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Blurry Vision

The Mad Hatter

Thinker
The Mad Hatter
Joined
Nov 16, 2005
Messages
128
I play cello, and sometimes I have to read music for 2 hours straight. My music stand is positioned so that my music is almost exactly a meter from my eyes. Recently, when I've looked away from my sheet music, everything's been blurry. Originally, this only happened after about 2 hours of playing, but now it only takes about 45 minutes. I guess it's also possible that I just look for it more now.

I saw an optometrist, and he concluded that my vision is very good. He said what probably happens is that a film develops over my eyes when I stare for a long time, and that this is blurs my vision. I pointed out to him that this doesn't happen when I stare at things that are close (i.e. when I read books or stare at the computer screen), and that when my vision is blurry, it's only things that aren't about 1 meter away. He sorta shrugged that off, and said it's still probably what he said earlier, and that I shouldn't do anything about it. I couldn't really argue with him.

Does anyone know anything about this "film" that develops? Has anyone else had similar problems? Do I have reason to be skeptical of the optometrist's claim? If it's any help, I'm 20, and have never had eye problems before.
 
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If it's not blurry when you look at the sheet music it clearly can't be dryness of the eyes causing a film.

I would suggest it's a lack of flexibility of the lens muscles. You hold them in place for a long time when you focus on the sheet music and they are having difficulty in regaining flexibility in order to allow a full range of focus.

The solution, I would imagine, is to take a break every 15 minutes or so and let your eyes relax, and maybe focus on objects different distances away (admittedly pretty difficult if you're actually in an orchestra or something!)
 
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Sounds like muscle fatigue. Your profile shows your age as 20, which seems young for this to be a problem- it's more a middle age experience.

What's your blink rate when you play? Could you simply be keeping your eyes open too long?
 
I have the same problem when I read. I find that crossing my eyes makes me feel better, but I'm not sure it clears up the blurriness.
 
I get an odd problem when looking at electrical displays like computer moniters and televisions - my eyes get suddenly tear up quickly while getting very blurry and itchy. I think this may be the reason. It usually happens after more than a few hours, though.
 
The Mad Hatter said:
I play cello, and sometimes I have to read music for 2 hours straight. My music stand is positioned so that my music is almost exactly a meter from my eyes. Recently, when I've looked away from my sheet music, everything's been blurry. Originally, this only happened after about 2 hours of playing, but now it only takes about 45 minutes. I guess it's also possible that I just look for it more now.

I saw an optometrist, and he concluded that my vision is very good. He said what probably happens is that a film develops over my eyes when I stare for a long time, and that this is blurs my vision. I pointed out to him that this doesn't happen when I stare at things that are close (i.e. when I read books or stare at the computer screen), and that when my vision is blurry, it's only things that aren't about 1 meter away. He sorta shrugged that off, and said it's still probably what he said earlier, and that I shouldn't do anything about it. I couldn't really argue with him.

Does anyone know anything about this "film" that develops? Has anyone else had similar problems? Do I have reason to be skeptical of the optometrist's claim? If it's any help, I'm 20, and have never had eye problems before.
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Get a second opinion - it shouldn't happen this early, but you are describing perfectly why I am now wearing trifocals(I'm 60) - the muscles take a while to adjust to new focus range but the glasses have near, middle (your problem) and distance). Mine are Transitions (lenses) which do not have the visible divisions so they are not noticable-which doesn't mean crap to me (I'm 60)(not a slip of memory) but might to you if they are what is needed. Told they would take a while to get used to. That time, for me, was about 6 minutes (got them this past Thursday). Good luck!!:)
 
Thanks for the replies, everyone.

Soapy Sam, I'll try to check my blinking rate, though it might be a little difficult. I wouldn't expect that to be the problem though, since my sheet music usually doesn't appear blurry - it's generally just things that are in a different focal range.

Fuelair, I guess I'll try to get a second opinion (thank God for Medicare).


There's one thing that has me really confused though. I initially figured the muscle that squeezes my lense must be getting strained, or something like that, and it seems like some of you suggested that too. But this muscle only tenses up when I have to look at something close, no? I always thought that to focus on something more distant, you relax this muscle. Since my sheet music is a meter away, and my computer screen is about 1.5 feet away, I woulda thought my screen would cause more strain than my music. Or do I have it backwards?

Anyway, when I practice today, I'll try putting my stand really close up, and I'll see what effect that has.


Thanks again for the advice.
 
The Mad Hatter said:
There's one thing that has me really confused though. I initially figured the muscle that squeezes my lense must be getting strained, or something like that, and it seems like some of you suggested that too. But this muscle only tenses up when I have to look at something close, no? I always thought that to focus on something more distant, you relax this muscle. Since my sheet music is a meter away, and my computer screen is about 1.5 feet away, I woulda thought my screen would cause more strain than my music. Or do I have it backwards?
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It's not strain, it's flexibility, as I said. Just like any other muscle that is put under consistent stress, the muscles of your eye can experience extended episodes of tension.
 
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