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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2018 17:05:17 GMT
Yes, one of my friends told me she was amazed at how much sharper colors were after she had her surgery. I have just terrible night vision and rarely drive at night unless I absolutely have to.
The woman that I go to trap feral cats with does the driving. While out one night last week I mistook what appeared to be a black cat on a corner just half a block away. As I slowly approached I realized it was the bottom half of a fire hydrant!!! (no wonder it wasn't moving as I came closer!!) My new prescription glasses have helped but I am really hoping that the cataract surgery will enhance my vision even more.
My mother was exactly the same way when it came to avoiding anything medical. When she had her cataract surgery at approximately age 83-4 the opthamologist told me that he had to use a virtual microscopic jackhammer to remove them as they were that hardened.
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Post by whatagain on Mar 5, 2018 18:55:22 GMT
Laser (Yag) is used but to put the implant in place, you still need to insert it, thus you must cut an opening somewhere. Yes, implant also corrects vision as any lense would do. You can have cataract and nearsighted corrected at same time... Waw. But get info from a real specialist, not the guy who listens to his wife and pretends to understand some of it ;-)
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Post by lagatta on Mar 6, 2018 2:32:18 GMT
We don't get a guest post from Dr Whatagain?
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Post by Kimby on Mar 6, 2018 15:49:36 GMT
As I understand it, the new lens implant will “correct” your vision, but cannot restore the ability to “accommodate” to near and far focal needs. So you may regain the ability to read without glasses but will need glasses for driving, or more commonly your distance vision will be sharp, but you will need reading glasses. It might just be time to bite the bullet and get bifocals.
I’m wondering if - when I get cataracts - I can get one implant for distance and one for closeup, as I HATE juggling all these pairs of cheaters, and don’t have good clarity at ANY distance currently.
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Post by kerouac2 on Mar 6, 2018 17:01:01 GMT
My brother had Lasik and loved it. I don't think he wears glasses anymore even though he started wearing them when he was about 14. (I didn't start wearing glasses until I was past the age of 30.) I have nothing against the idea of getting it done, but I don't think it is reimbursed in France yet.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2018 17:12:42 GMT
My husband had Lasix performed sometime in the nineties and was/is very pleased with it.
He encouraged me to have it (we just happened to have money back then...) but I balked. One of the reasons is that for several nights when you are sleeping you absolutely cannot rub your eyes in any way or else you will do damage. I just couldn't get past the idea that I somehow inadvertently would rub one or both of my eyes while half asleep, I am that neurotic.
I also wonder why I see eye doctors wearing spectacles. That has always made me spectacle skeptical.
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Post by bixaorellana on Mar 6, 2018 20:05:31 GMT
Ha ~ good one, Casimira! I am super interested in Lasix because I want good vision again. I am also terrified of surgery.
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 7, 2019 16:11:17 GMT
I decided to finally make an appointment at my local ophthalmologist since it has been 5 years since I changed my glasses, which is too long. I went by the office and saw exactly what I expected -- closed for the holidays until August 18th. This is fine with me because I have to work my way up to this sort of ordeal, and once I visit the office to get an appointment, it is almost certain that it won't be for another two months. This would annoy me if I were in a hurry, and I know that I could get an appointment at one of the big medical centres within a week or two, but I like this doctor and she has the most modern equipment. I went there for the first time with my mother, when I noticed that she was watching out of my apartment window every day to see me emerge from the metro, and then all of a sudden I was right there and she couldn't see me. So I went there to get new glasses for her, but the doctor said that she had a cataract (again). My mother had not yet been approved for normal French health care then, but she was on "universal coverage" which is actually even better -- you don't pay anything for any procedure. The ophthalmologist set up an appointment at a very fancy clinic in Neuilly (a suburb even richer than Paris), and the cataract was zapped perfectly.
When I returned a number of years later, my mother's name was still in her computer, so I know that she is extremely thorough. So I will wait as long as it takes. I don't need a stick yet to get around.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 26, 2021 21:11:31 GMT
I have a question for all of the glasses wearers out there.
Because of the pandemic, it has been over two years since I've visited the optometrist. Even on that last visit, I sort of felt as though the prescription wasn't precise enough.
Anyway, I went yesterday & it was a great visit, partly because the whole procedure for checking sight is more streamlined & definitely easier for the patient. After the checkup I ordered a bunch of stuff (will probably be reporting on that later). Today I went to pick up the new prescription sunglasses, my old "house" glasses with their news lenses, and the new pair of reading glasses. The "house" (i.e., so-called distance glasses) were instantly comfortable, ditto the sunglasses. When I put on the reading glasses, the assistant handed me one of those cards with examples of text in descending sizes. I was able to read even the tiniest. I also looked at a magazine, which was an equally easy reading experience. So yaay, right?
Umm, maybe.
I am writing this at home on my laptop, which I am forced to hold much closer to me than I like in order for me to see the screen normally. My preferred laptop spot is an upright chaise where I sit with legs extended. I put a cushion on my legs and the laptop on the cushion, with its hinge two or three inches forward of my knee level.
But right now I am sitting with one knee elevated & the cushion atop that knee, with the laptop resting on the cushion and pressing into my stomach so that my eyes are the distance needed to read the monitor comfortably. I just measured & the optimum distance is 10 1/4 inches or 26 centimeters. In order to type this, I'm forced to have the monitor 12 inches/30.5 cm away so that my hands can use the keyboard. That inch and a half makes a discernable difference in terms of eye comfort.
Now, I do have an old pair of reading glasses which I could use instead. My question, though, is should I use those or should I try to accustom myself to this new electron microscope pair of reading glasses?
Any advice, information, suggestions gratefully received.
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Post by onlyMark on Jun 26, 2021 21:36:44 GMT
What was the problem with your old reading glasses? So why have you had a new pair as well as the other ones?
For me I never get used to a pair of reading glasses that have a different focal point. My eyes don't 'adjust' to them, I end up adjusting to the glasses - but as I keep mine for quite a few years, it has happened where my eyes have just aged and I end up with the same focal point as I had before, if that make sense.
Imagine sitting upright in a chair with your arms on the arms rests and holding a book you are looking down to - that's how far I need things to be in focus to read. Over time my eyes change such that I need to hold the book further away if I am wearing the same glasses and there comes a point here I get new ones to bring that focal point back towards me. If I have new glasses where I would have to pull the book towards me to read it in focus (did happen once), it'd take a few years for me to gradually move the book away again and back to the proper position.
At the computer I've no idea what the measured distance is comfortable but, as I sit here, if I put my elbow at my stomach and stretch my forearm out to the screen, the screen is a fraction beyond my outstretched fingers (taking into account my stomach is probably quite a lot bigger than yours, but I'm adjusting for that).
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Post by htmb on Jun 26, 2021 21:48:54 GMT
You’re no longer wearing contacts, Bixa?
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 26, 2021 22:55:49 GMT
What was the problem with your old reading glasses? So why have you had a new pair as well as the other ones? Mark, I wanted my eyes checked because I felt as though neither the distance nor the reading prescription I had was still correct. This is what came of the new examination. If I have new glasses where I would have to pull the book towards me to read it in focus... This is the situation I'm in right now. I'm unsure whether to bear with it -- will it make my eyes weaker? At the computer I've no idea what the measured distance is comfortable I've always been able to comfortably use the laptop, whether it's in laptop mode or perched atop a box on the table to serve as a desktop. I could sit in most any position, with lots of leeway as to the distance between my eyes and the monitor. You’re no longer wearing contacts, Bixa? Htmb, the only reason for not wearing contacts is because I ran out of them during the pandemic. I guess I could have gone & just picked up the same prescription, but I felt I needed an examination. That examination proved that the old prescription was inadequate. Here is some more contact background, if it's not too deadly boring. I was saving this for another chapter because I have not yet received the new contacts. What happened was that a friend quizzed me about wearing contacts, about which I'm wildly enthusiastic. He wanted me to go with him to the optometrist, which was fine with me because it meant I'd have to finally make the appointment and go. So yesterday morning we went over there. He went up to the mezzanine for his examination first, and I stayed downstairs picking out a new frame & eavesdropping on his conversation re: contacts with the optometrist. After my examination, it transpired that he had opted for new fancy contacts which darken in the sunlight & are "progressive". We were discussing this in English while my order was being written up. I was surprised and a little dubious about his going all-out on his first foray with contacts. The optometrist has repeatedly recommended progressives to me, but I've always been adamant about not wanting them because of my hatred for bifocals, trifocals, or progressive regular glasses. One of the reasons I was surprised about his decision to get progressive contacts is that I know he also hates bifocals, etc. Now, my order included the plain vanilla contacts I've always worn, but after our conversation, we grilled the optometrist about exactly how progressive contacts work. This lady is patient, explains things well, and I trust and respect her because she is enthusiastic about her work and stays abreast of all the technical innovations, etc. involved in it. What she explained was that the brand of contacts she was proposing has the "reading" portion all the way around the rim of the contact. Apparently the brain-eye coordination automatically adjusts so that you're seeing through the appropriate part of the contact lens. The end result was that I, too, said I wanted the newfangled Neapolitan flavor contacts. I did ask her, though, what do I do if I simply cannot adapt to them? She gestured at my little pile of extra glasses and said, "If you can't adapt, bring back the two unused pairs of contacts in the box and I will fit all these glasses with the proper prescription for you for free." Those contacts won't be ready before this coming Friday, which is why I was saving this portion of the eye saga for later. It's probably better that I wrote it all down while it's still fresh in my mind, though, so aren't you glad you asked?
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Post by htmb on Jun 27, 2021 2:43:10 GMT
I have never heard of contacts that darken in the sun or progressive contact lenses. I tried bifocal contacts years ago, but hated them. My current lenses actually rotate into place (they’re weighted), but one is for reading and one for distance. You’ll have to give us a report!
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 27, 2021 3:05:07 GMT
I'm alternating between excitement and dread about using them. Believe me, I will report on how it goes. And when I pick them up I'll copy all the box information here. She did have a pair of the fancy contacts & took one outside so she could come back in and dazzle us with its darkening-in-the-sun property. The fact that it was deeply overcast and slightly drizzling meant we had to remain undazzled. supplementary reading: www.allaboutvision.com/over40/multifocalcls.htm
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Post by htmb on Jun 27, 2021 3:09:11 GMT
Whenever I have to make a change, my doctor always gives me one (or two) to try for free to see how I like it (them).
Are the darkening, progressive lenses more expensive than the plain “vanilla?”
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 27, 2021 3:14:21 GMT
I edited my previous post to add some reading material.
As for price ~ yes, the fancy-schmancy ones are twice as much.
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Post by onlyMark on Jun 27, 2021 8:03:56 GMT
This is the situation I'm in right now. I'm unsure whether to bear with it -- will it make my eyes weaker? I've no idea and I can only say my experience with glasses is that it is my position that alters for quite a while, i.e. I hold the book a little closer, but eventually I don't notice. Can't say if I just get used to the new position or if over time my eyes change and gradually work my way back to the original position. In 2016 I got reading glasses and driving glasses whilst in Spain. The driving glasses were ok but I could never seem to focus properly, I don't mean blurry, but the reading ones never seemed quite right. So I took the specifications to Germany and they examined my eyes and re-checked and told me they were wrong. So I got new reading glasses there and they are fine. Still have them now. But Mrs M was talked into getting a pair of progressive glasses in Spain as well and stuck with them a few months as she had been told you need to get used to them - she never did, never comfortable for her eyes she said - so got another pair from Germany - again different prescription - she wears them from time to time but is still not so happy.
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Post by whatagain on Jun 27, 2021 8:16:49 GMT
In my comprehension, an optometrist is a specialist doing all the measures but is not a doctor. My wife delegates to her optometrist,which saves a lot of time and allows her to to do other checks. I would recommend seeing a doctor. A doc checks thing left undone (eye pressure to avoid glaucaumo, sees if your retina is ok and spots illnesses) and in general sees things more broadly. As a personal opinion, i would not force myself to another newer solution when i was comfortable with the old one.
Hope you get soon your lenses !
I am getting new glasses too. I changed the left glass since i see better now...
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 27, 2021 14:24:19 GMT
the reading ones never seemed quite right. So I took the specifications to Germany and they examined my eyes and re-checked and told me they were wrong. So I got new reading glasses there and they are fine. ... But Mrs M was talked into getting a pair of progressive glasses in Spain as well and stuck with them a few months as she had been told you need to get used to them ... I have faith in the woman who checks my eyes, but I am going in tomorrow to ask her to look at the new reading glasses to see if they're too strong or whatever. The ones I had been using had the same correction for both eyes. On the new ones, there is a difference of 1.25 between the eyes. Maybe I need to get used to that, or maybe the glasses are simply too strong. I want to double check since this is the same correction that will be in the reading portion of the new contact lens. Mrs. M's story is exactly why I've never wanted progressive glasses. Last night, when I was looking up progressive contact lens, I came across a site for optometrists. It talked about what the patient should expect in getting used to progressive glasses: up to a month of blurry vision and headaches! The tone was that a patient unwilling to endure this was just wimpy &/or not trying hard enough. A doc checks thing left undone As a personal opinion, i would not force myself to another newer solution when i was comfortable with the old one. I am getting new glasses too. I changed the left glass since i see better now. Thanks, Whatagain. I don't feel there is any underlying medical issue beyond my being three+ years older than I was the last time I got a new prescription. As far as comfortable -- I was comfortable with my old reading glasses in the sense that I was used to them, but also frustrated as I felt I was not seeing quite well enough, if that makes sense. I mostly read books on my phone, meaning I can adjust the type, size, & background color. But I sometimes struggled with regular printed material and in general seeing detail as well as I wished. You are getting new glasses for the best possible reason! Very happy for you & your bright new vision.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 27, 2021 15:16:06 GMT
People need to understand that opthamologist and optometrist are different professions. They are not really competing with each other, but they provide different services.
I will finally be going to see about new glasses very soon. I was waiting until July because that's when I got the glasses that I lost. In terms of my mutual insurance, it should improve the reimbursement a bit. In the meantime, I have just been wearing my previous glasses, which are not bad. They are progressive lenses. I hated them at first, but I did adapt to them and have no complaints now. My biggest complaint at the beginning was almost breaking my neck walking downstairs. But when I learned to look at the stairs a bit differently, the problem disappeared.
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Post by whatagain on Jul 27, 2021 22:35:17 GMT
My left eye is very sensitive to light since my 2 operations. I discovered that driving at night is really a pain. I get blinded by strret lighting and by cars. At least during daylight i can have sunglasses but at night, my eye suffers.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 28, 2021 2:30:20 GMT
That's awful, Whatagain, and potentially dangerous.
Even if you don't need corrective lenses, for driving at night you might benefit from plain lenses tricked out with anti-reflective treatment & stuff like that.
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Post by Kimby on Jul 30, 2021 14:45:58 GMT
My vision ain’t what it used to be. The progressive lenses that I got 1 1/2 years ago still work for driving and pulling weeds, but reading is getting really hard, even with 3.25 readers. Sometimes I have to double up glasses and move to bright light to make out small print.
I should get to the ophthalmologist and get my eyes examined, something that I have postponed during the pandemic. When I finally felt ready to make that deferred appointment, I opened the mail to find a letter from my previous eye doctor announcing her retirement, and the transfer of records to a brand new partner in the practice. Not sure I trust a doctor with so little real world experience, though it’s possible her recent training is superior to that of the doctor she replaces.
Just do it, Kimby! So you can get new glasses!
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 30, 2021 15:14:30 GMT
I still need to get the glasses that I lost replaced. I have been using my previous glasses (progressive lenses) which still work most of the time, but not too much when I want to read a book in bed at night.
I love young new doctors and am happy that my retired GP fobbed me off to a considerably younger doctor in the area, even if she is only about 10-15 years younger. Medical knowledge is changing so fast that most of the oldies have trouble keeping up with it.
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Post by whatagain on Aug 1, 2021 9:54:56 GMT
I still need to get the glasses that I lost replaced. I have been using my previous glasses (progressive lenses) which still work most of the time, but not too much when I want to read a book in bed at night. I love young new doctors and am happy that my retired GP fobbed me off to a considerably younger doctor in the area, even if she is only about 10-15 years younger. Medical knowledge is changing so fast that most of the oldies have trouble keeping up with it. So true. Albeit doctors are encouraged, even coer ed into following seminars to stay up to date. My problem is that my docs were young when i started seeing them.
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Post by patricklondon on Aug 1, 2021 15:18:57 GMT
My problem is that my docs were young when i started seeing them. I've reached the age when they all seem young.
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Post by casimira on Aug 1, 2021 16:32:57 GMT
I had eye surgery in August of 2019 for an eye condition called entropia which is an ailment where the bottom eyelid turns itself inward resulting in the lashes and skin to scrape the cornea and if not corrected can cause permanent eye damage. I was very pleased with the specialist I was referred to and it remedied the situation. The main drawback was after the surgery there were stiches in two places. One place the stiches were the kind that dissolve or whatever it's called and the others had to be removed by the specialist after about 2 weeks or so. The biggest problem was I was told I had to sleep either on my back or in a propped up position. I tried everything under the sun and T. helped me to rig up me sleeping in that position with everything just shy of being strapped in the bed in that position. I would fall asleep but during the night I would invariably wriggle in my sleep back to my old position of sleeping on my side. Gratefully, I did no damage. Basically, the surgery was the equivalent of having a cosmetic eyelift (most of the patients I saw were there for this) but only on one eye. It's noticeable to me, but, I have asked other people if they can see a difference and most say no. Either they don't or they are lying to make me feel less self conscious of it. My neighbor who is a costume maker made me three different eye patches. One of them was a duplicate of my other eye and the other was one that she wrote the message "Make My Eye Great Again", an obvious spinoff of the MAGA message on hats etc. I also had one that resembled an eye patch that James Booker, the famous NOLA "Piano Prince" would wear on some occasions. Black with a red star on it. It drew a lot of attention from many people.
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Post by whatagain on Feb 7, 2022 12:58:38 GMT
Apparently some people look at me bizarrely. Some bordering on angry looks... But these spectacles were the only we had.
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Post by whatagain on Feb 7, 2022 13:00:41 GMT
Yet i think the spectacles were useful...
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Post by whatagain on Feb 7, 2022 13:19:27 GMT
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