20/20 eyeballs
Mar 9, 2019 13:23:47 #
Jimmy T wrote:
Bob: br Insidious how cataracts creep up on you. I... (show quote)
Great message! If you're the age to experience cataracts and er, other issues, get over your ba self and take care of business. Despite your thoghts to teh contrary, people will miss you.
BTW: No lollipop here either.
Mar 9, 2019 21:53:16 #
To those of you with macular degeneration , or that know someone. Can you tell me what the driving restrictions are likely to be (I'm in Texas)
Mar 9, 2019 23:28:04 #
JoeN
Loc: East Texas
I’m from Texas also but don’t know the restrictions. I would guess that when you can’t read the eye chart you don’t get a license. My great aunt was legally blind from macular degeneration, she still had some vision, but she never drove when I knew her. My father had macular degeneration and had some vision loss, but my mother eventually refused to ride with him and she took over the driving chores. He didn’t drive the last few years of his life and died at 89. They lived in Arkansas. My father-in-law lived in Texas and his cataracts were so bad he couldn’t tell the difference between the colors on a traffic light. He went in to renew his drivers license, probably in his mid to late 80s, but couldn’t read the eye chart and they gave him a license anyway. However, he gave up driving on his own shortly after that. So in Texas it may depend on how rural an area you live in and the mood of the officer giving the test.
Mar 10, 2019 09:36:31 #
Bob, had both my eyes done in January. Also ran around with one eye closed being amazed at how bright the world became. White became absolute. Colors became brilliant. Wish they had told me my current prescription glasses would be useless, even after the first surgery. I found my very first pair of prescription readers from 25 years ago, when I needed little correction, and they seemed to work pretty well.
Mar 10, 2019 11:27:48 #
I've been completely surprised at all the follow on comments! And amazed as how my sight is improving each day, this being day 5 and I can now read my iPad. Doc tells me after the right eye is done and cleared up, I will get glasses to take care of the astigmatism and everything will be just right. I'm amazed!
Mar 11, 2019 11:39:13 #
My parents each had cataract surgery, but they had opposite results. My dad turns on all the lights because he says he need them but my mom complains. She is bothered by the bright lights...it's like a cat and dog going after each other at the dinner table! I may have to have cataract surgery in the not too distant future because of my diabetes (side effect of insulin???). I don't even like going to the dentist or getting my blood taken. I don't know how I'd get through it. In FL, where my parents winter the eye doctors practically have an assembly line operation.
Mar 11, 2019 11:45:23 #
alliebess
Loc: suburban Philadelphia
[ I don't even like going to the dentist or getting my blood taken. .[/quote]
I'm with you on these and I was totally freaked out at the thought of someone performing surgery on my eyes. But the actual process was fairly comfortable. Anesthesia so that I was almost completely unconscious (aware of lights and voices, but nothing else). Woke up soon after surgery was complete, went home for a nap, out to an art class that evening. Couldn't drive for 24 - 48 hours, but no discomfort other than wearing a plastic eye protector at night for several days and using lots and lots of eye drops.
I'm with you on these and I was totally freaked out at the thought of someone performing surgery on my eyes. But the actual process was fairly comfortable. Anesthesia so that I was almost completely unconscious (aware of lights and voices, but nothing else). Woke up soon after surgery was complete, went home for a nap, out to an art class that evening. Couldn't drive for 24 - 48 hours, but no discomfort other than wearing a plastic eye protector at night for several days and using lots and lots of eye drops.
Mar 11, 2019 12:14:24 #
I thought the eye drops were the hardest part of the procedure. My wife seperated them into 2 baggies and marked them left and right and the time each had to be administered. The surgery was easy.
Mar 11, 2019 15:02:59 #
After surgery I was surprised that the bathroom sink was actually white and not beige. Surgery was easy.
Mar 14, 2019 02:08:27 #
Bobnewnan wrote:
Wow! I had my left cataract removed today and it's... (show quote)
I'm glad it went well for you and all of the others who commented. When I was 20 I was seriously considering becoming an airline pilot, so I took the FAA first class physical and had 20:15 vision. I got my first pair of glasses in my early forties, primarily for night vision. My ophthalmologist noted the beginning stages of cataracts about 15-20 years ago. It was time about 9 years ago and I had my left eye done at 62. Piece of cake. I arrived at the hospital surgery center around 730 and was home for lunch. My first reaction was also how bright everything was. My right eye was ready a couple of years later and it was also easy. I was given the choice of close, intermediate/social or distance vision or a combination of a different lens in each eye. I decided to go for distance in both eyes as i could always wear reading glasses. I got half-frame reading glasses that I can look over. That has worked out very well, as I can use my laptop and watch TV at the same time. I teach part time and can read my lecture notes and look over the glasses and see the students and the board. After these 7-9 years, I would make the same decision. I wear progressives (regular and sunglasses) when driving primarily because it "sharpens" the instrument panel as well as outside (I'm about 20:25 now). Progressive sunglasses also allow me to read while lounging outside. I renewed my driver license a month ago and had no problem passing the eye test without my glasses.
If you are considering the surgery and your ophthalmologist recommends the procedure, I wouldn't hesitate.
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