Topic: Seeing without glasses: priceless! (Read 1065 times)

Ned · « **on:** November 20, 2009, 11:55:30 AM »

Yesterday I experienced one of the miracles of modern medicine. I've worn glasses full time for 55 years. In recent years I've developed cataracts in both eyes with the left to the point where it was nearly useless. Yesterday I had the cataracts removed and a Toric lens implanted in my left eye. The Toric lens was necessary to correct for the astigmatism. The correction is for closeup, i.e. reading and computer use. Today the patch was removed and I can now use the computer without any glasses for the first time in many years. The right eye is still not too good at any distance but the corrected left eye more than makes up for that. I will still need glasses for driving but indoors, I think I will be fine without them. Even distance vision is much improved in the left eye but I will have a corrective lens made for driving as required by my drivers license.

Next spring I will have my right eye fixed and that will eliminate almost all use of glasses, except for driving and probably outdoors at night.

Also, the quality of medical care in San Antonio is well above what we have experienced in most other parts of the country.

Tom · « **Reply #1 on:** November 20, 2009, 12:04:32 PM »

Congratulations Ned! Glad it worked out well.

Wendy · « **Reply #2 on:** November 20, 2009, 12:14:42 PM »

That's great. And since Lorna does almost all the driving, you'll hardly need to wear glasses at all !

Wendy

RV Roamer · « **Reply #3 on:** November 20, 2009, 12:49:26 PM »

Fantastic, NED!!!

I've been considering lasik or PRK eye surgery myself. Your results are encouraging.

utahclaimjumper · « **Reply #4 on:** November 20, 2009, 12:53:09 PM »

Ive got that one coming up to, just getting to the point of bothersome and diminished sight at nite and distances.>>>Dan

Epicman · « **Reply #5 on:** November 20, 2009, 01:09:09 PM »

Had both eyes done 5 yrs. ago, due to almost total sight loss. Now no full time trifocals, can buy sun glasses off the rack in discount stores, bought off the rack cheaters for reading in low light.
The miracle of modern medicine scared me out of my wits till after surgery, now I'm in awe of what I can see.

George

Ned · « **Reply #6 on:** November 20, 2009, 01:18:51 PM »

After just a few hours, I'm not sure I can wait until next February to get my right eye fixed

It will be something to look forward to this winter. Anyone that has cataracts should not think twice about this operation. The success rate is phenomenal with most post-operative problems due to pre-existing conditions and not from the procedure itself. The doctor that did my surgery does about 500 of these a year, she's very good at it.

Lorna opted for a distance correction and must wear readers and she now thinks she should have done as I did and opted for close correction. But that's an individual choice. It's nice to have the options.

DonTom · « **Reply #7 on:** November 20, 2009, 01:20:57 PM »

Quote from: Ned on November 20, 2009, 11:55:30 AM

I will still need glasses for driving

I was more lucky. I no longer needed glasses for much at all after my cataract surgery on both eyes about ten years ago. Especially not for driving. Glasses do help for very fine print, but that's about all.

I was impressed with the eye operation. I felt perfectly normal and wide awake when the Kaiser doc was digging into my eye without a drop of pain. I even asked the doc if he was in my eye in the middle of the operation. I could not tell. All I could see is a light going off and on and felt nothing at all.

BTW, expect your eye to have a similar problem as your old cataract in about a year. Then go back have it fixed with laser. Takes about a minute per eye. Sometimes they don't tell you this but it's quite common. After the laser, you may see small dots for a while, but it will go away and when it does, you should not have to bother with any more related eye problems.

I needed the laser treatment on both eyes in just over a year after my cataract surgery. Some don't need the laser treatment at all, for whatever reason, but it's still quite common to need it.

-Don- Reno, NV

Ned · « **Reply #8 on:** November 20, 2009, 02:00:48 PM »

The doctor did tell me the lens could be adjusted with laser if needed. It can't be as bad as the cataracts, they really clouded my daytime vision and made night vision almost impossible. They've come a long way in 10 years. I doubt they had the Toric lens back then either.

tswms · « **Reply #9 on:** November 20, 2009, 02:30:29 PM »

Ned
I had some clouding after about 2 years in my R eye. My doctor called it a secondary cateract. It was taken care of in about 15 min in his office with a laser. Now back to 20/20.

Tony

Ned · « **Reply #10 on:** November 20, 2009, 02:54:49 PM »

Another miracle of modern (technological) medicine

Jeff · « **Reply #11 on:** November 20, 2009, 05:11:05 PM »

Ned that's great news.

Dave Stringham · « **Reply #12 on:** November 20, 2009, 05:33:42 PM »

Good news Ned, I should caution you however, I had a large shock when I discovered that when looking in the mirror.....I looked much younger with poor vision than with

Ned · « **Reply #13 on:** November 20, 2009, 06:32:47 PM »

Dave, it can be scary alright

But now I can shave without cutting my ear off.

gmsboss1 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 20, 2009, 06:36:28 PM »

Wonderful news, Ned. Thanks for sharing!

Hope you have had some tee shirts with your name on them made so we'll know it's you w/o those glasses!

Don

Ned · « **Reply #15 on:** November 20, 2009, 06:40:22 PM »

I may need a new avatar, but next year. I'll still wear the glasses, if for nothing else than as sun glasses.

joer · « **Reply #16 on:** November 20, 2009, 08:00:01 PM »

Congrats on your new vision. I had lasik about 18 months ago and was suprised what could be done with some old eyes. I had been wearing glasses for about 20 years(tri-focals for last rx) and did not realize what new techniques could do. My vision is not that of 40 years ago, but I do not wear glasses now except for close up work when the lighting is poor. I did have one small adjustment at 10 month,but all in all the surgery was a success. I hope your results are as satisfying. --- joe

Wendy · « **Reply #17 on:** November 20, 2009, 08:14:50 PM »

I am so envious of all of you with your improved vision. Congratulations to all.

Wendy
Folsom Lake S.P., CA

Ned · « **Reply #18 on:** November 20, 2009, 09:38:38 PM »

Wendy, can your vision problem be corrected with surgery?

Wendy · « **Reply #19 on:** November 20, 2009, 10:08:19 PM »

Quote from: Ned on November 20, 2009, 09:38:38 PM

Wendy, can your vision problem be corrected with surgery?

Nope. They're playing with gene therapy in the UK and US and it seems to be promising but more for young people than folks my age and older. I'm holding out for complete eyeball transplants.....I'd like Irish green eyes.

Wendy

Ned · « **Reply #20 on:** November 21, 2009, 07:33:03 AM »

I prefer blue myself, but green is good too

Some things just can't be fixed with a knife, too bad.

Jim Dick · « **Reply #21 on:** November 21, 2009, 08:51:05 AM »

Ned,

That's good news! Won't recognize you without glasses!!!

I have a cataract started in my left eye. It's been "starting" for over 5 years. I do see a small amount of cloudiness at times. It would be great to be able to do without glasses. I can see well enough to drive but the street signs are hard to read. They're even hard with my glasses.

Due for a checkup next month.

Ned · « **Reply #22 on:** November 21, 2009, 09:48:12 AM »

Jim, they won't do the surgery until the cataracts are sufficiently developed. Get an eye exam yearly from an ophthalmologist (not optometrist) and they will tell you if you're a candidate. My GP said I'd know when I was ready, and I did. I think the six headlights on cars at night was the big clue

PatrioticStabilist · « **Reply #23 on:** November 21, 2009, 10:08:40 AM »

I'm happy to hear how well this is working for folks. My opthamologist said I have lots of little cataracts but nothing near ready to do anything with. Apparently its effected my night vision. I do not drive in unfamiliar places after dark anymore. That's why when I start going places in the motorhome I will be limited on driving time.

I didn't notice it till about 4 years or so ago, DD and I were coming home from Florida and I was out on a road over in Louisiana around Gulfport. We were going to stay there that night but I had to go on a circle deal to change from one road to another. I just couldn't see, I was creeping along, it really scared me. Thankfully there was no traffic at that time. We got to the hotel and I said no more unfamiliar driving on dark nights. But that's ok, I can still see fine during daylight hours. Soon as they say I can I will get something done. I think I may have to back off on the transitional lenses though, it seems to make things a bit darker. They did lighten them last time I had glasses made. But its so good to hear they can correct vision like that. The doc said my cataracts are likely the cause even though they are small.

Ned · « **Reply #24 on:** November 21, 2009, 10:42:08 AM »

Both Lorna and I have avoided night driving for the past several years because of our cataracts and aging eyes. Lorna had both of her lenses replaced this summer and her night vision improved markedly so she's not so concerned about driving now. There is still some degradation of night vision due to age but that's not nearly as impairing as the cataracts. However, the halos around the lights were rather pretty

Dave R · « **Reply #25 on:** November 21, 2009, 01:02:52 PM »

Great news Ned!!!!!!!!!

Dave

Tom and Margi · « **Reply #26 on:** November 21, 2009, 04:00:45 PM »

Good for you, Ned! How exciting.

Tom has cataracts which are still "ripining". We can tell he's getting close, though. He has a checkup next month. It's encouraging to hear your surgery was so successful.

Margi

Jim Dick · « **Reply #27 on:** November 21, 2009, 05:44:02 PM »

Quote from: Ned on November 21, 2009, 09:48:12 AM

Jim, they won't do the surgery until the cataracts are sufficiently developed. Get an eye exam yearly from an ophthalmologist (not optometrist) and they will tell you if you're a candidate. My GP said I'd know when I was ready, and I did. I think the six headlights on cars at night was the big clue

Ned,

Yes, I know. I've been going to an ophthalmologist for several years now. He checks them every year and tells me the one is starting. The guy in Mexico told me that 5 years ago. :-) I guess mine is not growing very fast. With my diabetes I have to get checked every year. Someday it might be to the point they will take care of it.

Ned · « **Reply #28 on:** November 21, 2009, 06:05:09 PM »

Jim,

Normally you wouldn't hasten the development of a medical problem but this may be an exception

But only if you need glasses for everyday vision.

Jim Dick · « **Reply #29 on:** November 21, 2009, 06:24:32 PM »

Quote from: Ned on November 21, 2009, 06:05:09 PM

Jim,

Normally you wouldn't hasten the development of a medical problem but this may be an exception But only if you need glasses for everyday vision.

Ned,

I think you are correct. This is one time when hastening the development might prove beneficial and only if you really need to wear glasses all the time. This idea only works because of the vast advancements made in eye surgery. I still will be hesitant when the time comes since one tiny mistake can mean the end of vision forever. Someone has to be that negative statistic and I hope it isn't me!

News:

Author Topic: Seeing without glasses: priceless! (Read 1065 times)