The eyes have it
I have developed both cataracts and macular degeneration, neither of them yet serious enough to pose a serious threat to vision, although either of them could proceed to that point in the future. The macular degeneration is the "dry" kind which doesn't generally do very much damage. It could eventually change into the more dangerous "wet" kind, but that will likely be years in the future, if it ever happens at all. Macular degeneration can be helped by special vitamins, which I've already started; the "wet" kind, if I ever develop that, can be kept at bay by means of injections (yes, into the eye) at intervals of a few months. Cataracts, if they get really bad, can be fixed by surgery, which is much less traumatic than it sounds. These kinds of problems run in families; my mother had both cataracts and macular degeneration.
Separately from the above, this week I learned that I've also developed another condition in one eye which, in about 90% of cases, will simply go away over the next few days or weeks; but in the other 10% of cases will lead to retinal detachment. In the meantime, it is producing odd and alarming effects in my vision. If it starts proceeding to retinal detachment, I'll know because those visual effects will suddenly start getting worse; if that happens I need to call them immediately so I can come in for laser treatment, which can fix the problem if it is caught in time. If it isn't caught in time, full-blown surgery would be necessary.
Needless to say, the situation is quite stressful; and the visual effects produced by the second condition are irritating and distracting. As best I can tell, they are not getting any worse, but are not subsiding either, or if so, only very slowly. This is why I have not been in a frame of mind for posting since Tuesday.
Yesterday was the fifteenth anniversary of this blog. I think that's the first time I've let a blogiversary go by without noting it in some way, however briefly.
posted by Infidel753 at 2:16 AM
18 Comments:
OMG hope it's really nothing serious. Vision problems are not uncommon (I wear glasses cause I'm near-sighted and have had those little blurry things cross my vision) but having propensity to both cataracts and macular degeneration in the family is heavy. Please let us know how everything goes. Hopefully the vitamins will help.
And congrats on fifteen years! Woot! Woot!
XOXO
Infidel -- congratulations on your anniversary, but most importantly, we hope you overcome the eye problems. Be well, brother!
Oh I am sorry.
I have had cataract surgery in both eyes and it’s no big deal. My close friend had retinal detachment and the surgery was no big deal.
The macular degeneration is though, so hopefully it will stay "dry" and the vitamins will help. My friend above knows a man who has a shot in the eye everyday..his,I believe is the wet kind. He still sees, but poorly.
By the times yours changes, there will be more improvements in care and perhaps surgery as well. I wish you the best.
And congratulations on your very fine blog.
Yes, congratulations on fifteen years blogging! I hope, also, that your vision improves!
Welcome to the eye problem club. I have glaucoma in one eye. Go to have laser surgery to open up the drain. My wife just had two cornea replacements. The surgery takes no time at all. The drops three times a day for a month afterwards are a pain. Her mother, 2 aunts, and one uncle all have macular degeneration. The aunts and uncle have been getting shots in the eye for years now.
We both started blogging around the same time. It's amazing we're still here.
Sorry to hear about your eye problems, my friend. I hope the treatments will help.
Bruce❤️
Congratulations on the 15th anniversary. Not every day you read someone has made it.
Otherwise, I'm hoping nothing bad comes of this. As we get older we all have those nightmares of needing surgery or some medical procedure that might either take our savings accounts or worse.
Betty Davis said, "Growing old ain't no place for sissies."
Wow - I hope you feel better soon. What types of vitamins may I ask are they recommending? I have a friend who just had cataract surgery and she is so pleased with the improvement in her vision. I guess everyone who lives in Colorado gets them sooner or later cause of the high altitude sun, so I am waiting for mine. Congratulations on the Blogaversary. 15 years is mighty impressive.
Thank you all for the kind words. I truly appreciate it. So far the visual symptoms don't seem to be getting worse and may be improving a little (or maybe I'm just getting used to them).
The vitamins are "AREDS2" with lutein and zeaxanthin as the active ingredients. My mother also had macular degeneration and used to take similar ones.
I have had cataract surgery on both eyes...easy peasy...I also take a vitimin for good eyes? also take drops for dry eyes..what ever it takes.
Good luck with the eyes!
I've had cataracts fixed in both of mine - no biggy at all.
But, I also had severe retina detachment in one eye (some years after cataract fixes) and the surgery/lasing couldn't fix it - am blind in one eye now. My doc had to sign a special form for the DMV to allow me to renew my driver's license/eye test though.
So, I kinda understand your worries. All you can do is keep getting regular checkups & maintain your health insurance. The retina surgery is not cheap.
p.s. a Big thanks for the blog.
Thanks for the encouragement -- I really appreciate it.
Sorry to hear about the eye issues. I've had cataracts in both eyes. as well as retinal detachment. the cataracts were a non issue, The surgeries took about a half hour and I walked out in less time than the consultations. The retinal detachment had me off work for 3 months and I'm back to work sailing an 18 wheeler up and down the highway. Opthalmic surgery is nothing short of amazing and I hope you yours goes as well as mine did. Keep up the good work
Seafury: Thank you. I'm not seeing the vision disturbances get any worse, at least, so I'm more hopeful that this won't proceed to retinal detachment.
So sorry to hear of your eye concerns, but it sounds as though the most pressing issues are resolving without treatment. Cataract surgery is, as another commenter noted, “easy peasy,” with often delightful benefits—as colors become more vivid in addition to general greater clarity. And macular degeneration is the subject of much research, so there’s hope for better treatments.
Fifteen years of blogging is remarkable. The fact that you continue to offer such thoughtful and erudite essays even more so. Congratulations, Infidel! PS: More poetry, please.
Hopefully it will resolve without treatment -- so far I'm not seeing it get worse (meaning possible retinal detachment), but based on what the doctor said, it might take several weeks to happen, so I'm not out of the woods on that yet.
Everyone seems to agree that cataract surgery is pretty easy -- in any case, if I need that, it shouldn't be for several more years, so hopefully the process will improve even further.
Thanks for the kind words about the blog. I was working on another poem for a while, but realized that the concept didn't really have enough substance to it to work.
so sorry to hear - sending you my best. for whatever it's worth, I know an elderly woman who's been getting the shots for macular degeneration & they've actually improved her vision, which her doctor said wouldn't happen.
Thanks. My mother's eyesight also improved from the injections, amazingly enough. By the time it becomes an issue for me, hopefully the treatments will have improved still further.
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