Constant pain in one eye and color impairment

[mikki81]

Hi!
For the last 6 months or so I have been experiencing a progressive condition with my left eye. For a background, I am a 28 year old researcher. I work extensively on microscopes (laser scanning confocal microscopy). There are 2 main issues with the left eye:
1. I feel a pain on the top of my eye, 1:00-2:00 o clock position. It seems deep seated , above and behind the eye.  If i press at the point the pain seems to get better but starts again as soon as i remove the preassure. I went to an optometrist and she suggestd it might have something to do with the superior oblique muscle or trochlear notch. It will take me 6-10 months top get to an opthalmologist...So i was wondering if any one has any such experience? and knows of something that could give temporary relief or atleast stop it from getting worse.

2. When i look at colored objects in normal sunlight, i see the same shade of say red or green from both the eyes. But when i do microscopy, i see a lighter shade of red and green through the left eye compared to the right eye. Example, I see instead of deep red, orangish shade through the left eye. I told this to the optometrist but she had no clue whatz going on. I did a bit of reading and speculate that i could have damaged my cones by working too  much on bright single wavelength light used in microscopy. Anyone got any clue on what could be going on an if i can do something to stop it from getting worse. I do not want to wait till i get a permanent impairment in one eye.

I have mild asigmatism in boht eyes for which I wear corrective cylindrical lenses.
Thanks a ton

[mikki81]

Thankyou Dr Oyakawa

I do feel better when I am not concentrating on seeing something...It takes upto 3 days of no microscopy to get rid of the pain. The pain increases when I try to look at things around the corners of my eye (peripherally located) keeping my head straight.
Even though I am wearing glasses to correct my astigmatism, I feel it increases my pain sometimes.
I am in Canada and the waiting times for visiting any specialist is extremely long here. I am looking for a doctor that can see me sooner.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

The most common problem with someone your age is a refractive error.  Especially if you are hyperopic.   I would not expect cone damage in one eye.  This also could be due to a refractive error.  Some doctors'
office use a red green test.  This is to test the endpoint since color light refract differently.

How do your eyes feeling over the weekend when you are not working?

Why does it take so long to see an ophthalmologist?

Dr. O.