Cataracts in my eyes!!!!!!

[Pigslayer]

I'm 59 years old and have always worn glasses . . . since the fourth grade anyway. Over the last year I noticed that brightly lit stores bothered my eyes. Things were in focus & yet not. I thought well, gonna have to get my eyes checked but put iut off for a while. Recently I found the problem to be worsening & realized that my vision in my right eye was the problem.
I got an eye exam yesterday & the Dr. said that I had cataracts (in the beginning stages) in both eyes. I almost flipped! Scared the h**l out of me!
He told me not to worry as many start getting cataracts at about my age. He said that it isn't a big deal in having them removed. He wrote me a new prescription for glasses but wants to get me back in to dialate my eyes for a better look. He said not to worry. But I do!
Upon my last visit to My GP I was told that I was close to being diabetic & have as of late been changing my eating habits and really watching what I'm eating to get my weight down. No more beer!! Anyone out there that has or is facing these problems??
I thing good came out of this. I was expecting the usual $300.00 price tag for glasses & with work being slow lately I was fretting that. I started looking for a reputable place online to get my prescription filled. I was told about a place by a friend & checked them out. I read about a zillion reviews from customers which were all good. I ordered a nice pair w/bifocals for $100.00 even. That includes the thin lenses w/scratchcoat. I would normally be sceptical but after reading all the reviews I thought I would give it a try & better yet they're made in the USA. Up around NYC.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

my son had a catarct removed in his right eye when he was 8 years old .his sight is 20/50 now
just glad he can see the big E on the sight test. they had to remove his lens too they can
replace that when he is 18 years old. shoots a rifle as a lefty a pistol as a righty
it works for him

[keyhole]

Pigslayer

Like you, I had worn glasses since grade school. When I was reaching my late 50's my optometrist said I needed to get my cataracts removed. The longer I waited the more difficult it became to remove them without potential problems. I thought my vision was OK but I did I did get frequent headaches from eyestrain. At 58 I finally had cataract surgery in both eyes.
The surgery itself was painless. They did each eye a week apart. It took several weeks before the eyes stabilized but my vision improved dramatically. Colors were more vibrant, distant images are sharp, it was like the world became clear again. I don't need glasses except for extended reading I do wear reading glasses.
My wife is in the middle of having her eyes done. She waited too long almost and one eye's cataract was very difficult to remove. She is doing better now but she had a lot of post-op discomfort. Her vision is much better now. She was legally blind before the procedure, her cataract in the left eye was especially bad.
If you want other feedback about something in particular, please let me know.

keyhole

[higgins]

There have been a couple of recent threads about cataracts. In addition to whatever posts appear here, search and you'll come up with more. I'll soon be 62, and I have had progressively worse cataracts for a few years. When it gets to the point that your binocular vision gets cloudy, it's time to get it fixed. I had my right eye done in early August. Simple, painless procedure that takes about 30 minutes. You're awake but feel nothing. The cloudy lens is replaced with a plastic lens. You won't believe how clear your vision is after it's done. One thing I hadn't anticipated was the choice of replacement lenses available. They can implant a lens that clears distance vision but will require reading glasses, a lens that clears near vision but requires correction at distance, or some kind of variable lens. I went with the lens that clears distance vision because I figured that overall it would be better to not need glasses to drive, watch TV, or anything else at distance. It is more difficult to see iron sights on handguns and rifles with my "fixed" right eye. I shoot left handed, and I'm going to have the same lens implanted in my left eye, hopefully soon, for the sake of consistent vision and because I can make shooting with iron sights possible with progressive bifocals. Using my corrected right eye, I shot a .22 rifle with an aperture rear sight right handed enough to convince myself that the lens I had implanted will work. I shot handguns just by leaning my head over to look at the sights with my right eye. I couldn't hit anything shooting right-eyed or right-handed because I have a lifetime of muscle memory invested in left hand shooting; I only did it to see how that lens was going to work in my left (shooting) eye. It's only normal to be a bit apprehensive about surgery of any sort because of the possibility that something can go wrong with any surgery, but I don't think you will regret having your cataracts fixed. I too am borderline diabetic but both my optometrist and the eye surgeon said it wasn't bad enough to have contributed to my cataracts. Mine were probably aggravated by a lot of work outside without wearing sunglasses when I was younger. Good luck with it-I think you'll get more encouragement here shortly.

[3006guns]

I got the same news from my eye doctor about a year ago, although he told me I could probably go another 5-7 years before getting cataract surgery.

No wonder my groups have been opening up lately! Those razor sharp iron sights have been getting pretty fuzzy......

But rejoice! Think about it. Medical technology has progressed to the point where such problems are correctable now...unthinkable 40 years ago and now a reality. My neighbor was in his LATE EIGHTIES and had cataract surgery, a simple in and out procedure......so he could read his micrometers and work on his lathe without glasses!

[klcarroll]

Hey Pigslayer

Don't feel like The Lone Ranger! .......I'm going through exactly the same thing! (Including the "boarderline Diabetes" thing.)

My eye doctor said the cataracts are in their early stages, and not to worry about them for a while: ....Mainly because they are nowhere near bad enough for my pathetic Health Care package to approve the surgery yet!

Some aspects of getting old really suck!

Kent

[jcwit]

This is where my wife and I have gotten eyewear for years, after receiving the glasses I had them checked out by my optometrist and they always been up to specs. and the correct perscription.

I'm also diabetic and now on the heavy side. 11 years ago I weighed 100 lbs and was diagonsed with leukemia, Dr's said to EAT, so I did, now I'm overweight. Ya know what, it doesn't come off easy. I'm now taking a light shot of insulin daily and keep my sugar under control.

If you're a vet, I'd suggest getting signed up with the Veterans Administration, they sure help me out alot.

[cbrick]

I have diabetes and over a few years when my eyesight was getting worse and worse I blamed diabetes without getting it checked out. I had been seeing an optometrist and the best advice I got was to get new glasses twice a year instead once. When I finally took my head out of my hieny and went to an ophthalmologist instead of an optometrist it was literally a life changer, life saver. I found out that it had gotten so bad that I was legally blind but that it was cataracts and an easy fix. I had the left eye done and WOW, what a difference. Two months later I had the right eye done. I actually had very little diabetes caused eye damage; it was all cataracts of which the optometrist said nothing (he does earn his living selling glasses after all).

I learned during all this that a very large percentage of people get cataracts to one degree or another. Some people get them earlier in live, others later. Some people’s cataracts never progress to where anything needs to be done and others get them and it progresses very rapidly. The good news is that in this day and age it doesn’t need to be something to be feared but it is something that needs to be kept track of. See an ophthalmologist and heed his advice, if needed it really is an easy and life changing fix.

Rick

[Pigslayer]

Pigslayer

Like you, I had worn glasses since grade school. When I was reaching my late 50's my optometrist said I needed to get my cataracts removed. The longer I waited the more difficult it became to remove them without potential problems. I thought my vision was OK but I did I did get frequent headaches from eyestrain. At 58 I finally had cataract surgery in both eyes.
The surgery itself was painless. They did each eye a week apart. It took several weeks before the eyes stabilized but my vision improved dramatically. Colors were more vibrant, distant images are sharp, it was like the world became clear again. I don't need glasses except for extended reading I do wear reading glasses.
My wife is in the middle of having her eyes done. She waited too long almost and one eye's cataract was very difficult to remove. She is doing better now but she had a lot of post-op discomfort. Her vision is much better now. She was legally blind before the procedure, her cataract in the left eye was especially bad.
If you want other feedback about something in particular, please let me know.

keyhole

Thank you sooooo much! I needed that support! The Dr. said he caught it early and that I had plenty of time to get something done (about a year). I'm going to get an appointment with an opthamologist on monday (hopefully). I need to get this ball rolling. Taking care of myself is paramount. I'm glad that I didn't waste any time when I realized that there was a problem. I have two weeks vacation coming as of January 1 so I'll use my vacation for that.:coffeecom

[felix]

Target scopes a'la' BR are the most damaging to the shooting eye. More power equal better groups at the expense of growing the cataract in that eye. Pick the station, when possible, having the DARKEST reflection. ... felix

[Kraschenbirn]

I'll, most likely, be having cataract surgeries in December. Wanted to get them done a couple years back but, because I have a history of AMD (Age-related Macular Degeneration - a non-reverseable deterioration of the retina), my opthamologist sent me for a retinal scan before signing off on the operation(s).

Yup...the scans indicated a (minor) recurrance of the AMD and I've been undergoing a regimen of chemical treatments (intra-ocular injections) for the last year and a half. (My first go-round with AMD a few years back, there were NO pharmaceutical therapies available...the only treatment, at that time, was laser surgery to, essentially, cauterize the degenerative tissues which, of course, destroyed the optical receptors of the treated area.)

Anyway, my last two retinal scans have come up 99% clean and the retinal specialist has scheduled a pre-op conference with the surgeon for next month with the intent of getting the cataract work done before the first of the year. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed.

Bill

[Echo]

My wife was an optician, and ran the optical shop for an ophthalmologist. He still does my exams, and has told me for years that I have a small cataract starting in my right eye. I need my annual soon, and if he says it's time, then it's time, and I will have him put in whatever he suggests - I trust Chuck implicitly and explicitly. I have heard enough from folks that have had the procedure that it is no issue...

[Tom-ADC]

Wife not only had cataracts in both eyes, she also had macular holes two in her left eye that were repaired along with the cataract, after it healed she is blind in the center of that eye, then she gets a macular hole in the right eye along with a cataract that was just starting, the repair and cataract went well & she see's very well out of that eye.
We did a lot of praying during those times but all seems fine now.

[Pigslayer]

I want to thank all of you people for responding to my thread. I feel a whole lot better now. :bigsmyl2:

[ronbo]

Cataract surgery is nothing after having 6 eye surgeries in 6 years including cataract surgery in both eyes, distance vision if you are near sighted should be near 20-20 if there are no other eye problems. I have had a retina detachment, macular hole, vitrectomy surgery in both eyes and the cataract surgery in both eyes. The cataract surgery is a piece of cake don't worry about it.

[johniv]

Just had my eyes done this summer, first the right then the left. Right is good left is still a bit blured but I hope for a compleate recovery. In and out in one day (per eye) I am driving w/o glasses and my shooting has not been impaired.BTW good Dr.s and eye surgery center in Winchester Va. right down the road from you, in case you are looking for a Dr to do the job.
John

[Wayne Smith]

My ophthalmologist told me that the eye lens is the same as the skin in the womb. The skin regenerates, the lens doesn't. He said that everybody gets them if they live long enough.

You guys that are diabetic or pre- PM me if you are having problems getting control of your blood sugars. I am too, and teach about how these things work. If you haven't been to the Diabetic classes at your local medical center get your MD to prescribe them. They are necessary for long term survival.

[skeet1]

I have had both of my eyes done and what a difference it had made. I can see again!!!! Before I was having trouble seeing the sights on my handguns and rifles let alone the targets and now it is very clear with only a small correction in my glasses. I would highly recomen getting the surgery to anyone with cataracts.

Ken

[edsmith]

I just had cataracts removed from my left eye last week,also has a lens implanted, had my right eye done last month, nothing to it. now I can see , I am now able to use iron sights.no pain, just eye drops 4 times a day.I could not see out of my left eye, now I can read the text on my laptop.

[PatMarlin]

Geez weea all falling apart at CB... :mrgreen:

Good to hear the responses for your eyes here PS. Sounds like now days you can come out, better, stronger, faster than before you went in or how ever the Bionic Man TV show went. I'll sure say it does make a guy feel better knowing he's got friends here that's gone through this kind of stuff.

[Olevern]

I, too, have cataracts in both eyes. It is my understanding that the lens implants are part of the correction and that concerns me. I have a predeliction for heavy recoiling rifles, have two .458 Win Mags and a .375 H&H mag, got rid of my 505 gibbs, but I also run my Siamese mauser (45-70) and my Ruger no1 pretty hard with hog loads.

I understand they just slip the implants in, if they slip in they could slip out under recoil?

Perhaps someone here might know if I will be consigned to light recoiling rifles after this surgury?

I am also type II diabetic and not under very good control with oral meds., so there is a possibility I might become insulin dependent at sometime in the future...not a pleasant prospect.

In any event, it appears that you (we) are not alone but in good company.

Olevern

[edsmith]

my eye DR. is a shooter and hunter, he told me, after 8 weeks I could do any thing I did before, including shooting. there is no chance of the lens comming out.the eye heals cuts just as your arm does.

[a.squibload]

My Dad is in his 80s, had cataracts/lenses this year, no problems,
he said his vision is dramatically better now.

[williamwaco]

[QUOTE=Pigslayer;1446662]

Upon my last visit to My GP I was told that I was close to being diabetic & have as of late been changing my eating habits and really watching what I'm eating to get my weight down. No more beer!! Anyone out there that has or is facing these problems??

QUOTE]

Pig,

1: Where did you get those glasses?

2: One year ago ( age 69 ) I was told I had cataracts but it would be a couple of years before they needed to be removed.

One week after getting new glasses, I was diagnosed as type 2 diabetic. Medicine, diet, etc.

Two weeks after starting the diabetes medicine I couldn't see squat through my new glasses ( Yeah $300 ) and I couldn't recognize faces on the TV. My GP told me that getting the sugar under control frequently caused the vision to change. Talk about bad timing.

The good news is that after about a month, my vision cleared up and I managed to keep the same glasses. Now a year later, it is time for another eye exam and I can't see anything clearly.

The crazy thing is that I can read the stuff on the computer or TV screen but it looks like someone smeared vaseline on my glasses. I am constantly trying to clean off finger prints but they aren't there.

I can't wait another year. I am sick of this and am planning to insist on the surgery next month.

[Bob in Revelstoke]

Very interesting reading about cataracts. This is something that we can notice in our gradual loss of vision and can be corrected.

When you are in for eye exams for whatever reason make sure you get a test for glaucoma. If you develop this condition your vision loss is gradual and irriversable and is caused by the fluid pressure in the interior of the eye ball gradually increasing until it destroys the optic nerve. The initial test is done with a puff of air blown against your eye ball and is completely painless and takes a few seconds. If you have this condition and it goes untreated you may begin to notice a loss of your peripheral vision and it will progress until you seem to be looking through a tiny pin hole and then you will be blind.
I am 76 and fortunately my dr. was quick to note the onset of this condition a few years ago. It is treated with eye drops and in my case laser surgery. I also have cataracts but an operation is still sometime in the future. (If something else doesn't get me first.)

An eye doctor was examining a Japanese man and said, "You have cataracts".

The man said," No No I drive a Rincoln".

[Kraschenbirn]

Olevern...

While I don't shoot any thumpers in the same league with yours, I do shoot some fairly stout .45-70s and I've spoken with both my opthamalogist and retinal surgeon about shooting after cataract surgery. Both said essentially the same thing; i.e. after the incisions are completely healed (4 weeks or so), I should be able to resume shooting, bicycling, and my full fitness workout routine.

You might want to take a look at this link: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002957.htm It's got about the best laymen's explaination of the procedures that I've found.

Bill

[kmag]

Had cataract surgery at 71. Had a lens for distance put in. The surgery was quick and no pain involved. But, unlike most people I had trouble opening my eye in bright light. It wasn't painful but the light just blinded me to the point that I would shut my eye. Dr. said it would go away. After a week or so sunglasses did the trick and after about a month everything was normal. Told my Wife that 30 days of aggravation was nothing to pay for the improvement I got in my eyesight.
My Dr. said that he had done thousands of cataract surgeries and that only a few had the problem that I did. I know when I went for appoints at his office I would talk with other patients and all of them told me that they were back to their normal routine a day or so after the surgery. I'm happy with the outcome.

[Pigslayer]

[QUOTE=Pigslayer;1446662]

Upon my last visit to My GP I was told that I was close to being diabetic & have as of late been changing my eating habits and really watching what I'm eating to get my weight down. No more beer!! Anyone out there that has or is facing these problems??

QUOTE]

Pig,

1: Where did you get those glasses?

2: One year ago ( age 69 ) I was told I had cataracts but it would be a couple of years before they needed to be removed.

One week after getting new glasses, I was diagnosed as type 2 diabetic. Medicine, diet, etc.

Two weeks after starting the diabetes medicine I couldn't see squat through my new glasses ( Yeah $300 ) and I couldn't recognize faces on the TV. My GP told me that getting the sugar under control frequently caused the vision to change. Talk about bad timing.

The good news is that after about a month, my vision cleared up and I managed to keep the same glasses. Now a year later, it is time for another eye exam and I can't see anything clearly.

The crazy thing is that I can read the stuff on the computer or TV screen but it looks like someone smeared vaseline on my glasses. I am constantly trying to clean off finger prints but they aren't there.

I can't wait another year. I am sick of this and am planning to insist on the surgery next month.

Don't mean to advertise on this site but i got my glasses at 39dollarglasses.com. Hope this helps.:coffee:

[jcwit]

No need for glasses to be expensive in this day and age. Lens are machine made for most every perscription now. Three hundred dollars for a pr. of glasses today is more than a bit of a riboff in most cases.

[9.3X62AL]

Felix--

Interesting text. My right eye's cataract "ripened" (!) ahead of my left eye, and I had the surgery a few years ago. Best thing I ever did--now I can hit birds with the shotgun again, and target clarity is enhanced. The left eye is still 2-3 years away, it appears. I shoot right-handed, BTW.

[Olevern]

Olevern...

While I don't shoot any thumpers in the same league with yours, I do shoot some fairly stout .45-70s and I've spoken with both my opthamalogist and retinal surgeon about shooting after cataract surgery. Both said essentially the same thing; i.e. after the incisions are completely healed (4 weeks or so), I should be able to resume shooting, bicycling, and my full fitness workout routine.

You might want to take a look at this link: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002957.htm It's got about the best laymen's explaination of the procedures that I've found.

Bill

Thanks, guys for the reassurances, (and the link)
I am relieved that I won't have to give up hog hunting and shooting my big boomers. I know hogs can be anchored with good shot placement and a 30-30, I've seen it done many times, but I just like the the big bores, even if I run the 458's at top-end 45-70 levels.

Think I'm gonna try to get the eye doc to do the surgury right after my next trip to South Texas, which will be in Feb.

[Pigslayer]

I am relieved in that I have an appointment with the Retina Center of Western Maryland and yes, they take my insurance!!! I've got the ball rolling.

[Hickory]

My eye dr. told me last year I had the beginnings of cataracts, but not to worry.
He said he had been keeping a eye on them for about 10-11 years and I'd probably
end up dead of old age before they got "bad enough to operate"

[Pigslayer]

My eye dr. told me last year I had the beginnings of cataracts, but not to worry.
He said he had been keeping a eye on them for about 10-11 years and I'd probably
end up dead of old age before they got "bad enough to operate"

Lucky You.[smilie=p:

[Charley]

Mrs. Charley and I have both had lense implants in both eyes due to cataracts. Vision can be corrected with the implant lenses, I was very nearsighted. I've worn glasses/contacts since I was about 7 years old. Don't need them now, my vision is very close to 20/20. No need to fear, have it done before a certain Federal program makes it impossible.

[Baja_Traveler]

Very interesting thread. I know a few people I need to show it to.

I've been wearing $40 glasses from Zenni Optical (https://www.zennioptical.com/) for years now (they are in the San Francisco area). I've got every engineer in the plant wearing them once they realized that they are the same quality as the $300 glasses that they had been wearing. The nice thing is being able to buy two at a time and just tossing the scratched and banged up pair every six months without breaking the bank.

[jcwit]

Zenni is also a good company with excellent value.

[Pigslayer]

Got my glasses from $39dollarglasses.com yesterday. They are every bit as good as anyone else that have made glasses for me. Cost me an even $100.00.

[PatMarlin]

How does that work? You go in and get a checkup and script and then send it to any mfg?

[Pigslayer]

How does that work? You go in and get a checkup and script and then send it to any mfg?

Yep. Just get your prescription including pupillary distance & go online at $39dollar glasses.com. Pick out your frames and enter your info then send it off with your payment. Mine were back in a week. There are also other online glasses mfg's that do the same. I just felt comfortable with these guys.

[jcwit]

I get my eye's tested at the VA and get my perscription from them. I can also get free glasses thru the VA but am happier with the $29.00 glasses from here

http://www.choiceeyewear.com/

[Pigslayer]

Was just reading (on this site) about an optical sight to attach to one's glasses to aid in seeing open sights clearly. For years I have know that when looking through a pinhole made close objects crystal clear. I took a piece of paper & made a 1/16" hole in it and located in on my right lense. I took my flintlock off the rack & sighted down the barrel. Crystal clear sights! Brownell's has two. One is a Merit Optical sight which is adjustable for around $60.00 and a Lyman with a fixed 1/16" aperature for $19.95. I just ordered a Lyman. This should be fun.

[Pigslayer]

Mrs. Charley and I have both had lense implants in both eyes due to cataracts. Vision can be corrected with the implant lenses, I was very nearsighted. I've worn glasses/contacts since I was about 7 years old. Don't need them now, my vision is very close to 20/20. No need to fear, have it done before a certain Federal program makes it impossible.

I have an appointment with the Retina Center on wednesday. Luckily my insurance will cover it.

[Pigslayer]

Went to the retina center today & got checked out. Was told that yes, I did have cataracts and that yes, they can be taken care of without a problem and probably won't have to wear glasses anymore!! Man, I've worn glasses since I was 10 years old, 49 years! This is gonna be cool! The Dr. said that my insurance will pay for it!!:guntootsmiley:

[cbrick]

Went to the retina center today & got checked out. Was told that yes, I did have cataracts and that yes, they can be taken care of without a problem and probably won't have to wear glasses anymore!! Man, I've worn glasses since I was 10 years old, 49 years! This is gonna be cool! The Dr. said that my insurance will pay for it!!:guntootsmiley:

Far, far better than cool, you will be amazed. You will also be a very happy slayer of pigs.

Rick

[Pigslayer]

Far, far better than cool, you will be amazed. You will also be a very happy slayer of pigs.

Rick

And I do like hunting pigs!!!:bigsmyl2:

[Kraschenbirn]

Had my left eye (the worst by far) done yesterday. Everything went slicker'n snot on a doorknob. Only problem: I now see better through that eye WITHOUT my glasses than with them but still need the glasses for my right eye. Did a post-op with the Dr. this morning and we scheduled to do the other side in three weeks. Guess I'll just have to wing it 'til then.

BTW...as Rick said, the result is flat-out AMAZING!!

Bill

[Jon K]

You guys are making me sick!!! My insurance won't pay yet...

Jon

[Pigslayer]

On 1/23 I go for surgery on my right eye & then on 2/6 I go for may left eye. Can't wait!!!:shock:

[higgins]

After having my right eye fixed in August, I had my left shooting eye done three weeks ago. I'm going to wait about a month before I shoot anything that kicks very hard (like the milslurps with ball ammo), but in the meantime I've been shooting my .22s, and a .30/30 with light cast loads. I had the lens installed in my eyes that make my vision clear at distance, but now I need readers up close. If you have rifles with aperture sights, try getting a smaller target aperture (.04 or .05) and that fuzzy front sight may pop into clear view, along with the target! After waiting long enough for the eye to stabilize I'll get a new set of prescription progressive bifocals, which should clear up the front sight on the rifles (again, milsurps) and handguns with open sights. Modern cataract surgery is truly a medical miracle. I'm sure some folks have more trouble than I did, but I had no pain, or even discomfort with either eye, and the vision in the operative eye had cleared in about two days. The iron sights are much better now, but wait till you see how clear the scopes are.