Glasses help.

luckybug

Well old age setting in and I'm only 44, lol I went to the opticians yesterday and for the first time in my life my eyes are beginning to fail, I have to have glasses, my problem is I have chronic RA in my arms and hands, and I cannot get glasses on my face or off, as my elbows are almost fixed at 90 degrees, so I'm a bit buggered, pardon my french. Anyway just wondering does anyone know if you can get laser eye surgery on the NHS, as I am going to have to find an alternative to glasses. How do other RA sufferers with stiff hands and arms cope?

roczko

Sorry to hear you're suffering to such an extent.

I think you'll find that having RA will exclude you from having laser eye surgery. Something to do with connective tissue and the dangers associated with the surgery.

Patrick

frogmorton

Oh no Luckybug.
Is this a reading probelm?
If so I think you can get glasses on a kind of stick so you can wodge em on and off.
Hope you get it sorted I don't know where i'd be if I couldn't read...
Toni x

plmb48

luckybug wrote:

Well old age setting in and I'm only 44, lol I went to the opticians yesterday and for the first time in my life my eyes are beginning to fail, I have to have glasses, my problem is I have chronic RA in my arms and hands, and I cannot get glasses on my face or off, as my elbows are almost fixed at 90 degrees, so I'm a bit buggered, pardon my french. Anyway just wondering does anyone know if you can get laser eye surgery on the NHS, as I am going to have to find an alternative to glasses. How do other RA sufferers with stiff hands and arms cope?

why havent you been offered replacement elbows and shoulders?pauline :?: :?: :?:

colinone

luckybug wrote:

Well old age setting in and I'm only 44, lol I went to the opticians yesterday and for the first time in my life my eyes are beginning to fail, I have to have glasses, my problem is I have chronic RA in my arms and hands, and I cannot get glasses on my face or off, as my elbows are almost fixed at 90 degrees, so I'm a bit buggered, pardon my french. Anyway just wondering does anyone know if you can get laser eye surgery on the NHS, as I am going to have to find an alternative to glasses. How do other RA sufferers with stiff hands and arms cope?

Dont know why you picked a name with lucky in it LOL
I'm no help but understand the problem as i have it in hands elbows and shoulders among other places. but manage my glasses although so days its not easy. I tend to take my head to my hands
rather than hands to head same when i eat. You neede a good long chat with your Rheumy to try and get this sorted. Take care
Colin

woodbon

Sorry to hear of your problems. I have to wear glasses but I'm lucky as I don't have your shoulder/arm probs.

I would think that an occy therapist could come up with some sort of device to help you. The optian may have some ideas too, so I'd start talking to people. I am sure that there must be an answer. Pesonally, I'd not go for surgery, as a life-long glasses wearer, I've heard some horror stories from several people who've paid large sums of money and ended up with poor results. Thats the last thing you need, eyesight is so important. Good luck in getting things sorted quickly. . Suexx

Wonkylegs

rather topical this thread for me - just been to the opticians today and need new specs too!

I am fortunate that I don't have problems getting them on and off (would recommend you seek an urgent referral to and occupational therapist - they will have seen this problem before even if the optician hasn't)

I do have problems with my face changing shape during the day, which means that I tend to go for a slightly larger frame than I might otherwise get. There are also some very good (although quite expensive) flexible frames which are less likely to get broken. When I was teaching I always got these, as I was always taking my glasses on and off and it was a nightmare!

Whilst some of the flexible frames are very expensive, they do seem to last longer than some cheaper frames I've had - my last pair of 'cheaper' frames have lasted 2 years but I had my flexible ones for 6 years with 4 different sets of lenses!

good luck in finding a solution - let us know what you find won't you, we may need the same help int he future!!

jackie1955

Wonkylegs:
"I do have problems with my face changing shape during the day"

er, just wondering if thats something to do with the arthritis?
What do you mean by 'changing shape' :shock:

Wonkylegs

jackie1955 wrote:

Wonkylegs:
"I do have problems with my face changing shape during the day"

er, just wondering if thats something to do with the arthritis?
What do you mean by 'changing shape' :shock:

I don't know what the official answer to your question is ..... but I have noticed that often earlier in the day my specs fit with room to spare at the side of my face, but by the end of the day they are very snug or on some days (which usually coincide with a bout of inflammation somewhere on my body) they seem to be really diging into the side of my face. :roll:

As my fingers, feet, ankles and wrists all change shape during the day :roll: I have just assumed that Arthur plays havoc with my head too! :x

hope that explains more fully

luckybug

plmb48 wrote:

luckybug wrote:

Well old age setting in and I'm only 44, lol I went to the opticians yesterday and for the first time in my life my eyes are beginning to fail, I have to have glasses, my problem is I have chronic RA in my arms and hands, and I cannot get glasses on my face or off, as my elbows are almost fixed at 90 degrees, so I'm a bit buggered, pardon my french. Anyway just wondering does anyone know if you can get laser eye surgery on the NHS, as I am going to have to find an alternative to glasses. How do other RA sufferers with stiff hands and arms cope?

why havent you been offered replacement elbows and shoulders?pauline :?: :?: :?:

Had an elbow replacement did nothing, the doc swears when I was o the table I had decent movement but from coming round, nothing, something in my brain just isn't kicking in? I am trying to get some help with my shoulders at the moment I'm hoping for arthroscopy and hopefully they could move them when I'm asleep, will have to wait n see, I cope pretty well but it is a bloody nuisance, and having had it since age 2, I am a bit sceptical of surgery, I just try to get on with things, I want to leave surgery til my very last option, as they are bringing new stuff out all the time, something might happen yet? fingers crossed, pardon the pun...

luckybug

frogmorton wrote:

Oh no Luckybug.
Is this a reading probelm?
If so I think you can get glasses on a kind of stick so you can wodge em on and off.
Hope you get it sorted I don't know where i'd be if I couldn't read...
Toni x

LOL won't I look a sight going to the disco, I wont need an handbag I'll need a suitcase with all these long handled devices I need to carry. My hairbrush is over a foot long, and a **** to fit in my handbag, now glasses,,, whatever next. lol

Wonkylegs

at least you can smile about it!

luckybug

Wonkylegs wrote:

at least you can smile about it!

Well lifes too short, you have one of two options, and mine is to stay positive, as Arthur ain't beating me. By the way I now think the flipping Humira is causing my vision problem...aaarrghh lol.