It never ends

[k9krap]

Got up and put in a new pair of contacts.  Since I’m getting low on my latest prescription, I used a pair from an old prescription (I like to save a couple pairs for my eye appointments so the docs don’t get too panicky about drastic eye changes).  Usually, the old ones aren’t that big of a difference, but today it was almost like I needn’t have bothered.  My right eye was so blurry, I thought I had lost the lens and put in another one.  Nope, but double prescription was worse!  After a couple hours, I couldn’t stand it any longer, so I went upstairs and swapped the lens out for a newer pair.  They are a little better, but not much.  I’m having to use my reading glasses to obtain clear vision!  WTF?  Doc said I have cataracts, but they don’t get this bad overnight, do they?

Yes, if it’s no better, I’ll go see Dr. Coleman, my ophthalmologist.  

[Dave's Not Here Man]

You have cataracts?

I have Rincon Contintenter.

[minx]

I would go to the eye doctor - could be a detached retina, but it also could be nothing.

[k9krap]

Still had issues today with the contacts, so I switched to glasses. Guess what? I can see fine, or as fine as I usually see with glasses (they can’t get me to 20/20 with glasses. Contacts normally give me perfect vision or better). So I’m thinking it’s a cornea issue, which I have occasionally. Or maybe dry eyes, which has been controlled by prescription for years. If it’s cornea, it’ll clear up in a week or so.  ETA:  In the past, my cornea problems (unless they’re dry) are accompanied with pain, particularly when I insert the contact lens.  That isn’t the case in this instance.  

I have macular degeneration, too, so I need to keep an eye on that as well.  Visual symptoms usually manifest in peripheral vision.  With glasses, I have no peripheral vision so it’s difficult to determine if it’s affecting my sight.  I’ve lost the sheet that I’m supposed to use to test it.  

[k9krap]

John, what is that Rincon Contintener of which you speak? Google couldn’t help me.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

[rally2xs]

My cataracts were changing so fast that the prescription I got for glasses would work for about 6 weeks, and then I couldn't see well again. There was no choice but to have the surgery. Would not recommend the surgery unless you need it - not all surgeries are 100% successful. IOW, they are dangerous, always. But if you need it, you need it, and can look forward to much better vision. If you can get the multifocal lenses, then I recommend those - I see perfectly. The thing is, with my eyes, they were so far "off" that I needed a diopter 31 in one eye and 31.5 in the other eye. They only make multifocals up to 30. So, my doctor put in the 30's, then did laser surgery on the cornea to bring the eyes into perfect focus. Multifocals can be pricey depending on your insurance coverage.

[k9krap]

I will eventually have the surgery but will wait until necessary, although the thought of living without having to wear glasses or contacts is very, very intriguing. I’ve had to wear glasses since I was 11. Very thick ones.

[rally2xs]

Jul 19, 2018 16:01:46 GMT -5 k9krap said:

I will eventually have the surgery but will wait until necessary, although the thought of living without having to wear glasses or contacts is very, very intriguing. I’ve had to wear glasses since I was 11. Very thick ones.

Got mine in 1st grade, when I wandered in and more-or-less said, "What blackboard?"   I was insistent on real glass glasses for a long time because the plastic lenses would scratch so easily, but had to relent toward the end because the weight of the glasses was so high that I couldn't comfortably support them with my nose.   Now, nothing - really weird at time, sometimes wake up and reach for them on the night stand.  Will sometimes start to push them up my nose with my finger before I remember I don't have them.   Very nice not to have them, have to clean them, have them dirty at times when I couldn't clean them for some reason, etc.

[DA]

I had radial keratotomy way back in the mid/late 80's, and that is where they actually cut your eyeballs. Lasted for about 10-15 years before I need to get glasses for perfect vision. I don't "need" my glasses for driving, but I wear them for crisp vision. I've had glasses since the 3rd grade myself. My problem now is when I wake up, I have to use my reading glasses until my eyes adjust and I can then put on my regular glasses. Of course, this set of glasses is now 6 years old. Need to find work so I can afford to get new glasses.

[k9krap]

My right eye is still not clear via contact lens, so I’m sticking with my glasses for the short term. I gave an appointment later this month for a visual field test (I have them semiannually for macular degeneration), so I’ll ask my ophthalmologist to check it out at that time. Actually, I won’t need to ask as they’ll check it out when I flunk the vision test!

[minx]

I hate visual field tests! I have to get them annually right now for mild glaucoma, and they give me a total headache!

[k9krap]

Me, too. I stress so much over them. They’ve gotten much better recently. It used to take over an hour for both eyes, but the test is much shorter now.

i have to have them every 6 months because I’m back on Plaquenil, which is supposed to help prevent lupus flare-ups (although I’m recovering from a flare-up at the moment).  But it can cause retina damage.  I was taking it when I was first diagnosed with AMD and stopped taking it immediately.   I didn’t want to go back on it but my ophthalmologist assured me that he’d keep a close watch for changes.  

[k9krap]

Great news! Went to have my ERG and visual field tests today (damn plaquinil). The ophthalmologist said there was no drastic changes in my eyes regarding the AMD. I recently noticed a new floater in the right eye and he very diligently checked my eye for retinal tears, of which floaters can be a symptom. He saw no tears. Yahoo! And he saw no issues in my eye that would cause problems with my contacts, other than my eyes being a little dry.

So, when I got home I tried a new pair of lenses and they seem fine. I haven’t tried them in about a month. I guess it was a cornea issue and just took a while to heal.

I see the optician for refraction later this month.

[DA]

Good to hear.

I have so many floaters in my eyes that I wouldn't notice a new one. They constantly annoy me when I read at night. I wish I could get an fluid change for them so I wouldn't be bothered by them anymore.

[bobathon]

Sometimes I'm surrounded by skeeters. Sometimes it's floaters I'm slapping at.

[k9krap]

Me, too, Bob.

Years ago, my mom had so many that the ophthalmologist zapped some of them with a laser to help her vision. I’m not sure if they do that anymore.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

Damn and here I thought I was the only one slapping at phantom skeeters.

[No. 1 son]

I don't know if you've done much with an acetylene torch, but we used them a lot to cut old conduit and heat bearings for motors, etc. Newbies would open the acetylene valve on the torch a little too much and the oxygen valve a little to light it, and being so rich it blew itself out and sent little burned carbon flecks all over. They would be swatting those gnats for half an hour after that.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

Long LONG time ago. In High School. Auto body shop.