# How long before I go blind? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 19, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-i-go-blind/169671 "2003-04-19T18:49:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![flex727](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-i-go-blind/169671/1 "2003-04-19T18:49:57Z")
You guys are probably mostly too young, but anyone out there have personal experience with Fuchs’ Endothelial Dystrophy? I was just diagnosed and I’m not looking forward to a corneal transplant to avoid blindness. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-i-go-blind/169671/2 "2003-04-19T18:56:06Z")
There’s some information [here.](http://www.revoptom.com/handbook/SECT29a.HTM) Progression seems to be over 10 to 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![flex727](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-i-go-blind/169671/3 "2003-04-20T12:51:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ice Wolf \* > \*\*There’s some information [here.](http://www.revoptom.com/handbook/SECT29a.HTM) Progression seems to be over 10 to 20 years. \*\* Thanks, that’s a good site. I’ve done the internet research - I was looking more for someone with some personal experience they could share. It’s an unfortunately common affliction. ☹ I wonder how many peeked at this thread assuming I was talking about masturbation? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-i-go-blind/169671/4 "2003-04-20T12:57:27Z")
> [@](#): > > I wonder how many peeked at this thread assuming I was talking about masturbation? At least one. Sorry. Sorry about your diagnosis as well ☹ ---
**Author:** ![jonpluc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/fbc32d/32.png) [@jonpluc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonpluc)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-i-go-blind/169671/5 "2003-04-20T15:09:18Z")
Guilty. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-i-go-blind/169671/6 "2003-04-20T15:16:53Z")
Don’t worry, by the time you need to be concerned about it they’ll have bio-synthetic implant eyes available with infra-red and 10X zoom options. flex727 at outdoor party in 2020 - Wow look at that! The Chinese almost have their space station completed. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-i-go-blind/169671/7 "2003-04-20T15:31:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by flex727 \* > \*\* > > I wonder how many peeked at this thread assuming I was talking about masturbation? \*\* I wonder if the thread title wasn’t written in a way just to invite such an assumption. I have glaucoma (in one eye). Different disease, same eventual result. The doctor recently did surgery which relieved the pressure and even improved sight in that eye. As **astro** say’s, there could be a cure before you actually go blind. But if not, you’ll get by. So will I. 🙂 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![flex727](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-i-go-blind/169671/8 "2003-04-20T19:06:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangeorge \* > **I wonder if the thread title wasn’t written in a way just to invite such an assumption.** Okay, now _I’m_ guilty. 😉 > [@](#): > > \*\*I have glaucoma (in one eye). Different disease, same eventual result. The doctor recently did surgery which relieved the pressure and even improved sight in that eye. > As **astro** say’s, there could be a cure before you actually go blind. But if not, you’ll get by. So will I. 🙂 > Peace, > mangeorge \*\* I wish you all the best. Thanks to all for the kind thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![lorinada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5e925/32.png) [@lorinada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorinada)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-i-go-blind/169671/9 "2003-04-20T19:33:34Z")
Well, actually I thought it might be about diabetic retinopathy. But then suddenly kittens popped into my mind. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-i-go-blind/169671/10 "2003-04-20T19:48:32Z")
I miss my cat. ---
**Author:** ![jujuju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@jujuju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jujuju)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-i-go-blind/169671/11 "2003-04-20T22:21:39Z")
jeez, i must not be paying attention, to miss a masturbation reference, but i thought it might be glaucoma related, cause i have tested borderline for glaucoma since i was in the 7th grade. doesn’t seem to be getting any worse, i guess, but i can never take the test just right. i always pull away from the air blower, and during a routine physical, my doctor noticed the pressure with just that light he shines in my eye. so he numbed my eye and placed a pressure reader in my eye, with me laying on my back, and still couldn’t get a good reading, with my eye numb. it’s a damn good thing i don’t need contacts. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-i-go-blind/169671/12 "2003-04-20T23:12:15Z")
I had trouble with the glaucoma test too, a _lot_ of trouble. Then the doctor explained to me that another way to test was to wait and see how much damage was being done to the nerve. of course by then the damage is done. And it’s irreversable. You can tolerate the discomfort, and it’s important to track the progress of the disease. The doctor can keep trying many times on the same sitting, and your eyes will get inured to the touch. After several visits, you’ll get used to it. Doesn’t he/she instill drops to make it easier? Maybe you need a change of doctor? ---
**Author:** ![jujuju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7993a0/32.png) [@jujuju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jujuju)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-i-go-blind/169671/13 "2003-04-20T23:53:41Z")
i’ve been to many doctors (eye docs and general pract’s), none can get a good reading, with or without drops. even with drops, my eyes are too sensitive. it actually seems to get worse the more times the doc tries. but my eyes are not painful. i even have 20/20 vision. i probably have too much pressure, and i may develop a problem from that, but each time i go to the eye doc, they say i don’t need to come back for 3 years. (i’m 29 yo). thanks for the info, **mangeorge** , perhaps i really should keep up with it (besides the home remedy, of course 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-before-i-go-blind/169671/14 "2003-04-21T00:28:48Z")
As much as I’d like to, my job precludes me from using the home remedy. But I’ve talked to many patients who swear by it. Have you tried administering a “dose” just before you to the eye doc? It might de-sensitize your eyes some. 😉 Your resistance to the test is most likely in your head. It was with me. But that sure doesn’t make it any less real. I found that after my 1st surgery (for an unrelated problem) it was much easier to let the doctor mess around with my eyes.