topic Re: Difficulty focusing while driving in Community Chat

Difficulty focusing while driving

zitawins — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 19:51:45 GMT

Has anyone experienced this phenomenon: I am having ttrouble focusing while driving. I have to really work on watching the white line on the right. The middle (yellow) lane tends to merge over to my side of the road. I may not be describing this correctly, but it's not quite double vision, but close.

I have researched this and it's called CONVERGENCE INSUFFICIENCY. The Mayo website says it's common in children, but adults can develop it too. They recommend eye exercises and I am considering buying the computer package of exercises to assist. Prism glasses don't seem to help. The weird thing is I had an eye check last summer and no double vision showed up. My eyes (after cataract surgery a few years ago) are 20/20 so only closeup glasses are needed.

Any replies would be appreciated. Thanks!

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

deepwaterdotter — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 23:46:56 GMT

Please allow others to transport you if possible. Is calling an Uber an alternative? It is important that you do not accidently harm yourself and/or others.

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

ninjawife — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 20:05:49 GMT

My daughter has Duane's Syndrome meaning that one of her eyes does not turn outward. She has convergence insufficiency due to this. Convergence is usually not tested at a typical eye exam unless you report a problem like double vision. Your eye doctor will use prisms as part of his examination of convergence. My daughter went through a course of vision therapy but it was not helpful for her due to her Duane's Syndrome but vision therapy excercises can help correct it.

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

QVC101 — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 20:06:33 GMT

@zitawins Rather than self diagnose, you should make an appointment with your eye doctor to determine what is causing the change. Your vision isn't something to take chances with.

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

On It — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 20:17:15 GMT

@zitawins It could be a problem with your cataract surgery. I think you should see the doctor who did the surgery to see if the replacement is OK. In the meantime, driving does not seem like a wise thing to do. Good luck and please let us know how you are doing after you have seen your doctors.

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

icezeus — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 20:29:48 GMT

Like others have stated. I believe that you should speak with your eye doctor and explain to him what you are experiencing.

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

on the bay — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 21:43:58 GMT

@zitawins,

We found out with my mother and her driving that she was losing a lot of her peripheral vision which happens to must of us as we age.

She would veer over to the left curb or right curb and insist she was fine whereas I was clutching the door for dear life!

So it could be that and I don't think that comes up in a normal eye exam. Hers didn't.

At any rate, it sounds kind of dangerous and if it is something that can't be corrected, it may be best to find other ways of transportation? I know this is a huge step but its the safe thing to do for yourself and others. I hope it is something that can be corrected for you.

and usually in adults, convergence insufficiency is diagnosed after a concussion or brain injury.

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

KatieB — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 23:13:04 GMT

@zitawins Please, please, please check with your eye doctor for suggestions as far as what to do, not on replies from this board. We are not eye doctors.

Your vision is so precious, you don't want anything to happen to it. Please check on it as soon as possible.

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

Porcelain — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 21:01:30 GMT

I am sure the OP will contact her eye doctor. She just wanted input from anyone else experiencing the same problem she is.

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

spent2much — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 21:06:19 GMT

@zitawins I had never heard of CONVERGENCE INSUFFICIENCY before reading your post. I'm 73 and have lived with double vision all my life. Prism in my eyeglass lenses corrects my vision, however. Every time I have an eye exam (every 1 to 2 years), though, the prism has to be increased. Distance vision is more affected than close up vision. If I'm overdue for an eye exam and I absolutely NEED to see ONE of something instead of two, i.e. in traffic, I just close one eye. Does that work for you?

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

Cakers3 — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 21:13:05 GMT

@zitawins wrote:
Has anyone experienced this phenomenon: I am having ttrouble focusing while driving. I have to really work on watching the white line on the right. The middle (yellow) lane tends to merge over to my side of the road. I may not be describing this correctly, but it's not quite double vision, but close.

I have researched this and it's called CONVERGENCE INSUFFICIENCY. The Mayo website says it's common in children, but adults can develop it too. They recommend eye exercises and I am considering buying the computer package of exercises to assist. Prism glasses don't seem to help. The weird thing is I had an eye check last summer and no double vision showed up. My eyes (after cataract surgery a few years ago) are 20/20 so only closeup glasses are needed.

Any replies would be appreciated. Thanks!

@zitawinsWhile researching on the Mayo website can be informative, you were not tested by them.

My concern is that you had a check-up last summer and now this appears to be a new issue with your eyesight since that time.

Anytime a new symptom or condition arises-your eye doctor should be your first step.

Once you have a clear diagnosis then it would be better to come back and discuss your issue with others who may have the same problem.

What is happening to you is not going to be exactly what has happened to others.

Do you have an appointment with your eye doctor??

Good luck.

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

Jersey Born — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 21:27:30 GMT

@zitawins -

First and foremost, please get thee hence to an eye doctor as soon as possible, starting with the person who did your eye surgery, but getting a 2nd opinion from another eye doctor after that.

Additionally, did you happen to have a recent dental cleaning or procedure done on your teeth or gums? I ask this only because of the completely bizarre experience of my best friend who lives many states away from me (sadly). She went for a dental cleaning. She developed a terrible cough that lead to chronic coughing that no cough medicine could relieve. She was seeing a pulmonologist to help relieve her cough.

She developed spondylolythesis and two lumbar herniations from all the couging, and she required an orthopedic doctor to treat for that, too. Then, she started to get serious sweating at night in bed that required her to completely change her pajamas nightly as they were drenched. Her vision became impaired and she had trouble seeing things on either side of the road while driving. She required an eye doctor, and he said something about her retina being on the verge of tearing, and he saw other anomalies in her eyes, too. My friend thougtht they were "floaters". She lost interest in food and began losing a lot of weight. Everything tasted bad to her. She didn't even want her favorite coffee in the morning, and she loved her morning brew. She developed red spots on her hands and legs, and her feet started to swell. Finally, her husband took her to the hospital as she appeared very weak. Several months had passed since that dental exam, and no treatment, save for an antibiotic she took briefly from her pulmonologist seemed to help relieve her coughing.

After a quick evaluation by ER staff, my friend was almost released home, but a nurse spotted her and saw how very ill she was and pushed to have her admitted. Thank God she was admitted. It turned out that my dear friend needed emergency heart valve replacement surgery as she was near death. Why? She developed heart valve infection giving rise to vegetation which migrated to her eyes and to her brain. The culprit? The dental appointment she had lead to a bacterial infection that went to her lungs, first, and then her heart and eyes and brain.

I wish more doctors would consider the whole person, because in my friend's case, all of her symptoms connected to a single problem, and only someone taking a complete medical history of all that ails a patient could possibly piece it all together. No specialist she went to was able to get to the root of her problem, and she could have died as a result. What a fantastic nurse they had at that hospital! My friend kept thanking her for saving her life.

So, my best advice to you is to make sure that your eye problem is not related to some other underlying condition you may have. It may take that kind of deep forensic analysis to determine what, exactly, is causing your sudden onset visual problems.

Good luck with your eyes. May it be an easy solution.

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

hckynutjohn — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 22:09:14 GMT

@zitawins

Focus!

Driving any motorized vehicle on public roadways is what all drivers should spend 100% while behind the wheel. Those that don't? I call "wrecks/on purpose", not accidents.

Whether it is, in your case, "visual" focus. Or in almost all other cases "mental" focus, unfortunate things can and too often happen.

Were I having your problem, which you seem to suggest, you have not had diagnosed! Quit driving, period!

hckynut

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

candys mine — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 22:40:37 GMT

No matter What the reason, you have said your vision, while behind the wheel of a vehicle Is impaired. Be Safe. Please, Do not put yourself and others in harms way. Don't drive until you have the problem looked at.

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

Cakers3 — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 23:14:25 GMT

@spent2much wrote:
@zitawins I had never heard of CONVERGENCE INSUFFICIENCY before reading your post. I'm 73 and have lived with double vision all my life. Prism in my eyeglass lenses corrects my vision, however. Every time I have an eye exam (every 1 to 2 years), though, the prism has to be increased. Distance vision is more affected than close up vision. If I'm overdue for an eye exam and I absolutely NEED to see ONE of something instead of two, i.e. in traffic, I just close one eye. Does that work for you?

@spent2much Are you kidding??? You also lose your peripheral vision in the closed eye.

You drive with one eye closed?

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

BirkiLady — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 01:09:31 GMT

@zitawins

I also have those lenses, but have them checked every SIX months . . . usually changed annually. How do you possibly go over a year without a check-up? And what's with driving while closing one eye?

Your insurance agent would cancel you yesterday if he/she know that juicy bit of information. WOW.

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

chrystaltree — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 02:31:22 GMT

Stop driving before you KILL someone!!!!! Your life might have no meaning to you but the people you share the road with don't want to be your victim. What you are doing is 1000 times worse than driving drunk because you know you are a hazard on the roads!

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

spent2much — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 03:08:33 GMT

@Cakers3 LOL No, I just close it for a second so that I have only one image, instead of two.

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

spent2much — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 03:12:34 GMT

@BirkiLady CALM DOWN! See my response to Cakers3.

Re: Difficulty focusing while driving

qualitygal — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 09:15:24 GMT

Our bodies change over time, and can at any time. Go get rechecked, in case it's something else causing this. You might have it, but go get checked out. For your own safety, and others since you are still driving.