problems wearing glasses?

[LadyTrundle]

Hi. I’ve always worn glasses - very shortsighted so a strong prescription and heavy lenses. For a long time I’ve had to pay for the lightest possible lenses and small frames, because of headaches. But despite that, in the last 2-3 years I get sores on the sides of my nose where the glasses rest. It’s as if my skin has thinned to almost nothing, and the sores often have a bit of puss.

I’m reluctant to use much ointment etc as it might leach into the eye itself.

I’m due to see the optician in a few weeks and will likely need new frames and glasses. And varifocals, so larger frames will be needed! I’m even thinking of contact lenses - but I also get ferociously dry eyes.

Has anyone else experienced this problem and do you have any tips? Thanks!

[skylark15]

Hi, Lady Trundle.

I have been wearing Silhouette frames (and varifocals) without any problems for about 20 years, because they are the lightest that I could find. I cannot use contact lenses either.

Suddenly, about 3 months ago, I started to have the same sore areas on either side of my nose, where the glasses rest. I put an occasional smear of Daktacort on them (a steroid/anti-fungal cream), which settles the inflammation but doesn't 'cure' it or prevent its return. The areas are far enough away and 'downhill' from my eyes, so no risk of affecting them.

I have noticed a marked thinning of my skin generally, over the last year, so something else to thank lupus for 😄.

Best wishes with managing this annoying manifestation of lupy skin stuff.

Tess

[LadyTrundle in reply to skylark15]

Thank you Tess. I’ll ask about Silhouette frames. I’ll also find out about that cream. Though it has just occurred to me I should try a cotton pad soaked in warm salt water. It’s what they say for styes in the eye, and I use it as a nasal douche for blocked sinuses and recently as a gargle for a sore throat. All successfully. Why didn’t I think of it for the skin before? So long as I don’t pickle my nose!!

[skylark15 in reply to LadyTrundle]

🤣🤣

[LucyJean]

Hi there, have you tried putting 'nose pads for glasses' into a Google search? There are a wide range on the market or perhaps ask your optician when you go in. All my best

Lucy

[LadyTrundle]

Hi Lucy. No, I hadn’t known about those but have just looked. Seems you can get several pairs quite cheaply. Thanks.

[OldTed60]

oh yes I so relate to this post. I have a small face with a very narrow bridge and need glasses all the time as always very long sighted but now with sjogrens, ctd/ SSc and cataracts too. I get pressure sores behind ears and on the bridge so can’t wear frames with the pads but have to limit my selection to kids frames and sun glasses - anything with narrow bridge despite suiting round frames best. Otherwise I’ve learnt hard way that they fall down my nose all the time and pushing them up every 30 seconds is exhausting!

Currently I have Specsavers own brand relatively cheap sun glasses frames with my strong varifocal transition lenses instead of the sun shades they came with. I feel like I’m princess and pea or Goldilocks in the store as literally try on every make. They can see the pressure marks after I take off each pair and I have red marks permanently on sides of my nose where older frames have caused this. I’m so immunesuppressed that a bit yeasty and follicular so I do use a bit of Daktacort on pressure sores but try to avoid them getting bad enough by taking my glasses off and rubbing skin or stretching my face at regular intervals.

My dermatologist blames scleroderma for the lack of padding and tightening which she says she can see in my face now as the weight continues to fall off me. Technically however I don’t have Sclerodactyl so opinions differ on whether Sjogrens or systemic sclerosis is causing my dramatic unintended weightloss. And I don’t think Raynaud’s and Erythromelalgia combination in my face and nose helps much - face definitely changing shape one way or the other. My little sister recently came to stay and said to my husband that my face suddenly looks much older and my mouth looks tight with creases around it. I hide the skin issues eg matted telengecstasia spots behind my frames - which are a bit heavy due to being chunky design and needing heavy lenses. Hoping when I finally qualify for cataract removal I’ll not need such strong, heavy lenses 🤞🏻

[LadyTrundle]

Thanks for those suggestions OldTed. I’ll have more of a shop around for frames this time. And do let us know how your London trip goes, I hope it doesn’t get put off with the strikes x

[Bkart]

Hi Lady Trundle,

Have just seen this post, sorry it’s late but waiting for my cat to come in, hopefully minus a mouse! I have broken my nose twice in falls (silly me) and I struggle even with the lightest frames, luckily I don’t need to wear glasses all the time and not at all for reading. I now have a frameless pair from Vision Express and whilst not cheap they are so comfortable which means I can wear them for longer if needed. I also have a frameless pair of prescription sunglasses too. Amongst other things I was diagnosed with Cluster Attack headaches two years ago which are horrendously painful and debilitating and I believe these really light glasses have helped with this.

The only problem with frameless is that you do have to be extra careful not to damage them and extra careful where I leave them as they tend to become almost invisible on some surfaces! If you can save up for frameless glasses they really are worth the extra expense plus if your conscious of wearing glasses (although I’m not) they are not very noticeable when wearing them.

[LadyTrundle in reply to Bkart]

Thank you Bkart. Frameless had not occurred to me but I shall ask the optician. My prescription is very strong and I wear them all the time ... and am a bit clumsy! - so they might advise not, but it's worth asking!

[Bkart]

Hi Lady Trundle,

Yes definitely worth considering, I’m very clumsy with mine and they have survived but I think it will very much depend on the sort of lenses needed, thickness etc. I do hope that you can get sorted with your glasses as it is incredible the difference in weight with different lense/framecombinations.