Question
A little background before my question...I recently had an eye exam, which I felt was a good exam, and had my contacts Rx updated and new glasses made. My contacts Rx is -6.0 and -6.5, so I really need correction. My contact were fine, but when I wear my glasses, I am unable to see with them. I have been back to the Dr, who, upon further examination, told me I have dry eyes, pitting and "cell death." I was advised not to wear my contacts, use eye drops, and come back in week. I can see no improvement. I am seeing worse with my glasses that before, and by the end of the day, my vision is so blurry, I really shouldn't be driving home. I have been taking my glasses off and working about 6 inches away from my computer screen. My question is, why can I see with my contacts and not my glasses? Will this condition correct itself? I really want to put my contacts back is, as I can barely function with my glasses. Any suggestions? Advise? Thanks.
Answer
IF your contact lenses are rigid gas permeable lenses, then everything you describe is a somewhat common occurrence. The rigid lenses mold your eyes to their shape and when you stop wearing them the corneas gradually return to their normal shape. If your glasses are prescribed right after you take the contact lenses out of your eyes, you may wind up with a prescription that only works for a few hours when you first take your contact lenses out. If you go in for your exam without having worn your contact lenses yet that day, you are likely to wind up with glasses that only work the day after you take your contact lenses out. With the modern gas permeable materials, this effect is nowhere near as noticeable these days as it used to be with the less advanced materials.
IF your contact lenses are soft and disposable, then I really do no know the explanation because soft lenses only very rarely have the effect described in the paragraph above. But I suspect the doctor wanted to see you in a week so he or she could recheck the glasses Rx when the contact lenses were not affecting the refraction. You will most likely have to have the glasses remade according to the findings your doctor finds next visit. Try to hang in there at least until you see the doctor. I am sure there is a way to resolve the problem, but you will need to count on your doctor to find the solution for you. If you reinsert the contact lenses before the doctor has a chance to re-refract you, you will have wasted this week of not seeing well and will still not have an answer.
Since I do not know what is causing the poor vision, and cannot get to see your eyes myself, I cannot tell you the reason, nor whether it will resolve itself. I can only say that your best chance at resolving it would be to do exactly what your doctor tells you. But do insist on a revised glasses Rx after keeping your lenses out for that week. When the glasses Rx has been stabilized, then you can revisit your contact lens situation and perhaps be refit with some other lens that does not cause corneal changes so you can have glasses and contact lenses that both work.
