Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
        
(Message started by: eyes_afire on Jul 24^th, 2003, 5:37pm)

Title: Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
Post by eyes_afire on Jul 24^th, 2003, 5:37pm

Last January I refused to go to my routine eye exam because I was afraid that all the pupil dilation, eye drops, etc may reawaken my CH. Because of that I could not renew my prescription for contact lenses. My CH are full blown again but controlled with verapamil. My questions are:

1. Has anybody ever had a full eye exam (pupil dilation and everything) aggravate their CH?

2. For those that wear contact lenses: do you find your lenses harder to tolerate during CH cycle?

Please tell it like it is straight up. If my fear is irrational and/or unfounded I would like to get rid of it so that CH is not controlling my life so much. Of course, if my fear has merit I would like to know before I waste the cash.

thanks in advance,

---Steve

Title: Re: Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
Post by 9erfan on Jul 24^th, 2003, 5:50pm

Hi Steve,

I'm a chronic sufferer and I wear contact lenses. I've never had an eye exam trigger a cluster, so I think you're fine in that respect.

The problem that I run into sometimes with my lenses is that I just can't wear them when the h/a's start hitting me with daily 10's. What happens is that I will be putting pressure on my eyeball with 1 of my fingers and the damn lense will get all jacked up in my eye or will just pop out. This happens more often during the middle of the night (I wear the lenses that you sleep in). I will normally switch over to my glasses during the really bad "episodes".

Hope this helps. Good luck with the eyes!

Virginia

Title: Re: Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
Post by Roxy on Jul 24^th, 2003, 6:07pm

Hey Steve,

I've never had an exam trigger a ch, even when I had them examined while shadowing pretty good. I do think you're pretty safe getting them checked.

I also wear contacts, and to be honest, I've never even thought about my contacts while getting hit, so I guess they don't bother me. In fact, I can push on my eye better without glasses on..... :)

Hope this helps,
hugs, Tracey

Title: Re: Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
Post by Mark C on Jul 24^th, 2003, 6:50pm

Hey Steve,
Good question. I am currently in the process of being evaluated for PRK later this year. I have had the most complete exam known to man I believe. Dr dialated my eyes at least 7 times in 2 hours....I couldn't see for the rest of the afternoon! To answer your question it seemed to have no effect on my CH at all. I have had glasses since I was in the third grade and I may be able to throw them away by Christmas...wow!

PFDAN's
Mark

Title: Re: Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
Post by Live4Fun on Jul 24^th, 2003, 6:57pm

Steve,

Never had it trigger one for me either, although I am not sure I've ever had that done while in a cycle.

However, I could have sworn about a month ago somebody said that the dialation brought one on and the eye doctor left him/her alone in the room. He/she was impressed that the eye doc knew so much about CHs.

Modified: Ah hell, I just spent 15 minutes trying to search for the post I was talking about. I must have been dreaming. Nevermind. ???

Bryan

Title: Re: Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
Post by Miklos on Jul 24^th, 2003, 7:52pm

Headaches since '86. Contacts lenses (soft) were no problem. Nor were any of the annual exams with dilation from the opthamologist.

'89 had cataract surgery in both eyes. For a year the stitches were adjusted to shape the eyeball to the final resolution so my eyes were dilated on a regular basis with no problems.

Frankly, I can't 'see' a problem.

Title: Re: Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
Post by BruceD on Jul 24^th, 2003, 8:25pm

I absolutely HATE eye exams. As a matter of fact, today I just got another repeat notice that I'm overdue for my yearly exam. (OK ... so I'm just a year overdue) I hate other people messing with my eyes. It doesn't matter what it is ... drops ... glaucoma test ... anything - I hate them all. I do wear glasses (20/30 & 20/35) but can't ever think of myself having contacts ... let alone Lasik surgery :o

Heck, I can watch the surgery (like on the Discovery channel) with no problems, but just get wacked when somebody is trying to touch MY eyes. Kinda wierd since I have no problem being squeemish about anything else ... just MY eyes.

Good luck and I guess I should just suck it up and head in to the eye doc too.

Take care
BruceD

Title: Re: Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
Post by hopefull on Jul 24^th, 2003, 8:34pm

Do most CHers wear glasses or contacts? is there a connection?

Title: Re: Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
Post by suzy617 on Jul 24^th, 2003, 8:35pm

on 07/24/03 at 18:57:25, Live4Fun wrote:

Steve,

However, I could have sworn about a month ago somebody said that the dialation brought one on and the eye doctor left him/her alone in the room. He/she was impressed that the eye doc knew so much about CHs.

Bryan

Bryan, you werent dreaming my dear, LOL. I remember that post also. Was it maybe Elaine? Not really sure who it was. ???

Suzy

Title: Re: Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
Post by eyes_afire on Aug 5^th, 2003, 9:49pm

Thanks to all who responded.

Bam! Surprise! My eye exam got moved up to tomorrow. Should be interesting.

OMG... I haven't had any shadows for 2 days in a row. It's been a long time since that has happened. Just a bit of eye twitching now.

--- Steve

Title: Re: Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
Post by kim on Aug 5^th, 2003, 10:27pm

Steve,

I think you fears of the eye exam parallel my fear of the dentist. I'm afraid if some dentist pokes round in my mouth, i'm gonna start up with the shit again. I absolutely DESPISE going to the dentist. I finally went (LOL, ya git to be 40 sumpin and there ain't no way round it) anyhow, dentist and hygenist were prying my knuckles off the sides of chair.....I did not go to the dentist since my youngest was born ( she's 5-1/2 :o).........

Understood?

Title: Re: Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
Post by cootie on Aug 5^th, 2003, 10:49pm

Bryan.....Suzy......yeah I remember someone posting about the eye test too and the dilation deal causeing an attack.....or maybe they got hit as the doc did that......can't remember who it was tho. Hope your eye test goes ok for ya Steve..........seems alot of people here hae gone thru it jus fine....good luck !! Pam that also hates dentists and eye doc's 8)

Title: Re: Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
Post by Karla on Aug 6^th, 2003, 3:43am

I have had no problem going to the eye dr and having it trigger anything. However, I have gone into the eye dr. apt already having a full blown attack under way. What was interesting was this. When tested with no attack my vision is 20/20. Perfect. When having an attack my vision goes out the window and gets real horrible and the kicker that frustrates my eye dr is this. No matter what he does he can not correct my vision. You Know when they drop the little lenses down in front of you and says which looks better this or this. Now this or this. Well no matter what lenses he drops down my vision stays horrible while under an attack and can't be corrected. My dr has sent me to specialists over this and it has them all confused and baffled. They attribute it to the cluster headaches and say since my vision is perfect when I am not having a headache I don't need glasses. Hope this all made sense. Just thought I would share it.

Title: Re: Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
Post by Ree on Aug 6^th, 2003, 8:01am

Hey Eyes??????? How'd it go???

Title: Re: Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
Post by Big_Dan on Aug 6^th, 2003, 9:53am

I've had pupil dialation OUT of cycle... and it didnt' do a damn thing to me. The guy even forgot to give me the "old people sunglasses", which I forgot too, because I've never had it done... and when I walked out the door.... WHOA... bright shit...

... anyway... my contacts don't bother my CH in cycle... they just get out of line when I'm pushing my eye... nothing more than that really.

Hope it helped...

-Big Dan

Title: Re: Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
Post by simplevox on Aug 6^th, 2003, 10:42am

I have had an eye exam trigger a CH, but I think it was the bright lights shining right in my eye. He didn't dilate them that day. I have had one triggered by the sun before... bright light sux. ::) 8)

Title: Re: Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
Post by eyes_afire on Aug 6^th, 2003, 5:22pm

Doc permitted me to skip the dilation and get contact lenses. So it was basically a lens fitting and vision check. 10 day trial with these lenses will see how it goes... no problems so far. In fact, this is the third day in a row without shadows :o.

Damn, now I've gone doneit... probably cursed myself for eternity ::).

--- Steve

Title: Re: Eye exam/contact lenses/CH question
Post by OneEyeBlind on Aug 6^th, 2003, 9:19pm

No curses on ya eyes ........ just good vibes. Hope the contacts work out as well as the "no serious hit" stuff.

OneEyeBlind ... who missed the eye appointment.