AboutMitchell Axelrod Expertise I'm happy to answer questions about eye exam findings and procedures, glasses and contact lens types/prescriptions/problems. I can also answer questions about general eye conditions/diseases.
I do not answer questions concerning surgical techniques/procedures.
Please state your age or within a small range when asking questions, as it is often important.
Experience Optometrist 19 yrs.
Education/Credentials Doctor of Optometry, cum laude; Residency in Ocular Disease
Question I HAVE BEEN WEARING EYE GLASSES FOR YEARS NOW IM AM 18, AND HAVE NOTICED THAT MY VISION IS GETTING REALLY BAD. I AM NEARSIGHTED AND EVEN THINGS UP CLOSE IS BLURY. I AM REALLY WORRRIED AND WAS WONDERING LATER IN MY LIFE AM I GOING TO GO BLIND? I WAS READING THAT EYE GLASSES DONT REALLY IMPOROVE YOUR VISION AND THAT CONTACT LENSES PREVENT EYESIGHT FROM GETTING WORSE. IS THIS TRUE?
Answer Hello Nichole,
I am concerned if you can't see up close either with or without your glasses. Although I don't care how strong glasses need to be, I care that with whatever glasses are needed, you could see OK. So if you can't see anything clearly (up close as you say) with or without glasses, go see your eye doctor.
But I'm going to guess that your eyes are OK, and with the right prescription you can see well. I understand the issues with requiring strong glasses and often needing to change them, but it really doesn't mean much as far as eye health goes. Being nearsighted and getting very nearsighted does not mean you will be blind or anything of the kind. It just means you need strong glasses. Glasses are often called 'corrective lenses' but that only means they can correct your vision while using them...it doesn't affect the eye.
There is some evidence that rigid gas permeable contact lenses can slow the progression of nearsightedness, but not soft contacts.
Go see your eye doctor, and let them examine you and inform you.
