Sweating Profusely

[old2soon]

I'll turn 70 on 15 Feb 2015. Got my drivers license renewal notice in the mail before Christmas 2014. There is a Mandatory eye exam at license renewal!  THAT eye exam was what was causing the perspiration.  So this past Friday 30 Jan 2015 I bit the bullet and headed over to the D M V operated license office. I'd mentioned before that I have macular degeneration in the right eye and according to the eye Doctors I've dealt with all the time I've spent outdoors contributed to the condition my eye is currently in. The first couple of times I looked at the letters in that infernal box they looked like farsi sguiggles or children's scribbles.  NOT good no matter how you look at it-pun intended! Walked out to my car got my water bottle and washed out my eyes.  Came back in took a deep breath and put my forehead to the infernal box and-passed!  I could only miss 3 and that's what I missed-3. The signs were a breeze compared to the squiggles/scribbles.  Funny part is on the highway in my cage or on the Phatt Ghurl I see fine. NOT as well as when I was 20 by any means but I still see. So I'm legal for 6 more years. Truthfully if I feel unsafe or my vision gets worse I WILL turn that license in. Also gave up my C D L for just a "regular license". I've had a Chauffers license/C D L since I've been 24 or 25 so It's been a day or two since I've had a "regular license".  Anyway yet another sign-as IF I needed one-that I am in fact getting older-or as others have mentioned-senior citizen!  RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

Well have you been to an optometrist or have glasses?  Maybe even a pair of Walmart cheaters?

I had glasses in HS, but never wore them and passed my driver's eye tests for years (I did not want optics required on my driver's license if I could help it, and wore them for night driving anyway). 

One eye was a bit worse than the other.  Before the machines it was charts on the wall.  I would go in and cover my bad eye with my hand and pass, then I would use my other hand, but reach across and cover the same bad eye, and read the chart with my good eye again.  I did that several times even with the tester looking at me.

The day came that they had the machine, and I failed.  So I said, OK, lets see how I do with my glasses (and passed easily).

[old2soon]

Jess-I've had corrective lenses-eye glasses-since I've been 8. And yup-that is stated on my license-corrective lenses and a right hand mirror on everything I drive or ride. Have been and still am nearsighted. And at certain times in my day I need my reading glasses.  And-yuppers-this won't mean a cursed thing after I'm gone.  RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

Well you didn't say you were wearing them in your post. 

If you have bi or tri or progressive focals in your glasses, you may need to move your head (or glasses) around when facing the machine for best results.  This issue gives me some trouble with rifle optics, iron sights and binoculars. 

When I was passing without my glasses, I found that hard squinting let me see the small letters I could not see with a relaxed eye.  (near sighted, with warpy eyeball astigmatism)

[MP]

 

Glad you will be riding to Inzane this year!  LOL

Congrats.

MP

[solo1]

Dennis, I can understand your concern.  I talked to a number of people with macular degeneration, at the ophthalmologist's office when i was going to have my cataracts removed. There doesn't seem to be any easy treatment for that.

In my case, no macular degeneration but I had pre glaucoma and had laser treatment for that.

Before all this I couldn't see the big E without glasses, way near sighted, ever since the 4th grade..  After, I now have 20/20 vision without glasses except for a little astigmatism.

Now if only they could replace my knees as easily and with the same results.!!!

[old2soon]

Mel-I-15 at this point anyway looking IFFY. I'll know more around April or so. Trust me when I tell you my brother wants to meet in Sioux Falls or Sioux City. I'd like very much to be there cause a lot of these characters I don't see but once a year. 
 Wayne-going to the V A eye doc later this month. And-yes-at this point in time as I understand it there is no cure/remedy/fix for macular degeneration.  Best I can do at this point in time is hold it at bay.  Course if the left eye gets as bad as the right eye I'm done ridin and drivin!  THAT'S gonna be a cursed difficult bridge to cross.    Trust me when I tell you me and the LORD have had and will continue to have long talks.  I PRAY if I end up unable to ride or drive anymore I handle it like a Man and NOT a whiny little beeatch!  I thank everyone for the comments and support!  RIDE SAFE.

[MP]

Will be praying for you, old2soon!  I KNOW you would handle it well if it happens.

MP

[98valk]

they have replacement surgery for macular degeneration now

A new macular degeneration surgery using the iolAMD lens is transforming the way people see. According to the iolamd website, "iolAMD, also known as the “Hubble Implant”, is potentially the greatest breakthrough in the surgical treatment of macular disease in history."

 The Hubble telescope was the inspiration behind the development of this new technology, but ophthalmic surgeon Bobby Qureshi and optical physicist Pablo Artal were the team that brought this technology from outer space to the inner eye. The original images from the Hubble telescope were fuzzy and out of focus. But with the help of some otpical physics the images are now cryal clear. This same physics has been applies to the iolAMD lenses. The team developed what is called a hyper-aspheric lens that "reduces the distortion that can be associated with mini-telescope lenses."

http://www.webrn-maculardegeneration.com/macular-degeneration-surgery.html

[R J]

Years before my mom passed away, I had to take her DL away from her.    Told her if I caught her driving I'd personally take her to jail and book her, and recommend NO BAIL, let her lay it out.     She bitched hollered and almost crapped her undies a few times before it soaked in.     

Never caught her driving however, I think she drove one of her good friends car until they figured out she didn't have a license anymore.

I told my 2 youngest kids, if I need to walk instead of drive, please walk up, demand my license and take it.    Oldest daughter told them she'd help take it.   She wants the great and great great grand babies to know me.