I am 7 days post-op and was wondering if anyone who had the decompression surgery experienced diplopia (double vision) as an after effect?
I have developed a small blood clot that is pushing on my brain stem and affecting my right eye after surgery. I go back in on Friday to get the staples removed and will learn more about my options at that time.
Also, has anyone had any experience with Fresnel prisims/glasses which is sounding like the way they are going to push me until my vision issue resolves itself …
Yes.
I was pushed towards prism lenses as well but decided against. Spoke with a specialized optometrist and a vision therapist - they both said that prism lenses shove your eyes into a position that aligns itself to your wonky brain but that your brain adjusts to this push resulting in you needing stronger and stronger prisms as time goes on (not cheap by the way). My understanding is that it was my brain that was having difficulties processing incoming information not that my eyes were physically challenged. I did a primitive reflex exercise (hands supported reflex) and vision therapy which resolved the issue of diplopia after surgery. I have "fighter pilot" vision.
When I am tired, I still drift towards double vision as a resting position but it is no longer my default viewing setting.
Sorry I haven’t updated in awhile. I’ve been running the gamut of emotions.
I still have the double vision. Although my eyes are functioning and moving better, the vision itself hasn’t changed any. It seems I have traded one type of headache for another. For me personally, it’s least irritating/stressful for my eyes to not have either covered. But it makes working almost impossible. I am also more light sensitive than I was before. Working with computers is a nightmare and that’s what I do and who I am … I am the IT guy.
The sheer amount of prism they need to put on a pair of glasses is enough to elicit an immediate headache. It actually hurts to put those glasses on. I’ve been trying to train myself to wear them and have gotten up to 1.5 hours before I cannot stand it anymore.
Neuro opthamologist says the issue is more complicated than the NS originally thought. NS thought it was only one eye that was affected. Turns out, both 6th cranial nerves had palsy causing horizontal misalignment but I also have a vertical misalignment that seems to be a mystery.
Sorry to hear that you are still having problems with your vision. I also had horizontal and vertical alignment problems. As I stated previously, vision therapy, with its multitude of exercises and equipment got me from shunning driving and using the computer back to pretty good vision. It does not seem that the prism glasses are helping you. Hopefully you will be able to find different medical professionals who will be able to offer assistance with their knowledge-base. Good luck!