For the past year or so I've been noticing the hue difference in my eyes a bit more now, and it really gets annoying. The colors are a little darker when i close my right eye and see through my left, and the colors are lighter when i look through my right eye. Then there's the vision different, i have clearer vision with my right eye and slightly blurry vision on my left eye. The difference is quite noticeable when looking at letters from a far, i cant make out a word sometimes with my right eye. I've been to the optometrist over the past few months but i haven't received any advice on this or solutions which is why i would like to ask this community if anyone has this issue and has dealt with it in the past or is currently only noticing it now. Even with the prescription glasses, the hue color and vision difference is still obvious. Any tips for cures or home remedies?
Different Vision in My Eyes
Comments
I think Id maybe go to a different optometrist, maybe one in a good suburb or in the city you might find better ones and get a second opinion.
Hi me from a couple years ago!
There is a good chance you have keratoconus.
Where have you been?
HOLY S***, this is so sad to find out. I do have halo vision for lights that are far away and signs do begin to double up with certain objects or certain conditions.
yep i had the same symptoms. left eye was blurry but right was fine. go to a non franchise doc opsm knows bugger all. also immediately stop rubbing eyes this makes the condition worse. i went to vision eye institute in chatswood nsw. ended up getting cornea transplant in left eye
its not a commonly known issue
May I ask, what optometrist did you go to?
If you are in Melbourne you could go to the Eye and Ear hospital and get them to have a look. Not sure if you need a reference but you could ask them.
No reference. They have an Emergency Department.
This doesn't sound like an emergency.
No it doesn't, at all. But the majority of presentations at ED aren't emergencies unfortunately.
You're barking completely up the wrong tree. I was stating a fact, not making a recommendation.
Asking for advice about a medical condition on a forum like this is bonkers.
Anyway…
It might be a cataract forming in the left eye. How old are you?
Cataracts sometimes give a yellowy tinge, in fact when they are removed, the patients sometimes complain about their vision sometimes being too blue, too "cold looking". Are you experiencing a colour difference between the eyes?
The optometrist should have spotted a cataract forming and told you. When they looked inside the eye (with a bright light in a darkened room), they should have seen the cataract. They did do this, didn't they?
Go back and see them (or a different one) again, and tell them specifically what your concerns are. You might need to be referred on to a specialist.
Cataracts don't ever get better on their own. And the other eye will probably get one too.
Disclaimer - I am not qualified to be giving any form of medical advice (but I have had cataract surgery for both eyes).
As this is Ozbargain, and each cataract operation might set you back 3 or 5 thousand dollars, I would first take out medical insurance with absolute minimum qualifying period. And then go and see the optometrist. I suppose it's a bit of a grey area about whether or not you've got a pre-existing condition, which the medical insurance may not cover you for. This is just a suggestion, not a recommendation. And at this stage, you don't need cataract surgery anyway - it's just a nuisance if it's only slightly blurry.
Please let us know how you get on.Just in my late teens and i believe they did check for cataracts and i'm clear of that. I did go to OPSM at Adelaide but the optometrist was very brief both times i went there. I do checkups every 6 months or so since my vision has been not very good lately. May have to go for a checkup soon but trying to find out more info about the current status of my eyes. I'm basically asking on advice and past experience anyone has had. I know the forums aren't very good, however id take 1/10 chances of finding helpful advice backed with some evidence.
I dont like your odds. 1 out of 10 being right, but 9 out of 10 being wrong. So are u saying online usually gives u wrong advice?
You can see a professional and explain your concerns. If you are not satisfied with the explanation, you can get referred and ask for another opinion. If 3-4 experts say to not worry then I think you can sleep easy.
OPSM is like the McD of the optometry… maybe McD premium because there's still the likes of Spec Savers. How on earth they manage to do an examination in 10 minutes is beyond me.
I disagree with it being a bonkers idea. Asking a large group of people who often want to really help someone in their virtual peer group may lead to a solution to the problem (and perhaps already has). Naturally you will get a variety of opinions and suggestions which may or may not be helpful, but somewhere in there may be the answers the op is looking for and it's then up to them to research further and follow-up with a specialist armed with some more information.
Its sometimes the case that sufferers of a condition actually have more in depth knowledge about that condition and new treatments than a practitioner who may have a broader but less specialised knowledge. Even specialists can miss important clues or miss out on hearing vital information from the patient due to limited time etc. A forum allows the person asking to be more articulate in their description of the problem.
Just because its a forum for bargains doesnt mean we don't have life experience outside of bargain hunting, and judging from your response you would agree. :)
Optometrist
read mun.
op said has been to one
so go see another?
If he could see he wouldn't need to.
U need 3 d glasses that will solve ur problem
Go find a different optometrist!!!!
If it is 20/20 vision in both eyes and no prescription, chances are it is just you started to noticing differences between dominant eyes and non-dominant eyes. There are so many different possibility that I could think off my head, but maybe get another test done if you are concerned.
I don't have 20/20 vision in both eyes. Last time i checked it was like 19.* in 1 and 19.* in the other, different decimal values tho. I started noticing it a few years ago. Maybe its too many computer screen time or something idk. I used to play computer games a lot so maybe that's it.
Contact http://www.optometry.org.au/find-an-optometrist/ and go visit somebody who has an interest in your visual health, not just in selling you a quick pair of glasses.
Random Cow, can you turn on accept new conversations in your Ozbargain private messaging or pm me (then I'll be able to reply). I've family who are Optoms in Adelaide who could probably help.
changed the settings now.
Sent PM,
you may want to 'My Account' / 'Messages'probably gonna charge you too
Hey Ozbargainers on a different topic. If a person needed ophthalmic Health Insurance cover and didn't have a diagnosed condition, could you suggest a good plan?
What is the waiting period on cover for opthalmic operations? Any idea on out of pocket expenses?
3 months usually. But need to check each individual health fund. If you lie about pre existing condition, the health fund will search to try to get out of paying because pre existing is 12 month wait. Cost is dependent on your excess and also your doctor and what type of surgery.
Its like asking how much to fix a car? Too many variables. Cant give out of pocket expense without knowing the details.
Thanks Skimpywallet!
most conditions you could probably work out if it is pre existing or not.
classic thing is orthopaedic surgery. If you fracture a bone obviously its new where as joint replacements wouldn't count.
But as wallet said policies vary.
and the clown goes oink
Please visit an optometrist & tell them specifically your concerns. They should perform a full ocular (eye) health examination - any full scope optometrist will do so!
Any changes in the colour vision status of your eyes may be an indication of any eye diseases, and an online forum will not help out. Optometrists may not be able to give a definitive diagnosis - they will refer you to an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) if necessary, but any competent optom will be able to find out more. The optometrist will be able to do some colour vision testing, check the health of the back of your eye, etc :) Any number of conditions could lead to a monocular (one eye) change in colour vision …. cataracts, reactions to medications, glaucoma, retinal/ optic nerve diseases - so I strongly urge you to visit an optometrist for a check up.Source: optometry student.
I could not agree with shishi more.
Here are some quick tests you can perform at home
1) Red cap test. Find a red object. eg rose petal. Using one eye at a time, does the 'redness' appear different ?
2) Pin hole test. Also using one eye at a time, do far away letters look clearer when you squint ?
Have you had trauma to your eyes or work as a baker ? This can cause early cataracts
These tests should be performed by your optometrist. If you are able to post your result here I will ask my collegues to help come up with differential diagnosises.
What does the red cap test check? What condition or disease?
Typically optometrist have a bottle of Tropicamide to dilate patients eyes. It conveniently has a red cap, hence the name of the test
http://cdn.bernell.com/images/uploads/AK1AD15DS.jpgIf a patient perceived the the Redness as:
10 out of 10 in the right eye
But only 5 out of 10 in the left eyeThe optometrist will suspect it a neurological disease because they typically affect colour vision
As above, have it checked out.
I noticed my left eye a few years ago had a "cloudy grey" tinge. Went a had a check and the optometrist referred me to a specialist. Long story short, turns out I had a cataract forming in my left eye.Please see an optometrist and ask them for a full examination. I have a similar problem to you (my left eye cannot focus in bright lights and I have trouble reading with that eye in bright light) and it is the result of a developing cataract and high intraocular pressure (both caused by cortisteroid drops). If you do have high eye pressure you will need to get that managed sooner rather than later. Make sure you visit an optometrist that uses a Goldman Applanation Tonometry device rather than the standard machine that puffs a dash of air into your eye.
I have the same problem as you. I was told that I have astigmatism. I can't read anything from my right eye, even size 20 font an inch away and colours are darker when I shut my right eye. For example the OzBargain navigation bar gets darker when I shut that eye.
Hi it's black and blue, not white and gold.
Hi, optom here. Any difference in red perception between the eyes (look at a milk bottle top or something)? Any headaches at all? Agree with everyone here though definitely get an eye exam done. If you want to be extra vigilant see if they can test you with a d15 colour vision test monocularly and/or a 10-2 visual fields to make sure your central vision's sensitivity is the same in both eyes.
Best of luck.
Hi Lachie92,
When you say red perception what do you mean?… When I have my glasses on driving everything is clear, except for some reason when looking at my lit-up speedometer (which is about 50cm away) the green little lines are very clear but the red ones seem a little double vision. It's only my speedometer that does this in my car, other red lights seem fine??? Could this be slight keratoconus?Also my right eye I believe has irregular astigmatism in which looking at something with/or without my glasses instead of a bright dot being blurred evenly, it is skewed a little to top-left and bottom-left and hardly nothing to the right side. With my glasses on this is less obvious but still slightly noticeable. Could this be slight keratoconus?
I had an eye test about 2 years to get contact lenses and the optometrist I believe made me look into a Corneal topographer but did not say anything. I do have astigmatism (-0.75 x 90)in both eyes am short-sighted also (-1.00 and -1.25).
Please reply, thanks
Hi,
You seem very concerned about "slight keratoconus". Have you been told this before?As you said you have myopia and astigmatism, but doesn't seem severe. Astigmatism of -0.75 is still relatively slight so not immediately suggestive of keratoconus yet.
The best way to diagnosis keratoconus is to see an Ophthalmologist and get a corneal topography done. That gives details about the shape of the cornea which is what you need for a proper diagnosis.
"Red perception" is usually called "red-saturation". Ie look at a very red object one eye at a time, and see if one eye's colour seems "desaturated" (less "red" than the other side". This suggests an optic nerve disease.
Hi,
Thanks for replying. I am only very concerned about 'keratoconus' because my friend has it, from what he describes it doesn't sound like the best thing to have. He has to constantly wear expensive contact lenses ($1000 each!) and has to buy them once a year. My optometrist has never mentioned that I have this but I just worry sometimes.
I also worry because of my right eye but I gather It just has slight irregular astigmatism.
My red perception in both eyes is very good.
I should go back for a examination since its been about 2-3 years now anyway.
Thanks for reply again.
Isn't there a difference between opthamologist (eye doctor) and optometrist (glasses dispenser)?
You need an opthamologist.
This! Get a referral to an ophthalmologist (and have your wallet handy) and find a better optometrist. Also get an optometrist to do some thorough retinal imaging (this is not bulk billed so may cost you as well, some of the big optical retailers will do for free although I would question how well some optoms can interpret these scans when the machines were probably thrown in as a marketing gimic).
As someone who worked in the optical industry for a while I can tell you there are a lot of mediocre optometrists out there. A lot of them are closely tied to the retail focus of the business and will hence have less of a care about eye health in general.
How much would a opthamologist cost? I do remember that my visits to OPSM were very breif and i did get a pair of prescription glasses there, however it didnt match evenly with my other eye.
You can go to a public hospital if cost is a problem. From personal experience, the cost is probably not worth going blind over.
Here's the rates for a few I found online
http://www.doctorannemalatt.com.au/new-patient-info.html (Byron Bay)
http://www.clarefraser.com/#make-a-booking (Sydney)Caveat: These are just a random Ophthalmologists I dug up from the web, this is not a recommendation / endorsement.
If your going private, my recommendation would be to find an Ophthalmologist (either on your own or based on your GP's referral), then call up their offices to ask what their rates are.
If you have private health insurance be sure to get the item number then call up your health fund to find out (how much you get back/if you get anything back).
Seeing an ophthalmologist will cost money, just like seeing any specialist. You wouldn't expect a visit to your lawyer, accountant or a plumber to be free.
The money you spent at OPSM and the pair of glasses will probably cover the cost of seeing an Ophthalmologist. You want a proper diagnosis and management, not a cheap opinion.
Private Health insurance covers only "In-patient" services (ie when you are admitted to a hospital). "Out-patient" services are not covered.
A lot of people are not aware of this. Heath funds can cover your visit to the herbalist, homeopathy, a massage, gym memberships etc, but cannot cover your visit to a trained medical specialist. This is because Medicare Laws sepcifically excluded these. Who knows why the government encourage people to have a "remedial massage" and not see the specialist doctor.
100% agree, see your GP to get a referral to an ophthalmologist.
I doubt they will bulk bill, so be prepared to pay a gap, however at the end of the day how much is your eyesight worth?
To be practical about it, the color difference sound like more than a refractive problem (i.e. a problem which glasses can fix), so even if an optometrist could diagnose this, your going to end up at an ophthalmologist any way.
If you want a proper eye exam, visit an independent practice.
Chain stores such as OPSM and SpecSavers are only interested in brief eye screening and selling glasses.
Yes, the difference is that:
Optometrist: After year 12, complete Bachelor degree for Optometry/Vision Science in University, 5 years. Done
Ophthalmologist: After year 12, compelete Medical Degree (MBBS - 6 years undergraduate, or first do a Bachelor degree, then do post-grad Med, about 7-8 years). Then work as an intern/resident Doctor in hospitals doing medicine/surgery/emergency (typically 4-5 years). Then get into training to be a specialist doctor (in this case the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists - 5 years). So to become an Ophthalmologist (or any other Specialist Doctor for that matter), at least about 15 years after year 12.
Stop watching porn. Porn makes you blind… especially cow porn.
Maybe your left pupil is smaller than your right pupil. It's not uncommon though usually its a very small difference
I have similar symptoms - no blurriness, I believe it is slight colour blindness in my left eye - white walls especially look slightly darker/red.
As far as I can remember, I have always personally think it may have happened after wearing one of those crappy 3d glasses as a kid (red cellophane for one eye and green for the other) but realistically it is probably genetic since I am a guy - deficiency or weakness in cone cells.
It doesn't affect my eyesight at all since the difference is negligible, only something that crosses my mind once in a while but nice to see other people have it.
Chances are, it is not medically significant, but that's not a presumption you'll want to make.
A work mate had a brain tumour that intially presented as frequent diziness and blurry images. It was only caught because of frequent nose bleeds that later developed.
A high school friend had frequent bouts of diziness, blurry vision, blue spots. Also a brain tumour.
Both were successfully removed, but the point is that detection is simple and allows early (and safe) removal. Late detection usually ends poorly.
Doing a quick Google search suggests that there are a lot of people who experience colour differences in each eye and it is harmless. The vision difference could be fixed with a new pair of prescription glasses. One of my eyes in weaker than the other, and I have to wear a different strength contact in each eye. But the only way to fix this is is to see a professional.
No home remedies are going to cure this. I don't think it is worth it to risk your vision. The eyes are SO SO precious.
You need to go back to your optometrist and ask them to examine you again. If they can't help you, then you would need to be referred onto an ophthalmologist (a doctor who has specialist training in eyes) to sort this out.