Question:
I am a 50 year old female. The husband and I are over the road truck drivers (past 10 yrs). In roughly the past 4 years I've noticed that my vision is getting worse. It sstarted with reading, and I had to start buying over the counter reading glasses. Now it has progressed to where words on road signs look like they are double at the top. Everything near and far just doesn’t have a crisp edge anymore. It makes me uncomfortable driving. And for my vision at a close range like reading, cooking, writing, I need to wear reading glasses. Any ideas? (Years ago I was told I had a slight astigmatism in my right eye).The pproblem seems to be in both my eyes.
Answer:
The answer to your question is complex because there any number of conditions that could cause these symptoms. Problems with reading at your age most likely is a common condition known as presbyopia. This means that you are losing your ability to change focus from distance to near. This is a normal aging process, and can be treated with measures as simple as over-the-counter reading glasses. But the double vision and the lack of crisp edge to your images sounds like something else. I would suspect that this is something like astigmatism or early cataracts, but could be any number of conditions. It is essential that you have an eye exam by your eye M.D. Most likely this condition is entirely treatable. Nevertheless, you need an exam and appropriate treatment.
Answered by:
Ivan Schwab, MD
