Migraines, vision, and insurance. Ugh.

[kryptaria]

Welcome to the US, where even retired military/dependents get shitty health insurance.

I get an eye exam every two years, and my two years isn't up until mid-May. For the last couple of weeks, I get migraines if I use my laptop or computer for more than a few minutes, though it doesn't happen with my Kindle Oasis. My glasses (which are prescribed for distance) make things worse, not better.

So my choices are, pay $70 out of pocket for an eye exam or go to my primary care physician and get a referral for an emergency exam. Naturally my primary care physician doesn't have any open appointments until February, though I *might* be able to get up at 6:30 a.m. and call for a 24-hour emergency appointment (apparently they may have a slot open for Thursday).

Anyway, that's the latest writing disaster.

I've also just finished up my third dog bath in under a week, and my back is killing me. Never again!

On the other hand, isn't he just gorgeous?

Comments

[shy_magpie]

Sorry you have to deal with government insurance nonsense! That's a pretty dog!

[shinysherlock]

Bucky is gorgeous! And did he actually stand still for the picture? He looks like a dog model. :) And UGH insurance. One of my least favorite things to deal with and so rant-inducing that I'm just gonna limit myself to saying, I hear ya. *hugs*

[jmathieson_fic]

As someone whose had a ton of eye issues in the past year (and am currently still seeing 3 different eye doctors), I'd like to suggest getting a couple of pairs of cheap reading glasses in different magnifications (e.g. +1 and +1.5; or +1 and +2) from a pharmacy or discount store and see if they help at all wrt the computer causing migraines. It might help, and you'll be out-of-pocket less...

[kryptaria]

I've been doing some more experimenting, and I've learned a few things:

1. If I turn on the lights in the living room, I'm guaranteed a migraine. The lights are warm LEDs, but the electric is a little buzzy. The house is kind of old, so we get weird power flickers and fluctuations.

2. Same with the kitchen, where we have bright daylight-style CFLs.

3. On my laptop, using f.lux on a very dark, warm setting, even during the day, helps but doesn't solve everything.

4. But on my main PC, with two large monitors set at a good distance (all hail ergonomics), my migraines don't get any worse, even though at least one screen is almost entirely white (email, Google docs, etc.)

5. Sunlight bad, though this isn't news. The sliding glass doors in the living room have white in-glass miniblinds, but the doors face southish, so we get sun streaming through them most of the day. It doesn't matter which way I turn the blinds. They never shut completely, so there's always a bright glow.

So I think it's less about magnification and more about light actively shining into my eyes. :(