Eyes

[G-Man]

Been wearing corrective lenses since the age of 3.  The glasses got thick overnight when I was 14 and there was no way I was gonna wear coke-bottles as a teenager so I went to contact lenses.  Due to a pretty bad astigmatism I was forced to wear the hard contact lenses of the 1970's  OUCH!!!!!.  In the 80's it was soft, astigmatic lenses, in the 90's through now it's been bitoric gas permeable hard lenses. 

For the past 2 years, we've been having difficulty dialing in the vision in the left eye.  Lasik would only help 50% and there is no guarantee after that my vision with a corrective lens would be satisfactory.

So, I've been speaking with a doc who does a procedure called a clear lens extraction where they remove the inner lens of the eye and replace it with a lens that has a diopter.  Aaaaaand, they now do the extraction with a computer guided laser so they perform Lasik at the same time taking care of the near sightedness and the astigmatism.  He said that he will exceed my expectations.  If all of the astigmatism can't be taken care of at the time of the surgery, he said a minor revision could be performed in a few months.

After 44 year, I will finally be able to wake up, open my eyes, and see.   

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Been wearing corrective lenses since the age of 3.  The glasses got thick overnight when I was 14 and there was no way I was gonna wear coke-bottles as a teenager so I went to contact lenses.  Due to a pretty bad astigmatism I was forced to wear the hard contact lenses of the 1970's  OUCH!!!!!.  In the 80's it was soft, astigmatic lenses, in the 90's through now it's been bitoric gas permeable hard lenses. 

For the past 2 years, we've been having difficulty dialing in the vision in the left eye.  Lasik would only help 50% and there is no guarantee after that my vision with a corrective lens would be satisfactory.

So, I've been speaking with a doc who does a procedure called a clear lens extraction where they remove the inner lens of the eye and replace it with a lens that has a diopter.  Aaaaaand, they now do the extraction with a computer guided laser so they perform Lasik at the same time taking care of the near sightedness and the astigmatism.  He said that he will exceed my expectations.  If all of the astigmatism can't be taken care of at the time of the surgery, he said a minor revision could be performed in a few months.

After 44 year, I will finally be able to wake up, open my eyes, and see.   

Hope it works out for you Gary I was blessed for many years with outstanding eye site however as the years have rolled by I'm in Wally World readers now just so I can see to type this 

[RoadKill]

Didn't your Dad tell you that would cause blindness?        

Sounds like GREAT news ! Hope you can find a Dr. you can trust,you know how they can be    

 

[old2soon]

How cool is that. I've had glasses-never had contacts of any kind-since i was 9 or 10. Just seems like a normal part of my life now. Just turned 67 so that ain't real high on the list of stuff fer me to get done. Let us know how that works out fer ya. RIDE SAFE.

[John Schmidt]

Sure hope it all works for you. Being able to wake up and see clearly without the specs is great. I was real near-sighted and had Lasik done to both eyes 15 years ago at age 59, and on the way home I actually got a little emotional. My wife was driving and I'd lift the special protective frames and tell her I could already read the license plate of a car 50' in front of us. As the eyes healed my vision actually got better. Like you, I also had been wearing either glasses when young, or soft contacts as an adult, been that way since 3rd grade. But now, as Joe has learned, the years will affect your ability to do stuff close up. So I just keep a few drug store readers around the house and in my pocket when we go out. I still have 20/20 distant sight, close up is more difficult but if there is good contrast between the print and the paper I can still read without the cheaters.

Good luck on your procedure, it's a whole new world awaiting you. 

[Karen]

Best of luck with the procedures, Gary, you have a lovely family to look at.

[sugerbear]

if you haven't already, ask how many drs and surgons he's done that'll give you a very good idea how good he is.

[JimmyG]

G-Man,  I had lens replacement done 3 years ago because of cataracts. I was to young for it but had too. Wow, I did not know the air was really clear. did one eye, then 2 weeks later, the other eye. I noticed that the new eye was clear as crystal, while the other was brownish looking through it. Afterwards, I could see like a kid again, 20/20, all I need is readers for close work.  make sure the surgeon has a good record. Good luck.

[Jess Tolbirt]

our boss here is a 75 year old lady who has all sorts of health issues..she got a pace maker so now she doesnt have to worry about her heart stopping on her, she got some sort of ear thing done and now she hears like the bionic woman, and now she is having her eyes fixed with new lenses,, getting so we cant get away with any thing around here

[R J]

I had cataracts removed several years ago.   WOW MOM, everything was real sharp and clear.

Now over the years I'm starting to have trouble reading at a distance.   Dr said this was normal and that the surgery he did looks to be in 'A' okay shape.

I still wear glasses, just so I have a changeable color lens depending on the sun light.          Always hated wearing glasses and the go outside and have to change to sunglasses.   Go back indoors and have to change back.

However, I got my 1st pair of glasses when I was 55 years old.    I wore shades when I was a cop.  I would tip them up on my head when I was talking to a motorist I'd pulled over.    We always pulled our helmets in a stop.

[ChromeDome]

Best of luck Gary.

I've thought about Lasik but just not ready for it. I wear glasses but don't have any of the issues that you or others have mentioned. I tried contacts a number of years ago but could never get use to them so have stayed with glasses ever since. Again, best of luck to you.

[Rams]

our boss here is a 75 year old lady who has all sorts of health issues..she got a pace maker so now she doesnt have to worry about her heart stopping on her, she got some sort of ear thing done and now she hears like the bionic woman, and now she is having her eyes fixed with new lenses,, getting so we cant get away with any thing around here

Just wait until she gets those breast implants and the tummy tuck.  You'll be hitting her up for a raise and it won't be financial.  

[Skinhead]

Gary, I wore glasses since I was 8 and couldn't stand not being able to see without them, couldn't get used to contacts hard or soft.  Had Lasik done a few years ago and only wish I had done it sooner.  Your procedure sounds a little more involved, but I would go for it.  Good Luck.

[highcountry]

Sounds like great news, G-man.  Hopefully all goes as well as billed.  I had cataract surgery in both eyes with implants and fortunately, I was able to pitch my senior-eyes glasses except for Wally World cheap reading glasses for smallish print.

[GreenLantern57]

Gary, I wore glasses since I was 8 and couldn't stand not being able to see without them, couldn't get used to contacts hard or soft.  Had Lasik done a few years ago and only wish I had done it sooner.  Your procedure sounds a little more involved, but I would go for it.  Good Luck.

Ditto for me, had LASIK at 50 and spend way less for the readers than my last pair of glasses cost. Walgreens has them on sale, buy one get one free several times a year, even bought 2 with the LEDs built in. One in the saddlebag and one in the shop.

[Hoser]

Has anyone developed treatment for macular degeneration?   Hoser  ???

[solo1]

I've always been near sighted since a kid and have worn glasses all my life.  I couldn't make out the big 'E' on the chart without glasses.

I had cataract surgery done last November. at 83 years old. Wow! colors are now brighter, my vision is almost 20/20 and night glare is gone. The bad astigmatism was almost corrected too with the new internal lenses but I'm wearing corrective glasses for that now. I got tired of hunting for my reading glasses. With the small correction and bifocals, my eyes are now 20/20   I'm looking forward to wearing decent sunglasses while riding now.

From what I heard, people that had Lasix surgery done need to have a very experienced  opthamologist to replace their natural lenses if that is to be the next step.

[R J]

My youngest daughter inherited her mom's eyes.     Coke bottle bottoms.

Last Sept when her ex husband forced her to file for a divorce she figured why not get lasik done since his insurance was still covering her and the girls.   Cost me $500 co-pay.    I paid it as I knew she didn't have the $$$$, her ex f*cked her over royally.   I blame it on her attorney.   I asked the attorney what the hell he did for the $5,000 I paid him.   He said when you pay her bill let me know and I'll tell ya.    I said look Mr., I was the one who paid your retainer fee.   He shut up and walked out.    Never did get an answer.

Took her in, waited while they did the procedure and took her home.   I staid with her till the next morning when her soon to be ex at the time came and got the girls for his 2 days.

Took her back for a check look see at noon.    The Dr who did the procedure came very highly recommended by 4 different eye Dr's. including our own eye Dr we had gone to for years.

She now is 20/20 without glasses.    She is like me now, wears glasses with the lenses that change to dark in the sunlight.    I asked her last Saturday if she would have done it earlier had she known about it.    She said in a heart beat.    She is 38 or 39 years old, and she wore glasses from age 3.   She could not see a thing without her coke bottles lenses till now.

[Jess from VA]

I've worn glasses since 16.  I'd need correction for computer and reading, even with Lasik.  I need eye protection for shooting, riding, power tools anyway.  So I'll just stick to glasses.  Now if I ever have to deal with cataracts or some other surgical issue, I'll reconsider.

[Valker]

Has anyone developed treatment for macular degeneration?   Hoser  ???

Looked into this? http://www.vision-nutrition.com/pahaocnu200t.html?gclid=CJG8moqAsK4CFWOMtgod7V7DPA

[Hoser]

I shall give it a try, Eric.  Hoser,    Thanks

[Jess from VA]

I shall give it a try, Eric.  Hoser,    Thanks

My 82yo mom is fighting macular degeneration.  There is no cure.  She has undergone treatment and several surgeries to slow it's progress.  Finger counting only in one eye, the other she can still use.  And her only loving hobby is her books.  (She rode her own Harley and Honda in her youth)

http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen/armd_facts.asp

[Valker]

I shall give it a try, Eric.  Hoser,    Thanks

My 82yo mom is fighting macular degeneration.  There is no cure.  She has undergone treatment and several surgeries to slow it's progress.  Finger counting only in one eye, the other she can still use.  And her only loving hobby is her books.  (She rode her own Harley and Honda in her youth)

http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen/armd_facts.asp

I might not try something for a condition that was making me deaf (I've been a sign language interpreter for 45 years) but I would try almost ANYthing to maintain my sight. I've heard both good and bad about a lot of supplements, but I'd try if they were my eyes.....

[G-Man]

Best of luck with the procedures, Gary, you have a lovely family to look at.

Thank you! 

[G-Man]

Hi, and thank you all for the encouragement and well wishes.  I checked this guy out.  With my high nearsightedness, the main risk for this surgery is retinal tear.  I was seeing the guy you are supposed to go to if you are a high risk patient.  He examined me, took me out of the hard lenses so my corneas could "regulate".  Been wearing soft lenses with crappy vision for about 6 months now.  Then, when my eyes finally did regulate, he chickened out.  Told my optometrist that hs didn't need the risk at his stage of the game (he's in his 60's).  The chicken then referred me to the guy who's gonna do the surgery because he is one of the few docs that remove the old lense via laser.  This is supposed to decrease the risk of retinal tear dramatically.  I checked this guy out and he is everything they said, and he thinks, he is (he was quite pompous until he figured out that I was also a doc and wasn't impressed easliy).  That's when he said he could exceed my expectations. 

Surgey date is March 6th and I can't freakin wait.  it's been difficult, to say the least, walking around with the soft lenses which are only correcting about 75% of my vision so night driving, especially in the rain, is terrible and I strain a lot at work and get headaches from straining.  2 more weeks!!!!!!

BTW, this is why I was increasing the font size on my posts....so I could read them to make corrections, etc.  Not to be self important, which is what our Singapore person accused me of.

[Dragonryder2]

WTG, that is fabulous.  I have never regreted having Lasix eye surgery.  YES, I now wear cheaters to read and do things up close, but who cares.  I don't have to wear bottle cap lenses.

Keep us posted on how it goes.  DO NOT be upset if you can't see the very first day.  Everyone is different and recovers at a different rate. BE PATIENT.

[alph]

i've given up on Lasik.  my cornia's are too thin and after "seeing" six different Optomitrists they've all told me the same thing, so Lasik is no option for me.  my wife has had Lasik, she's doing great with it, it's been 10 years now, and she still looks great!!

i've worn glasses since i was 10 years old, i've hated it ever since, and wearing contacts just burn too much.

[GreenLantern57]

i've given up on Lasik.  my cornia's are too thin and after "seeing" six different Optomitrists they've all told me the same thing, so Lasik is no option for me.  my wife has had Lasik, she's doing great with it, it's been 10 years now, and she still looks great!!

i've worn glasses since i was 10 years old, i've hated it ever since, and wearing contacts just burn too much.

I could not wear contacts either. Dry eyes. Dr said the proceedure for opening the tear ducts was around 10K, LOTS cheaper to have lasik.