When I was eight years old I developed a cold sore on my right cornea. I understand therapy is much better now, but back then the treatment consisted of (spoilered for the squeamish) “Cauterization and curettage” — burn the affected tissue with iodine, and scrape away the debris with a scalpel. As a result the eye is subject to recurring viral flares, which are painful as hell.
Since then I’ve had so much crap done to my eyes, including injections (admittedly just under the outer surface, but a needle is a needle) that cataract surgery was a snap. Not sure whether what I had would be called “twilight sedation,” but I remember the doctor describing what he was doing though I couldn’t feel or see anything.
The difference between the old and new prescriptions could easily be explained by cataracts.
Cataracts tend to make people more nearsighted and can induce or affect astigmatism – the two parameters that changed between your older and your newer prescriptions.
I saw the new ophthalmologist today. His nurse says they can schedule me in December for surgery. I’m still trading messages with the surgery scheduler. My friend can only drive me home except during “Christmas week” so that’s right out.
This is so bad: I can’t see across a room and recognize faces. I’ve stopped going to AA meetings.
Doctor says after surgery I can probably use my old prescription glasses, but it’ll (my words) suck. I chose to have computer vision rather than distance, but it won’t fix my astigmatism so I’ll still have 2 pairs of glasses. Which is fine: I’ve worn glasses for 40 years. I’d rather have a set I can wear 24/7 than having reading glasses to read my phone.
Oh, I already go to Zoom AA. It does help IMO but not enough IMO. You don’t feel the Fellowship in a window on your computer. It’s not enough. And yes, my sobriety is crucial, but Zoom ain’t doing it for me.
OK, I saw the new eye doc. I’m scheduled for surgery Dec 9 and Jan 2. The staff was pretty great and I liked the doc. I was told I’d be scheduled within a week, so I was a pain and called them 3 times and they scheduled me.
I’m excited: I can’t see s**t right now, vision range is like 6 feet. I can see better w reading glasses than my progressives.
I’m going to see the doc once more, but I think I’m settled on monofocal + glasses. Not sure if I’ll tune the monofocal to near or far, I just want to avoid switching glasses all the damn time. But I guess if I have progressives and computer glasses, that’s pretty acceptable.
The old doc place told me $450-$995 for interesting lenses. The new one says $3500 minimum. F that!
I live in a sparse area. I’ve asked around, gotten a couple of rides but mostly everyone lives the other direction. So I’m on Uber. Going to a meeting costs me like $50. Which I gladly pay – it IS important – but going and not being able to see people is miserable. I can see like 6 feet, and my favorite meeting has 70-80 people attending. I mostly Zoom right now. Dec 9 I get some of my vision back, let’s hang tight for that.
I’m actually selling my house and moving into town next month. I’ve got a townhouse under contract. It’s flat so I can ride my bike places (current house is on a big hill, I’m frightened I’d die riding a bike. I’ve tried it, it’s scary as hell.). Old house will probably sell quickly at a premium.
This will undoubtedly help getting to meetings, but I’m doing it all with no vision. I don’t even know how I’ll pack.
As soon as the cataracts are gone you’ll be seeing the next day at the latest.
If it is a normal thing. I’m not altogether sure if it is.
But, I don’t think you should be doing heavy work like packing and moving so soon.
Do you have any help lined up for that?
Can you wait another month or two?
Yeah, no. Nope, don’t be riding that bike til your vision is improved. You don’t need a conk on the head.
Oh, as a person who has had to avail themselves of more than my share of medical services, don’t be a pain anymore than necessary.
It is necessary sometimes to be a bit mouthy. Try to give these very overworked folks a break. You’ll get more flies with honey. I’ve found most personel are very willing to help where they can.
I do not. I’ve resolved myself to paying two mortgages for a couple of months. I really have nobody that can help. Maybe my son if he comes for X-mas but that would be like 1 day – he has a busy life.
Oh, I was perfectly polite. “Hi, it’s Squeegee. I hadn’t heard back from you, Alexis. Here’s what I’m looking for. Thanks so much!”
I was just a pain because I kept calling them. Politely.
You’re missing that I’m moving into a smaller place. Like 3-400sqft smaller. I’ve got to put my DR table, the occassional chair in my LR, and my king bed in the MB and my 72" stand/sit desk up on craigslist. I’d probably just give them away, but this stuff takes time. And I can’t see, hard to make pics. I need to find someone who can do electronics recycle for me. On and on.
My uncorrected vision is horrible. I think that’s true of a few other Dopers, too.
You really do have my sympathies. I’m sure the surgery can’t come soon enough.
One word of free advice (worth exactly what you paid for it): find a preservative free artificial tears (ie, lubricating) eye drop and start using it immediately. Use it four or five times a day before and after the surgery.
Definitely ask the eye doctor’s office for their opinion on this, and – if they support the idea – ask if there’s any particular drop that they recommend.
Cataract surgery can actually induce dry eyes in some people. It can also make existing dry eye syndrome worse, sometimes tipping somebody over the line from asymptomatic to symptomatic.
This article supports the idea, and since they’re Canadian, I deem them entirely trustworthy
[ETA: well, the original link was. It gets redirected]
If you like to read in bed, chose the monofocal for near. I wish I had. I’ve worn glasses since I was 7 years old. For me, the prospect of being able to see far without my glasses was so enticing, I jumped. I wish I hadn’t. I was truly accustomed to wearing glasses for far sight. Even when my focus was going so I had to get progressives to see the computer screen, I could always take off my glasses and read a book. Not any more. Sure, I’m nearly 20:20 without my glasses, but I can’t fall asleep reading.
That, and a saw-buck will get you a cup of coffee and tip, so take it for what it’s worth.
