How do I know if my sight is really that bad?

Question

I am confused. I have congenital astigmatism, myopia and nystagmus. Every time I go to get a prescription they say my myopia is getting worse. When they got to -4D I started feeling that my eyes get tired from those glasses and stopped using them at home. I didn't go to doctor for like ten years (because I went to pediatric oftolmologist before that and didn't feel like investing time in finding someone who treats adults), but I want contacts now. So I picked up my butt and got them saying that I have -11D in worst eye, but I can use -7D and probably can't use contacts because my eyes are moving to much. 
Now on the other hand - I get worried during eye exams, plus I was worried even more because it's been long time and my eyes start moving more, but they wouldn't let me turn my head so that they would stop. So basicly I berely could make out third line on the chart, plus I noticed that I have dificulty figuring out what letters I see when they are far away, although I see the shape just fine.
So now I am confused as to what to do. I do need some vision correction and it is high time to get contacts or new glasses, but as the current glasses allready hurt my eyes, I am afraid that they are misdiagnosing me and it will just screw up my eyes. I find it very hard to believe that I could do without glases with myopia that bad. So does it sound normal for such conditions or is there a chance that I am getting misdiagnosed?

C J · Accepted Answer

It sounds like you have had some not so great experiences with eye care providers.  I would recommend you go to different one to get a second opinion, and more information on your conditions.  With the high level of myopia + nystagmus, an opthamologist is probably better for you than an optometrist.  Eyesight is important and has a huge impact on quality of life - you deserve to have a  clear picture (no pun intended) of what is going on.

That said, I'm a little confused.  -11D is very high myopia, and at that level you would not be able to function well without correction, even at home (and NO way in public, work, driving would be impossible, etc.).  I am around -12, and without my glasses I can barely walk from one end of my house to the other, let alone do anything basic life acitivites like cook, groom, find something I was looking for, etc.  Unless your other eye is way, way better and able to kind correct for it - but even then...  It would be extremely limiting unless you learned to function the way legally blind (non-correctable) people do.  So I have a hard time fathoming that anyone with that level of nearsightness that was still correctable by glasses would CHOOSE not to wear glasses or  go to the eye doctor.  That number has to be wrong. 

I'm also confused that you were told you could use -7 - that would be way undercorrected if you're at -11.  You'd still be left with very blurry vision.

I don't know.  Something just sounds off here - you're remembering the numbers wrong, or they didn't explain something well enough, etc.  Either way, you really need to go back in and talk to someone about it.

U V · Answer

Risi... I'm sorry that you're not able to see too well with your eyes...

From your description, it does appear that your sight is pretty bad... but I believe this is something you were born with... especially the NYGSTAGMUS... 

Now if your myopia is up to -11, then..  unfortunately there's not much that can be done...  wearing proper Rx contact lenses is good (they won't hurt your eyes if you look after them), but the controlling factor for your vision is still the NYGSTAGMUS and probably the resulting AMBLYOPIA (lazy/under-developed eye).

? · Answer

I consider sure it will possibly make your eyesight worse (relying on what's truthfully flawed along with your eyes) given that you probably suffering to awareness on specified matters. It too can supply you complications and stuff if you do not put on them. On the opposite hand, I have to take mine off for a second commonly to allow me eyes have a leisure, and if I do not do this more commonly ample my eyesight will get worse. As with the woman asking approximately watching like a nerd, I would not fear approximately her. I wager there's nonetheless slightly little bit of that stereotype however mainly I consider dressed in glasses has come to be fairly trendy now.

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How do I know if my sight is really that bad?

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