheren, a Neuro-Rehabilitation Optometrist in London ON who recommend some changes to my glasses prescription: prisms to adjust for subtle misalignments, a reflective coating "blue blocker" to block out some of the glare from computer screens, and "Relaxsee". The Relaxsee part is my regular prescription for seeing far distance on the top of the lens and a slightly lesser strength in the bottom for up close work. Similar idea to bifocals, but not nearly as strong (ie I believe it's +100 in the top, +050 in the bottom) . It was explained to me that it should help reduce eye strain with close up work.

I started with my new glasses Tuesday, and I know they always say it takes time to adjust, but I am having a hard time with the "Relaxsee" part. I find if I turn my head too quickly or look in the bottom half of the lens, it is slightly blurry which bothers my head and causes me to feel slightly dizzy.

I know it has only been a few days, but I am frustrated because although things weren't perfect before, they weren't terrible, and so far the new glasses have only made things worse. It's hard to be patient when my head hurts more than it was before. Reading this thread makes me second guess whether getting 2 different strengths in one lens is a good idea (although I know for me, the change in strength is very subtle, I'm still sensitive to it)? Any feedback is greatly appreciated! Thanks friends!

Hi.
I've no experience with the Relaxsee lenses as you've been prescribed.
I'm still wearing 2 different sets of glasses. One for long distance and other for reading. I also have prescription long distance sunglasses. Changing to these from the progressive lenses made a world of difference to me. I do still find it a little inconvenient esp. as I use a computer a lot but if I need to look at something further away, I make sure I have my long distance glasses with me at all times.

I looked up info about Relaxsee. I looked up Nikon. They should know how to make a good lense but maybe they're just not right for you. They seem designed specifically for eye strain and eye fatigue from what I read. If I am understanding their info correctly it's basically a bifocal with a coating over the bottom half of the lense (the short distance), is that right??

My problem while wearing progressive lenses was more about my feelings of vertigo and also feeling unstable on my feet and my inability to judge distance to objects such as steps, walls, furniture etc. around me because of the constant movement of the head and neck and eyes ... if that makes sense.

It would be interesting to hear from others.

I have been experiencing issues with my vision and glasses/contacts as well.
I find contact lenses are easier on the eyes, but not perfect.

I also find some days my actual visual acuity is better than other days, so I switch to a different correction on those days.

Can a correction that is too strong or too weak amplify my nystagmus or vertigo (actual eye movement), or will it just cause subjective dizziness?

In other words, do I need to have a perfect prescription in order to reduce nystagmus/vertigo, or is that outside of my control?

Wish I'd read all of this before my son (6mo PCS) was prescribed graduated lenses (A$900!) which he is really not liking. They don't seem to be helping at all & we weren't sure whether it was just a matter of getting used to them or whether they are really not going to work. Very helpful to read of others' experiences -- gives us a bit more confidence for the follow-up visit.