Wait until someone asks if you’re still driving. That’ll make you feel it. Well, it’s happened to me. My vision has never been good, only corrected by glasses/contacts. Recently, it seems to have gotten worse. Some cloudiness. My right eye also had acquired a ‘floater’. That happened as I was driving and all of a sudden – I noticed what looked like small raindrops on the windshield. It was a clear day and I knew it wasn’t raining. I covered up my right eye and the ‘raindrops’ disappeared. Arrived at my destination and after a while, I wasn't seeing the spots. But I was left with a ‘floater’. Every time I tried to focus on it, it moved. It was like a ghost. Was I really seeing it? I did a little research and found that this was not unusual for my ‘age’. It happens… I don’t really notice my floater now. It is still there but, No big deal…. By coincidence though, I received a note from the Eye Doctor office saying it was time to come in for a check up. OK – normally, my thinking is “If it is not broke, Don’t fix it.” But, my insurance now covers eye exams and ‘helps’ a little with new glasses – so with some spousal encouragement, I made an appointment. Doc asks if there had been any change in my vision – I told him about the floater, but not about the cloudiness – my floater didn’t seem to be a big deal to him at all. But about half way thru the exam – he stops – steps back and asks if I am still driving at night ….. Well, after getting up off of the floor and sitting back down in the chair, I said “Yes, I am. What’s Up?” Cataracts.. Both eyes – right eye is worse. He set me up with a specialist. Went to him and he confirmed.
Good thing is – they are doing refractive surgery and hope to leave me with monovision. That means I will be able to see distance with the right eye and near with the other. I have been doing this for years with my contacts – just wearing one and it seems to work well. Because of the cataracts, Insurance will pay for most of it and I will not have to wear glasses or contacts. I have not been able to be without one or the other for a long time. BTW, first surgery went well. Back home within 2 hours. Next day follow up - less than 24 hours after - vision in my 'new' eye was almost 20/20. Get the left eye done in two weeks. I did tell the Doctor that I was a little disappointed. I now have dark circles under both eyes and I didn’t think that they were like that before the surgery. He didn’t buy it….
Now - Cinders says I need to get my hearing corrected next. Can your ears get cataracts? After that - What will be next???? I really don't want to think about it...
2010 – Everyone stay healthy and have a great New Year… Hope to see everyone soon.
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7 comments:
DJ and Cissy, How are the eyes doing?
Ahh, the tattle-tale eyes and ears!
I've always had extraordinary vision. At the barber shop near the Frostop, Bob the Barber always threatened to line folks up and charge admission...
He was amazed I could read the index cards on the opposite wall as he cut my hair. I literally could read a newspaper from more than ten feet away.
Ears? Jackie P. and I tried to ruin ours at 18 running a mufferless chain saw for L.E. Myers Co.. At my ARMY induction physical the Doc asked, "What have you done to cause such scarring of your eardrums?" Still, my ears are better than most of my helicopter-flying peers...
One of my Viet Nam Vet friends cannot hear the telephone ring, even if it's in the same room.
Glad to hear they will be able to resolve your problem, TD. When we do eventually decide where in the "warm world" we want to establish our "Vandy's Kid's Commune", we'll be needing someone to drive us for ice cream or to see Burt Reynolds perform somewhere at night...
Looks like "Bionic TD" will be able to fill that need perfectly!
TD
I am so sorry you are having such problems. It is good news that they are able to help you though.
That is so cool they are doing the corrective surgery like they are.
I am scared to death to even think of anyone touching my eyes. I so admire your bravery.
I had the floater problem last year. I was quietly sitting in a chair and all of a sudden, there were lights, and huge floaters doing all kinds of acrobatics in my left eye.
I called the Dr. and she said to get in here now.....It seems as we age/ get older, our eyes dry out and become brittle and could possible detach the retina. They can also pull away from the base in the rear and cause the light show.
So a warning, if anyone has these symptoms, get to the Drs. STAT.
Golden Horse...this is exactly what happened to my eyes over eight months ago. The "gel" in the eyeballs shrinks in about 50 percent of us old farts (vitreous detachments). As it shrinks, it tugs on the retina--thus causing the sparks and such. No bungi jumping or anything until they fully detach or it could take the retina with it. They thought my vision would improve--it hasn't. I have found an opthamologist it Ft. Myers that may be able to help.
Sometimes my vision gets so bad that I just take my glasses off--which means I can't see squat--but at least I get a break from the "old blood" and wads of floaters that invade my vision constantly. My floater/blood things are still attached at the top of my eyeball. At least if that would break off, they would float to the bottom and not bug me so much.
TD,
Happy you got your peepers fixed! I can't hear if I can't see so maybe your hearing will improve.
Bo
Eyes, hearing, bones ache, hurts to stand up if you get down on your knees, pee every 30 minutes, pretty soon the mind will be gone and we won't remember what hurts. Sure is fun getting old. Sharons had the surgery on both eyes and hers didn't do real well been a year and still has issues. Sharons dad will be 88 in April. The papers just did a great article on him about being a Pearl Harbour survivor. He keeps telling me to do as much as I can now because you get his age you can't do much. everyone take care.
TD
From the sound of things, my eyes seem to be doing OK. Some days are better than others, but I still recall what a great thing it was to be able to see well enough to mow the grass and not have to close one eye to see? where the line was from the last pass. As you know, I had a couple of operations after the first detached retina and things seem to be going pretty well on that issue. Have a little problem now, but nothing that can't be taken care of. Horse is OK, dog is OK and the cat (from the barn) is OK awaiting his new home with a friend of mine. And, in the scheme of things I think I'm OK today too. Don't know about tomorrow but then again I won't know much about that until tomorrow. Everyone be Happy.
dj
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