The eyes have it

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The eyes have it

12wonderY
Mai 2, 2019, 7:59 pm

I turn 65 this month, which means a trip to the Dept. of Motor Vehicles for license renewal. They have you put your face in this box and read the letters. Fail!

So a quick trip to the optometrist today was required. It's been way too long since I've been. But Dr. L remembered me, and reassured me.

Despite posterior vitreous detachment in both eyes, macular degeneration and beginning cataracts, he was able to correct to near perfect. And without resorting to bi-focals. Yay!

Read on!

Will they last as long as I need them?

2Crypto-Willobie
Mai 2, 2019, 8:15 pm

👍

32wonderY
Bearbeitet: Mrz. 17, 2021, 8:01 am

Ouch! This outfit at the Met Gala hurts my eyes:

42wonderY
Mrz. 19, 2021, 6:50 pm

More stars in both eyes and accompanying further blurred vision prompted me to find an ophthalmologist. They savaged my eyes today for a couple of hours. Drops for this, drops for that, here, let me poke you in the eye. Oh, let me jab you forcefully with another instrument. Blazing light flashes in dilated eyes; nope don’t blink; here I’ll hold your lids open for you. Aw, you get the prize today for the most sensitive eyes.

PVD is not supposed to happen repeatedly. So this doctor assumes my previous experiences were misdiagnosed.
He says too that I don’t have macular degeneration, also diagnosed by two previous doctors. And that hole in my vision at night? That’s not it, but *shrug* don’t know what it could be.

5krazy4katz
Mrz. 19, 2021, 10:13 pm

>4 2wonderY: You need to find a really, really competent ophthalmologist to treat you. Macular degeneration doesn't just go away. I don't know about PVD. Did you have treatment for that? Who diagnosed your previous eye problems? Were they optometrists or ophthalmologists. Not having macular degeneration would be good news though!

I am a PhD who works on vision, so my clinical knowledge is not great, but I would think if you had macular degeneration, you would have a hole in your vision during the daytime because your cones, which work in bright light, are in the center. Do you have it in both eyes or just one? Is it related to the PVD and is that in just one eye or both?

https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/age-r...

https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/macul...

Good luck!!

k4k

6Tess_W
Mrz. 20, 2021, 1:41 am

I was diagnosed with macular degeneration about 2 years ago. I do see floaties (which can be a sign), but mine is the "dry" type, which I guess is the better of the two. I take Vitaeyes, which has lutein. It is a non-prescription eye vitamin that the ophthalmologist hooked me up with. So far, the disease has not progressed, according to overlay xrays of the retina.

72wonderY
Mrz. 20, 2021, 3:55 am

I was venting after a rough day.

My first experience with posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) was around 2010 in one eye and 2012 in the other. Stars in a pattern and lots of floaters. I saw ophthalmologists both times, and the macular degeneration was diagnosed in the first visit as an aside and a “Please take vitamins.”
My optometrist took pictures last year and pointed to the MD spots.
I guess there might be some confusion in terms. This doctor says it’s myopic degeneration; so not centered at the macula.

I’ve recently moved to KY, and hadn’t yet established a relationship with doctors, so I got the brusque, ego-driven one in the large practice. (Nine doctors and three metro areas.). But his assistant answered all my questions and translated his remarks for me.

I couldn’t arrange for someone to drive me home, so that was torture; though I did have good sunglasses to go over my regular glasses. Just a miserable afternoon.

I did have time to visit Home Depot beforehand and pick up supplies for more projects; so my weekend will be happily busy.

8krazy4katz
Mrz. 20, 2021, 8:55 am

>7 2wonderY: Well you deserved to vent. I hope you find someone who can treat to better both medically and personally. Good luck!

>6 Tess_W: Glad it is the dry form! Good luck on the vitamins!

9Taphophile13
Mrz. 20, 2021, 1:25 pm

2wonderY, I hope you get an accurate diagnosis. Dealing with doctors can be very frustrating.

I had a hemorrhage in my right eye some years ago and have had to get those painful eye-poke exams ever since. Was that PVD? I have no idea because no one tells me. The retinal specialist mentioned that I have a film on my retinas. I had never heard of that before and when I asked for more information he said "Save your questions for the end." At the end he said everything's okay, come back in six months and walked out of the exam room! So much for my questions. At the next visit I was able to ask him what I should be looking out for regarding the film. He sighed and said, "Well, some people are bothered by it and others aren't." The next time I saw him he said the layers of the retina in my left eye are separating. Another problem I didn't know could happen. I suppose that bothers some people too. And yes, driving home with dilated eyes is scary.

102wonderY
Apr. 5, 2021, 7:28 pm

Follow-up visit, and Dr. Ego wasn’t there, so I saw a Fellow, there on 6 month rotation. She was much more willing to discuss the various issues and questions. We looked at the scanty 2012 notes. Her opinion is this last episode was likely not PVD and I agree. Much more random lights, not in a pattern. My eye pressure was up; which never happened before. 25 in one eye; max normal is 20 or so. They didn’t seem concerned, but I want to track it. My blood pressure was higher than normal as well, so possibly just stress.
She referred me to a cataract specialist who also has a glaucoma specialty.

The vitamins I’ve been taking for macular degeneration must be doing the right thing. This dr. reassured me that things aren’t very bad and most issues can be corrected.

The clerk assigned me to the female partner in the practice for next visit. Relieved.

11krazy4katz
Apr. 5, 2021, 11:37 pm

>10 2wonderY: I'm so glad you has a more positive visit this time. I don't know much about glaucoma but wonder if eye pressure and blood pressure are at all related. I might ask a friend of mine who studies glaucoma (PhD).

Good luck with everything. I'm glad the vitamins are working.

k4k

12Gelöscht
Bearbeitet: Apr. 6, 2021, 9:41 am

>10 2wonderY: The right doctor makes all the difference, doesn't it? I have a variety of complicated ailments, and have come to believe that the willingness to listen and to give a sh*t outstrips every other medical skill.

132wonderY
Jun. 22, 2021, 6:35 am

It’s been almost six weeks since my first visit to the cataract specialist; and I’m still processing it. He is also a glaucoma specialist, but wasn’t very informative.
He prescribed eye drops to reduce eye pressure. The doctors office, pharmacy and insurance company have miscommunicated a lot. I’ve had to make calls all directions myself and wait too long for the meds. What started as $200 co-pay is now $5.

I hate that I’m being treated for a condition I only might be developing. Online info isn’t answering my questions and the only book I’ve located is almost 20 years old.
The doctor's assistant is willing, but not educated to my level of questions. My second visit is this Friday and I will have a page of questions.
As to the cataracts, I qualify for surgery on the right eye because of the triple vision. I’ve not read anywhere that cataracts can cause that though.
As I waited in the exam room, I heard a conversation from another room. The patient asked about the risks of surgery. The doctor replied “There are risks in everything.” If that had been addressed to me, I think I would have punched the doctor and walked out. I don’t think it was my doctor speaking.

14Gelöscht
Jun. 22, 2021, 9:53 am

>13 2wonderY: Good luck! The older you get, the more doctors infantilize patients and blow off questions. If you're an older woman, it's worse.

15Tess_W
Jun. 22, 2021, 10:30 am

>13 2wonderY: Glad you were able to lower that co-pay! However, I feel bad for those older people who don't have the wherewithal to be able to do that, so they will go without.

Here's wishing you good luck at your next appointment.

16krazy4katz
Jun. 22, 2021, 11:01 am

>13 2wonderY: With glaucoma, the earlier the treatment, the better. It might help you avoid surgery. If you have any specific questions, I might be able to find some more up-to-date information for you.

Best wishes,

Ellen

172wonderY
Jun. 25, 2021, 11:01 am

Second visit with the surgeon. He answered all my questions satisfactorily.
Last month my IOP was 25/25, and the drops were precautionary. Today it’s 15/15. He doubts glaucoma is an issue and says the cataract surgery will likely help to bring the pressure down again.

It’s now up to me to determine when to schedule surgery. I’m looking at early fall; depending on daughters schedules.

18krazy4katz
Jun. 26, 2021, 10:15 am

>17 2wonderY: Good luck! That should go well!

19alco261
Jun. 30, 2021, 11:50 am

Just FYI - it is true that floaters can be a sign of the onset of macular degeneration but not necessarily. I've had them all my life and until one eye doctor a long time ago asked me about them I just thought they were something everyone had.

202wonderY
Jun. 30, 2021, 1:51 pm

Yes, I’ve had them all my life too. They increased dramatically after the posterior vitreous detachments and I either got used to them or they settled down. Now I have smudges that can sometimes be blinked away.

21krazy4katz
Jul. 1, 2021, 12:58 am

I’ve had one for years. If the number increases suddenly, it’s worth seeing a doctor.

222wonderY
Aug. 9, 2021, 2:53 pm

Pre-op visit today. They first wanted to measure the eyes; but I reminded them it was done just 6 weeks ago. I didn’t want to be billed twice. But the surgeon convinced me with an old carpenter’s saying: “Measure twice, cut once.”

Cataract removal next Tuesday in the right eye. Still not convinced I can hold still enough, but he does have some strategies in reserve.

23krazy4katz
Aug. 9, 2021, 10:01 pm

>22 2wonderY: Good luck with the surgery. Things can change quickly in your eyes, so if it means possibly avoiding surgery, I too would get the exam done. Cataract surgery is so routine these days that I am sure you will be OK. Let us know.

Best wishes, k4k

24AlexanderPatico
Aug. 14, 2021, 1:53 pm

Having had cataract surgery, I would join those who give assurances. Took 20 minutes; no discomfort, though I was aware the whole time (thanks to a small amount of fentanyl!). My vision is not quite 20/20 in my left eye, but the right is great. For the first time since second grade I can walk in the rain or step into a Turkish bath without my glasses dripping/fogging up.

252wonderY
Aug. 14, 2021, 8:34 pm

Surgery was postponed to September 2nd. This doctor uses three surgical facilities within the city. I don’t know why. Maybe this is why. The first place doesn’t accept my insurance. Sure glad they checked on that detail!!

26Tess_W
Aug. 15, 2021, 4:54 pm

>25 2wonderY: same way with the oral surgeon, he has 2 different locations, one accepts medicare and one doesn't!

272wonderY
Sept. 2, 2021, 9:27 am

Surgery was done this morning. All seems well. I think I’ll take a nap.

282wonderY
Sept. 2, 2021, 12:17 pm

Others have said that colors return. My sister, who had her first eye done Tuesday, said blue in particular. Well, I didn’t think I had lost color perception. This seems more intense than I have ever known.
I certainly need new glasses immediately.
Post-op visit tomorrow will hopefully answer that question.

29krazy4katz
Bearbeitet: Sept. 2, 2021, 9:04 pm

>28 2wonderY: Glad to hear (see?) that you got through the first operation OK. Good luck with the second.

302wonderY
Sept. 3, 2021, 2:03 pm

Haven’t discussed or planned the other eye yet. There was a questionnaire I had to fill out justifying the first; listing all of the life impairments it caused. The surgeon said we would talk about it next week. He said today that it was a textbook simple procedure yesterday. And I can resume driving tomorrow.
I found a pair of glasses in the drawer with my old prescriptions that I don’t know where it came from. Maybe reading glasses? They are cheap plastic frames and don’t stay on my face well, but I can see better with them than any of the others.

312wonderY
Sept. 17, 2021, 10:10 am

The local optometry shop was able to put a very basic lens in my regular glasses yesterday; so I can use the good glasses again for driving. They are off my face when I need to read though.
Surgery on the left eye is scheduled for next month.
The surgeon said to report black spots, which also happened yesterday. So I’m at the retina specialist this morning for a thorough torture session.

322wonderY
Sept. 17, 2021, 8:16 pm

I got three doses of dilation drops this morning. And two lengthy sessions of bright lights inspection. I hated having to get in the car, but had to drive myself home. Swung by the pizza take-out place, which I treat as comfort food, and home to close the curtains and take a long nap. The reassurance is there is no retina problem. And I met the female partner in the practice and I am now her patient.

33krazy4katz
Sept. 17, 2021, 8:28 pm

Good news about the retina!

342wonderY
Okt. 13, 2021, 3:30 pm

Just back from my second surgery, and I can already admire the huge improvement. My left eye is the dominant one and kept telling my brain that the right eye wasn’t really seeing as well as it was reporting. They are now in harmony.
I was awake and remember the whole thing, including my conversation with the surgeon while he was inserting the new lens.
Still, it calls for a nice nap in my darkened bedroom.

35krazy4katz
Okt. 13, 2021, 7:56 pm

Sleep well, then see well. Congratulations!

36Tess_W
Okt. 15, 2021, 12:06 am

>34 2wonderY: Congrats. I see the cataract doctor next week!

372wonderY
Okt. 22, 2021, 11:04 am

Follow-up visit with new prescription. I’m waiting for the new lens to be cut and placed in my old frames.
The doctor dilated both eyes to look at the retinal area, as there’s a huge floater in the left eye and fog that comes and goes. That should settle down.
I drove yesterday wearing the glasses with right eye correct and left eye Rx outdated. Another argument between the eyes ensued until the last hour of the trip when the left eye conceded to the right.

382wonderY
Okt. 22, 2021, 11:52 am

$20 and 10 minutes and I’m fully functional again.
I’ll give my eyes more time to heal before doing a full optometry visit and new glasses with all the bells and whistles and coatings.

39krazy4katz
Okt. 23, 2021, 3:48 pm

>37 2wonderY: That must have felt weird. I can’t imagine!

402wonderY
Okt. 26, 2021, 1:14 pm

I’m having to unlearn decades of habit.

In order to have a swift, cheap pair of glasses, I took the new prescription and replaced lenses with single vision polycarbonate for distance vision. I can do indoor work almost without glasses. So they end up on top of my head or cast aside and I have to search for them.
The new lenses in my eyes are for near distance, with a perfect reading focal length about 15” out. So I’m having to break the habit of bringing things closer (my old eyes did best at 6” to 8”) or dipping my head to look over the rims of glasses that aren’t there. I did not have bifocals before.

I think I’m ready for bifocals now!

41krazy4katz
Okt. 26, 2021, 7:21 pm

I have 2 pairs of bifocals (actually continuous lenses). One for my regular life and one for computer and close-up. Computers seem to be at a distance that doesn't work for either distance or close-up.

42Tess_W
Okt. 29, 2021, 5:26 am

>41 krazy4katz: I have just the opposite--can read computer with on glasses at all and I wear no line bifocals for everything else! I'm having cataract surgery on both eyes in December, 2 weeks apart.

43krazy4katz
Okt. 29, 2021, 9:44 am

>42 Tess_W: I am nearsighted. Were you farsighted? Good luck with the surgery!

44Tess_W
Okt. 29, 2021, 3:26 pm

>43 krazy4katz: I don't know...maybe both, I needed correction for both near and far, hence the bifocals!

45krazy4katz
Okt. 29, 2021, 6:49 pm

>44 Tess_W: The older you get, the worse your close vision gets. It's natural as far as i know. That happened to me too. I can deal with it by taking off my glasses because I am nearsighted, but I did get continuous lenses so that the bottom is for reading. The condition, by the way, is called presbyopia, just so you know. :-)

462wonderY
Nov. 1, 2021, 6:28 pm

Tess, I add my best wishes for your December surgeries.

I was back at the retina specialist’s office today for a follow-up exam. She showed me on a model where she was trying to look and why it is so uncomfortable. I call it torture.

She confirms there are LOTS of floaters in the left eye and mentioned there is a surgery to remove them. It’s called vitrectomy. The entire fluid in the eye is removed and replaced with salt water. Oh my!!!
She counsels waiting to see whether it settles or my brain learns to discount the fog that is created. I’m all about the conservative approach.

47krazy4katz
Bearbeitet: Nov. 1, 2021, 11:06 pm

>46 2wonderY: Good luck with the floaters! k4k

48haydninvienna
Bearbeitet: Nov. 2, 2021, 3:42 am

>46 2wonderY: I wonder if a vitrectomy (lovely word) would be a fix for the problem that the vitreous humour tends to go yellow with age. If so I’d like to know more.

ETA and sorry, best wishes from me too.

492wonderY
Nov. 2, 2021, 12:05 pm

>48 haydninvienna: I suppose if it were severe it might. But that’s not specifically listed in the brochure I have.
But then, floaters is not a listed reason either.
The four problems listed are:
Foreign object from an injury
Retinal detachment (along with laser repair)
Remove blood or other substance keeping light from focusing properly
Remove scar tissue that is wrinkling or tearing the retina.

502wonderY
Dez. 11, 2021, 10:39 am

Still lots of fogginess that comes and goes. Because my brain still wants the left eye to rule, the fog is across the entire field. That is, unless I place a hand block along my nose. It looks like some absurd salute; but it’s enough to separate the fields and clears the issue right up. I only need to do it while driving, and it’s not a real solution. No, I don’t drive down the highway for very long doing so.
What I did notice the other evening, coming back from WV is that my night vision is wonderful. Crisp and clear and sharp. That’s a blessing.

51krazy4katz
Dez. 11, 2021, 11:30 am

>50 2wonderY: Is the fogginess from floaters?

522wonderY
Dez. 11, 2021, 11:31 am

I don’t know. It moves around like floaters do. No one has said otherwise.

53haydninvienna
Dez. 11, 2021, 3:06 pm

>50 2wonderY: That bit about the night vision is *very* interesting.

54Tess_W
Dez. 14, 2021, 6:54 am

>53 haydninvienna: Getting my first cataract removal/lens implant today and the reason is I have little night vision. The Dr. said this should greatly improve!

552wonderY
Dez. 14, 2021, 6:59 am

>54 Tess_W: Best wishes to you today!

56krazy4katz
Dez. 14, 2021, 8:53 am

>54 Tess_W: yes, I hope your surgery goes well!

57haydninvienna
Dez. 14, 2021, 9:55 am

>54 Tess_W: more best wishes! Let us know how it works out!

58John5918
Dez. 14, 2021, 10:11 am

59hailelib
Dez. 14, 2021, 6:50 pm

>54 Tess_W:. - I hope everything went well with your surgery today and you are happy with the results.

60Tess_W
Dez. 14, 2021, 8:10 pm

Ty ALL! It's 10 hours post op and there is no pain--there never was. Some things that concern me: cloudiness and halos around each light that I look at. I have follow up appt with Dr. tomorrow (Wed), so I will ask about these things. However, upon reading about side effects on the internet, these were both mentioned and all said they go about within 1-5 days. I can notice that the brightness and crispness of the "new" eye is very noticeable as compared to the one not yet having surgery.

61krazy4katz
Dez. 14, 2021, 8:50 pm

>60 Tess_W: Sounds like it probably went well. Good luck with the next surgery!

622wonderY
Dez. 14, 2021, 11:36 pm

>60 Tess_W: That haloing is because your eyes are still dilated. Glad it went well!

63Tess_W
Dez. 15, 2021, 6:43 pm

Day 2: The Dr. said I'm doing fantastic. The blur/halos because my eye is still somewhat inflamed. However, by noon today the blur is 90% gone as well as the halos. I'm sure I will have a full recovery in a couple of days! It's amazing to look at things with the "new" lens--clear and crisp and light. The "old" eye--looks like I'm looking through those yellow-tinted sunglasses---I never realized!

64krazy4katz
Dez. 15, 2021, 10:07 pm

65Tess_W
Dez. 29, 2021, 9:03 am

Post surgery 2 weeks (left eye) and 1 week (right eye) and 20/30 in both eyes for distance. Don't have to go back for 5 weeks and Dr is saying should be 20/20 in both eyes by then. I still need to wear readers. I'm very pleased!

662wonderY
Dez. 29, 2021, 9:19 am

>65 Tess_W: Hurray! So glad for you.

67krazy4katz
Dez. 29, 2021, 12:15 pm

>65 Tess_W: Congratulations! Wonderful.

682wonderY
Mrz. 16, 2023, 10:49 am

Well, I’m seriously considering the vitrectomy. Saw my cataract surgeon this week for a follow-up exam and he recommended it now. The fog is seriously compromising sight. I can blink it away, but it returns. It interferes with all sorts of activities.
I turn 69 this year and have been so pleased to not have any other health issues. But it seems I have high blood pressure now. Monitored it for two weeks and yep, the systolic hovers around 150 give or take in the mornings. Active work brings it down. That seems counter-intuitive and the PA agreed with me. Guess I’d better read up on it.