I picked up my new bifocals 2 weeks ago after a routine eye test. I am now 11 weeks post stroke
( Posterior Circulatory) the double vision had resolved and an appointment with orthoptics who said my eyes were working together properly. Happy days, or so I thought. I should feel better wearing new glasses surely? Hell No! At first I thought my brain was just readjusting to the new specs but surely after 2 weeks I would feel better? No not a jot. Has anyone else experienced what I can only describe as a weird sort of disconnect when I am out walking with what I see appearing to wiggle about from side to side or seem vague?? I find it really hard to describe sorry.. I wouldn’t describe this as dizziness. Its more like a disfunction or feeling slightly spaced out or mildly drunk? I wondered if I had been doing more and was more fatigued? I am also finding that I am better on my own “turf” but if I go out somewhere different especially if the ground is uneven I feel worst. Would it be my brain having more information to process? I wondered about going back to Specsavers. I very stupidly handed back my old specs so I cannot go back to using them.
It might be that you need to adjust to them. But it is definitely worth going back to specsavers to get them checked. It wouldn’t be unheard of for the prescription to be out.
I do find though since my stroke my varifocals aren’t any good for middle distance sight & they make me giddy at that distance. I have bought a separate pair of glasses for work i do at that disrance e.g
Computer work. I do have a prism on my lenses for my double vision though.
From my experience, with perfect eyesight, being given varifocal glasses - I think my brain has had to adjust to switching from glasses to not. If a smudge or drip gets on the glasses, it befuddles my brain. I see better without them but use them when my eyes get tired only. If I walk outside with them, the frames affect my peripheral vision which made, initially, for an interesting walk. Hemmed in by black borders, got to confuse the brain, I’m sure.
I wouldn’t trust SS as far as I can spit, totally useless bunch of money grabbing idiots, my experiences skyjack them would fill a book, ripped off big time twice, faulty prescriptions 3 times, ,
I will never do any business with them clowns again, I would highly recommend that you get your eyes independently checked again before exploring any other course of action.
I’m sorry I never suggested advising this in your previous, you never ever get rid of your old glasses, at least not until you’re comfortable with the new ones. So you hang onto them for a couple of months at least. I just keep mine until my new ones are ready to be replaced.
But from what you describe, this sounds like it could be an issue with proprioception you have, which is quite common post stroke. You are still in the early stages post stroke and your change in glasses may have magnified/enhanced the issue.
I always found with my proprioception issue I was always more comfortable and confident navigating my own home. But once outside, then all the wheels fell off.
Because I’m on my phone, I’ve only put a brief description of propreoception below. But there’s a lot more to it you might find fits in with your description if you do a search on it both here and on the internet. For me, that returned to normal within the first year post stroke.
Proprioception is the body’s sense of its own position and movement in space. It’s often described as the “sixth sense” and is crucial for maintaining balance, coordinating movements, and being aware of one’s body’s location. Proprioceptors, sensory receptors in muscles, tendons, and joints, provide the brain with this information.
Lorraine
I would certainly look to go back to the opticians.
@Injebreck99 - I am sorry you’ve had such a terrible time with SS. I am not sure if you have been unlucky with your local branch of if I have been lucky with mine. I have been with my local SS for more than 10 years with no problems whatsoever. Also, they tended to have better deals fir second pairs etc. I did use Boots opticians but found them to be not as good as the SS and then I did try another Boots but they were very expensive. Anyway, I am back with SS and I can highly recommend my local branch. I would suggest you have good cause to make a compliant to your SS if they have been very bad and left you out of pocket.
@EmeraldEyes - being a hoarder, I have got every single pair of glasses I’ve ever had 
I keep meaning to gather them up and give them back for recycling, but just haven’t got round it yet.
Thanks that’s helpful. I did notice this time that there seemed to be a completely new bunch of staff who seemed rather inexperienced.
@EmeraldEyes Thank you Lorraine. I am thinking that you are right in that it is the proprioception that my brain is dealing with especially in new surroundings, even if the ground is even. Any new place befuddles me. I was so stupid to hand over my old specs.. I don’t know what I was thinking!! A little voice in my head was saying Noooo! Why on earth did I ignore it?
@ManjiB Many thanks for your reply
@Rups many thanks, that makes sense. Small things just defuddle me too.
@ManjiB @Injebreck99 @EmeraldEyes @Rups @Mrs5K I#ll get back to SS and if I have no joy I’ll get a second check I think. I don’t know what I would do without you lovelies, many thanks
@EmeraldEyes Hi Lorraine just a teeny update. I think you are right, its a proprioception issue and magnified by new glasses. I noticed there was less of an issue yesterday and as you say, in different surroundings or terrane that problem is magnified. AND if I am more stressed about something completely unrelated.
I don’t know that there’s a lot you can do about that. For me that sorted itself out along with cognition about 18mths or so after my stroke.
But now you are aware that there are precautions you can take to manage it. Things like:
don’t make any sudden movements,
stop and thinking before you turn around/change directions,
plot your course before leaving the house.
Keep it simple. Your brain is not yet able for multitasking either in thoughts or actions, resulting in disorientation when you try. So don’t try overloading your brain with information, break life down to one task at a time from A to B to C. Give your brain some clean and clear pathways to navigate so it doesn’t have to borrow from Peter to pay Paul so often, so to speak. Your brain is having to share some signalling pathways where ever it can as a counter measure around damaged areas. Slow and steady wins this race 
Lorraine