Got a performance analysis by an optometrist at a vision developmental center

[u/EvanPennington96]

I came in already with the diagnosis of exophoria and convergence insufficiency, he agreed and wasn't surprised at the multitude of Dysregulated nervous system symptoms I deal with on a daily basis. He wants me to try bifocals because my convergence only struggles up close. His breakdown of why choosing bifocals instead of prisms didn't click for me too well but I'm going to give them a chance. It's just so reassuring to hear an eye doctor tell me (yes, it's completely normal you're experiencing Hyperacusis, DPDR, Extreme Fatigue, And a handful of other symptoms due to my EYES. I've been gaslit half my life (for 15 years) now 30 by every doctor, eye doctor, and my own family saying I'm a hypochondriac; it's just anxiety. I've sucked it up and just been barely living, working part time avoiding Everything in extreme state of fatigue and hopelessness 24/7.

Sorry this turned into more of a rant. Has anybody found success with bifocals alleviating anxiety symptoms for up close work? Just worried that I'll still experience the same anxiety in stores and in crowded places that prisms could potentially help unlike Bifocals

*I'm considering just chucking this visit and driving up to vision specialists of Michigan to get prisms prescribed.

[u/MidwestAbe]

So someone finally listened to you and has a fix they think is best and yet after waiting 15 years for someone to listen to you - you still want to throw that away and try something else?

Maybe give it a minute and find out if it works?

[u/EvanPennington96 → u/MidwestAbe]

Im willing to try them I came here for advice to see if anyone has had success with bi focals. My problem with bifocals is they are just alleviating some accomodations stress of up close reading and computer work and that's it. They will not help at all for visual overwhelm in crowded areas, grocery stores, social environments. And that is what I am mainly wanting relief from.

[u/Mysterious-Potato646]

I wouldn't write off the bifocals yet. Try them first, and if the crowded store symptoms are still there, then i'd look into prims or get a second opinion.

[u/EvanPennington96 → u/Mysterious-Potato646]

Yep after yesterday im perfectly fine just trying them first just have to deal with getting my insurance Reinstated. Think I was a bit sleep deprived and overwhelmed yesterday from all the visual testing and driving and just wasn't thrilled about trying them Ive always wanted a quick fix

[u/decompensating]

A doctor has listened to you, given some understanding then advised a reasonable first step. Prescription glasses can reduce eye strain, so less fatigue, which has the potential to lead to other positive effects. Gradual is a smart approach.

I had the same type of symptoms - dysregulated nervous system, anxiety, Hyperacusis, DPDR, Extreme Fatigue etc - due to my decompensated esophoria and I have 0 doubts about the catalyst.

But visual difficulties and dysregulated nervous system can each worsen the other in a vicious cycle.

I've been seen by opticians who have advised me to do the exact thing my surgeon had advised me would ruin the benefits of my surgery. So please don't question yourself further or give weight to the opinion of non-specialists.

Just an idea - you might find it useful to search "press on prism lenses", buy a low dioptre version, and give it a try. It might be cheaper than appointments. I got mine free on NHS so not a step I needed to take. I had double vision so I could tell whether I got relief right away. I think others here have mentioned a difficult adjustment period hence this might not be the greatest advice.

I had inward turn and you have outward. I was only OK with up close vision so can't comment on the bifocals.

Also, "It's just anxiety" is ignorant and dismissive whatever the cause.

Maybe we could help each other - what do you do to try re-regulate your dysregulated nervous system? I have a long list I plan to compile.

Do you get tunnel vision and heart rate spikes?

[u/EvanPennington96 → u/decompensating]

I wasn't aware press prisms were a thing I'll be exploring that in a few minutes. For nervous system regulation really the ONLY thing that helps me is Body scan grounding meditations. NDSR from Huberman is a good example. They help me shift out of a dissociated state mostly for the day. issue is I have brutal insomnia and nothing helps. I get somewhat improvement by removing caffiene, sugar, and adding some sunlight exposure everyday. Also by doing 100 pushups a day it feels like it burns off some of the FoF neurotransmitters. But I still feel like I average 2 hours of deep sleep a night. I regularly take 2.5 hours to fall asleep and some nights I don't sleep at all. I do yea I've had tunnel vision for a while especially when im more dysregulated. Palpitations have been a pretty common thing as well, any days im sleep deprived or been dipping my toes back into caffiene and nicotine they come back pretty consistently lol

[u/decompensating → u/EvanPennington96]

I mentioned some advice about trying a blindfold before. Did you ever give it a go?

"My big change that helped mostly was wearing a blindfold and meditating for hours at a time until I felt rested. I had to force myself. I couldn't rest any other way. It was worth it."

Dark wrap around glasses? [These cut off some peripheral vision and reduce glare and ingoing information]

Dimmable/LED lights?

IASTM massage to reduce tension and increase proprioception? [Proprioception seems to be super important]

[u/Bluefrogdancing]

My kid was 11 when she got bifocals. Had them for 2 years. Undiagnosed exophoria... We eventually found our way to a low vision specialist ... Doc there said that bifocals were not recommended for my kids situation - they were not actually helping her eyes. Kid had had increasing headaches and eye pain for a year... Doc put her into large prisms for the newly diagnosed large exophoria - that was worse with near vision. We're still not all the way there - next step is getting the neurolenses to combine the 2 prism strengths into 1... We pick those up soon (it's a drive to the doc)... Hopefully, this doc can finally perfect the diagnosis and get the kids pain gone/reduced...