I can SEE!

[Freightman]

As some of you know I had lost the clear sight in my right eye and have had to learn to shoot left handed. I had been to an optometrist but all he did was a new pair of glasses and no improvement, said I do not know what is wrong. Well I finally had enough about two years and called the surgeon who took my cataracts out years ago and he said come in Aug. 2 at three and we will fix it. Well the waiting and paper work took a whole lot longer than the fixing. Deadening drops sit down looked at a light and blinked when he said (three times) and he zapped it to clear. He said about 50% of people will develop a milky substance behind the new lens and a lazier fixes it fast.
Now back to "RIGHT" handed shooting. HOORAY!

[ph4570]

Most excellent! Happy to hear it.

[theperfessor]

Great for you. Enjoy and shoot. Just leave a few primers for the rest of us. LOL

[462]

Great news.

[zuke]

Do you see the light!!![smilie=w:

[Echo]

Way to go! Even though much of medicine is still art, there is progress being mad CONSTANTLY, and we need to be aware of the latest.

[Moonie]

I have always been blessed with perfect vision while the rest of my family hasn't. My father has always been "legally blind" because his sight has always been very bad. His vision has gotten to the point that he has no depth perception at all, even corrected and the best they can do for him is 20/300 in one eye. Probably one of my biggest fears is losing my sight. God bless the doctor that helped you so easily.

[SciFiJim]

I am glad too hear of your improved vision. The problem you had was something I didn't know could happen, or be corrected. Enjoy!

[Dframe]

Great news. Shooting right handed is over rated.
I've shot lefty all my life. :mrgreen:

[uncle joe]

good for you, I am in the opposite position, I have developed a blind spot in my left eye and I shoot left handed. I will have to learn to shoot right handed this year. The doc said yesterday that he thought it was nerve damage from high pressure or from my being on a vent or blood transfusions while I was in the icu the last few months. He also said if it was nerve damage there was nothing he could do about it. But I can still see and the ar with the red dot works pretty good right handed with both eyes open.
UJ

[OutHuntn84]

Thats awesome! Thank God for good doctors

[cbrick]

Freightman, your mistake was going to an Optometrist. Over a 15 year period and three different Optometrists and steadily decreasing eyesight the best advice I got from any of the three was to get new glasses 2 or 3 times a year. By this time I was legally blind.

This was partly my fault, instead of finding what the real problem was I blamed diabetes for my decreasing eyesight.

Finally took my head out of my hieny and went to an ophthalmologist. The problem wasn't diabetes, it was cataracts. The Optometrists could easily see the cataracts but instead of saying anything they simply sold me stronger and stronger glasses more and more often and said nothing.

An Optometrist earns his living selling glasses, ophthalmologists earn their living fixing problems and thus helping you. If anyone needs eye care I highly recommend seeing a real eye doctor and not a quack eye glass salesman. After I did it's a whole new world for me.

Rick

[leadman]

Glad the doc was able to fix you up.

[Wayne Smith]

I'll second and third what cbrick said. The first time I saw my opthomologist after seeing optomotrists since I was 9 he diagnosed low pressure, wide angle glaucoma. I have only a small amount of loss, he caught it early, thank God. He diagnosed it on the basis of the shape of the optic nerve leaving the back of the eyeball. I was in my 40's when this happened, literally through divine intervention.

[mold maker]

I had the wax paper lens removed from my right eye this morning. Already I can tell a difference, and its only been 4 hours.
If all goes well the Left will be done in a few weeks.
Look out world, there's lots of doin gonna git done.

[Bloodman14]

For those of you with bad eyesight with otherwise healthy eyes, check into LASIK surgery. I went from 475/20 in my right eye and 525/20 in my left eye, to 20/15 in BOTH eyes with "0" astigmatism! Best money I ever spent.

[qajaq59]

Freightman, I had the same problem. However, it didn't take my doctors as long to figure it out. I have 20/40 now and my right eye isn't as good as my left. But I'm 71, and while I can't have everything, it certainly is far better then before the LASIK.

[Freightman]

Freightman, I had the same problem. However, it didn't take my doctors as long to figure it out. I have 20/40 now and my right eye isn't as good as my left. But I'm 71, and while I can't have everything, it certainly is far better then before the LASIK.
We are the same age! I was 71 June 6

[DIRT Farmer]

Freightman, Thanks for posting. Education is the answer and by your post a lot of people have learned there are options. I have a lot of training in the care of a patient for the first hour in trauma and cardiac. When my father suddenly lost vision in one eye I had no clue but got him in to the eye Dr who zaped the offending tissue behind the lens, back to good as new.

[qajaq59]

Quoted from Freightman

We are the same age! I was 71 June 6 April 25 for me. And that's why we both needed the surgeries. LOL

[southpaw]

Congrats on your good fortune. Since you already spent all this time learning the right way to shoot why go back to that other way? :kidding:

Jerry Jr.

[Freightman]

Congrats on your good fortune. Since you already spent all this time learning the right way to shoot why go back to that other way? :kidding:

Jerry Jr.
Makes me more able to shoot ether way if I am injured or something. Really it was not that difficult I just was a lot slower.

[geargnasher]

Freightman, glad you got some good 21st century medicine!

One thing, though, most optometrists are under-educated and don't even know enough to suspect something other than a focal problem when they really need to forward you to a specialist.

When I started having decreased vision in my dominant eye and a ton of floaters about eight years ago I went to an optometrist first. After going through every test in their facility, they finally gave up and sent me to a retinal specialist who found a torn retina. Five laser surgeries later he told me I would have to go to his main office to have cryogenic treatment of another tear right next to my iris. I told him to get screwed and sought a second opinion, since my vision was steadily getting worse and he had no explanation for it. The second retinal specialist took one brief look and told me I had Pars Planitis and a massive epiretinal membrane, and that no, there were absolutely no more tears anywhere. So he and his excellent staff have been managing this with steroid injections ever since, and my vision improved from 20/70 to 20/25 most days, 20/30 or 20/20 others. If he hadn't figured it out I might have lost that vision completely.

Looking back on it, I become more and more convinced that the first Opthamologist (quack) was just billing my insurance $1,500 a pop for using is fancy little argon laser to scald my retina. The doctor I've been seeing since actually cares what happens, and since I no longer have health insurance, cuts me a cash-money break and has even exempted me from his price increases.

Like with good general practitioners, dentists, lawyers, and mechanics, we need a good one sometimes.

Gear

[DLCTEX]

Great news Frank! I'm looking forward to getting my right eye fixed in the near future.

[wistlepig1]

Great News, hope you can see the fleas on the back of a nat now!

[Charlie Sometimes]

That sorta happened to me- the white thickening part, but more severe. IIRC, the viscus in the eye thickens (like scar tissue) and needs a hole punched through it with a laser. On me, mine got thick enough to cause a detached retina, and the scar tissue and liquid had to be removed, nitrogen bubble injected, etc. Most people have the issues sooner than later after an eye operation, but mine was a lter incidence.

What gearnasher said, too.

I've had cataracts removed from both eyes and a detached retina in the left. Still have some floaters in the right eye. I guess someday it will need attention.

Glad you can see again, and AIN'T TECHNOLOGY WONDERFUL? :grin:

[SciFiJim]

I have the floaters! I've been told that there in no treatment or cure. Does anyone know different that I can point a Doc to? I am willing to teach a doctor more if necessary, or find one that already knows.
Jim

[Three-Fifty-Seven]

Yeah, I had Lasik back in 97 . . . I'm 44 now, and I have had floaters most of the last 10 years . . .

[sergeant69]

i had Lasik back in the 80's and was 20/400 and 20/250. best they could do was 20/40, and the right for near vision and the left for far. vision getting worse. wonder if nowdays they could make em good ?

[Charlie Sometimes]

From what I understand of the process-
The floaters are like scar tissue in the viscus of the eye. Some people have them (genetic disposition) and some do not. Those that do not think those of us who do are "seeing things". They appear as fine threads, coarse strings, knots, or sheets ((ranked by severity- from my personal experience). It's not a pure liquid like you'd think. Anything done to your eye has the potential to cause "issues" at some future date. If you live long enough, they say you will have cataracts (which is lens specific). The floaters are a separate issue, and can be removed, but it requires all of the fluid to be removed from the eye. I had them more severe after the first detachment (partial viscus removal), and then none after the second, when they removed all the viscus. Your eye will replace the fluid over a month or two. I had the bubble to help hold the detachment in place both times, and could "watch" the bubble shrink over time until gone. With the 2nd occurence (in the same eye) the bubble went away faster that time. Which is what they say should happen.

My original eye doctor (read purveyor of optical gadgetry) did not recognize the severity of my issues and damn near had me blind TWICE. Needless to say, I do not go to his office anymore. I think the majority are just in business to read your Rx and sell you glasses at inflated prices.

The specialist(s) knew his/their sh**! I told him/them to get on the other Dr.'s for better observation practices, because they almost had me blind TWICE. They look at you like you are stupid. Their systems aren't set up to do taht apparently.

As an aside here, one of the initial review nurses didn't believe me when I told her I had a cataract (after my dr. sent me there). When she suddenly realized that I DID have one, she began stammering, and blurted out "You do have a cataract! Have you seen this?" I said, "No sh**, Sherlock! Only from the inside!" Attitudes changed REAL fast then! :lol:

[Charlie Sometimes]

I think they overuse those dialating eye drops too. As many times as I have had that done (and they do it more and more at younger and younger ages now), it seems that my eyes do not adjust as fast to light as they used to. It's like they have been "stretched" a bit more than necessary and don't return to where they used to be. Sort of like a worn out rubber band won't hold a rolled up newspaper tightly.

[sergeant69]

also.....ever since i had the Lasik done, my eyes feel like they have scratches on em and need drops a lot. itch a lot. maybe i was this guys guinie pig.

[Rockydog]

I had a acquaintance who had lost the vision in his right eye in combat in WWII. A couple of years ago he was losing the vision in his left eye also. As they were trying desperately to save his good eye, and realized that they couldn't, the specialist asked how long his right eye had been blind and if he could examine it. Turns out that they'd have been able to fix his right eye for about 30 years. He had the surgery and now sees very well out of his right eye. Moral of the story, if you've had trouble in the past don't just assume that it's permanent. Great strides are made in medicine every day. RD

[Charlie Sometimes]

My eyes are drier now, too. I have to use drops occasionally. Lots of side effects from the "procedures" that tinker with your eyeballs.

[DLCTEX]

My brother had floaters that bothered his trap shooting, so had them removed. His retina detached and he had to have the nitrogen bubble put in, then his head held in a vise for hours. A few days later it detached again and he had to go the nitrogen bubble again. He couldn't shoot trap for two months and then the floaters were back. Dr. wanted to remove them again, but he said no thanks.

[XWrench3]

GOOD 4 U!!! your eyesight is one of the most important things. i know i get frustrated just needing reading glasses, and having to go chase after them.

[qajaq59]

What frustrates me is that, even with the cataract surgery and the LASIK, with my driving glasses I can see the target great, but the sights are fuzzy. And with my computer glasses I see the sights great, but the target is fuzzy. And I'm not about to put a scope on my favorite 94. Getting old has few drawbacks LOL

[geargnasher]

A few "no b.s." facts for those of you wondering.

The sudden appearance of new floaters can indicate retinal issues, if you have some it is worth the dialated exam fee of a competent Opthamologist specializing in diseases of the retina.

Floaters can be removed, the procedures vary from non-invasive laser zapping to minor surgery to physically remove specific field-of-vision floaters to, more likely, a vitrectomy where the vitreous jelly is removed completely, a fluid pumped in to replace it, and sometimes the aforementioned nitrogen bubble is inserted to keep intraocular pressure up where it should be so the retina doesn't decide to pull loose and collapse (instant blindness).

There are different degrees of dialating drops ranging from exam drops to full-on, maximum strength drops used ususally for laser surgeries. Since most eye doctors don't give a hoot about how you feel, they tend to administer the whoppers for regular exams, and that can be a real pain, sometimes taking 18 hours or more to wear off. You have the right to ask what they are doing to you, and make specific requests. If the doc gets huffy, poliely tell him that YOU are paying HIM for services and advice, and if that voluntary relationship seems like it's not working, don't be afraid to FIRE THE DOCTOR. It's your eyes, and you only get two of them.

Lasik surgery has a tendency to create dry eyes, sunlight sensitivity, and flares/glare at night, especially with driving. But ask my wife, she'll tell you in a heartbeat how nice it is to see her toes in the shower, or wear a diving mask, or be able to see the clock when she wakes up!

If anyone needs a recommendation for a good opthamologist in Texas, I have names and numbers of a couple of the very best around.

[Charlie Sometimes]

A few "no b.s." facts for those of you wondering.

The sudden appearance of new floaters can indicate retinal issues, if you have some it is worth the dialated exam fee of a competent Opthamologist specializing in diseases of the retina.

Floaters can be removed, the procedures vary from non-invasive laser zapping to minor surgery to physically remove specific field-of-vision floaters to, more likely, a vitrectomy where the vitreous jelly is removed completely, a fluid pumped in to replace it, and sometimes the aforementioned nitrogen bubble is inserted to keep intraocular pressure up where it should be so the retina doesn't decide to pull loose and collapse (instant blindness).

There are different degrees of dialating drops ranging from exam drops to full-on, maximum strength drops used ususally for laser surgeries. Since most eye doctors don't give a hoot about how you feel, they tend to administer the whoppers for regular exams, and that can be a real pain, sometimes taking 18 hours or more to wear off. You have the right to ask what they are doing to you, and make specific requests. If the doc gets huffy, poliely tell him that YOU are paying HIM for services and advice, and if that voluntary relationship seems like it's not working, don't be afraid to FIRE THE DOCTOR. It's your eyes, and you only get two of them.

Lasik surgery has a tendency to create dry eyes, sunlight sensitivity, and flares/glare at night, especially with driving. But ask my wife, she'll tell you in a heartbeat how nice it is to see her toes in the shower, or wear a diving mask, or be able to see the clock when she wakes up!

That's it! All that is what I was trying to say, plus some! My initial cataract surgery involved some lasik "adjustments" as I had some astigmatism in that eye, too.
Yea, I've noticed that the drops they use in the office exams are from the same bottles that I used for post-op treatment, and it depends on how big of a drop they get in your eye, too. They try for two or three, usually.

My eye that had two detachments healed much better than they thought it would, but is still 20/30 (corrected) and images are out of round. Add that with the 20/20 right eye (corrected) and the pictures don't match up perfectly. I'm wondering if a contact in that eye and glasses would make the difference to match things up. It's hard to do some tasks when you see this way. I'm getting used to compensating for the variations, though.

[ghh3rd]

What frustrates me is that, even with the cataract surgery and the LASIK, with my driving glasses I can see the target great, but the sights are fuzzy. And with my computer glasses I see the sights great, but the target is fuzzy. And I'm not about to put a scope on my favorite 94. Getting old has few drawbacks LOL


I took a couple of my older sons (20's) shooting last weekend, and brought a pile of handguns. One of my sons loved the .44 with the red dot on it, and stuck with it, the other seemed to take to the Ruger Mark III .22 cal with iron sights.

He was shooting that Mark III at 25 yards, and nailing the target. I have never done as good as he was with it. I had him describe what the sights and target looked like, and by golly, he can see! If I let my headphones squish against my glasses eye pieces, I can pull my glasses out about an inch and tilt them up and sort of see.

Wish I had the eyes of a 25 yr old again! Thank god for red dots.

[sergeant69]

Lasik dr told me that since he fixed one eye to see far and the other to see near (reading) with both open they would "take over" for each other. but...since i shoot w/one closed it don't work. i am right handed but have to use my left eye to sight with. wish they would let me take my NOW red-dotted 629 to qualify with, which is next month. does anyone know....can a "re-lasik job" correct my right eye so i can shoot w/it? and yes i wear bi focals, so i do the head bobing thing when i shoot. this may be and probably is a "only ur dr. can tell you that" question.

[Charlie Sometimes]

I am left handed. I always used my left eye to align the sights and the right eye to track the target. Transposing the images over each other, made you a very good sight picture. Now things are out of alignment and out of round, too.

I used to be able to pick off 357 case at 25 yards off hand with a 22 pistol easily- not so easy now to see them clearly! The no line bifocals don't line up to see the sights and target at the same time.

The right eye doctor can make you a set of special shooting bifocals, if your doctor understands your special needs. It helps if he is a shooter, too. :grin:

[Jaybird62]

Lasik doesn't work for everybody. I have two close friends that have had success with it, but, my brother-in-law and my nephew don't recommend it to anyone in our family. My b-in-law is one of the "good" optometrists and my nephew is an ophthalmologist. I do know people who have become legally blinded by the surgery.

[Bloodman14]

Yeah, guys, there are risks involved with altering the shape of the eye, but in my experience, it was the best decision I ever made. When my optometrist told me that I was "off the scale" and he couldn't get me glasses to fix the nearsightedness, I contacted Mattax-Neu-Prater in Springfield to see what they could do. I followed directions more faithfully than I have ever done in my life! I recommend it to anyone wearing glasses.

[Charlie Sometimes]

I also had a scleral buckle installed on the back of my eye to put spot pressure on the detachment area. That is what out of rounds my eye more than anything. Talk about painful post op!

[geargnasher]

I also had a scleral buckle installed on the back of my eye to put spot pressure on the detachment area. That is what out of rounds my eye more than anything. Talk about painful post op!

I bet it does! I get a "cross-eyed" feeling when my inflammation flares up and ocular pressures rise (distorting the macula slightly), seems to strain my "trained" eye muscles when I look at something and the eye muscle memory points in one direction automatically, but my vovea line up slighly off. Kinda like waking up one morning and having one arm two inches shorter.

Are they ever going to take that thing off?

Gear

[mold maker]

Thank goodness all I needed done was having the cataracts removed. Right eye done Tuesday morning, and I cant believe how white, white really is. The sky is a color I had forgotten. Details are crisp and sharp except for up close, The right lens in my glasses are a hindrance, but I desperately still need the left.
I went to the range and back to the same berm I picked Monday. Low and behold it was as if it hadn't been touched. There were lots more left than I had gotten.
If the left eye has the same results, I'll be like a kid again. Well almost.
This is exciting, I can even recognize my grand children from across the gym.
Life is indeed fun again.

[Charlie Sometimes]

It does make you feel like a kid again! [smilie=w:

They also say that you can tell when you are beginning to get cataracts. Flourescent lights begin to look yellowish. And I can vouch for it.
In no time at all you will begin to take for granted the "whiter than white" look about everything. It happened over time and you didn't notice the change, now it was BAM! :grin: That is what makes you feel so good.
Don't forget to wear sunglasses more often now, too. That fuzzy filter ain't there no more! Sunlight is much more intense after cataract surgery. I find myself squinting a LOT to block the brightness when I don't have shades. Funny thing, I need more light in the workshop now, too. The shadows play tricks on me sometimes.

The buckle is now a permanent part of me. It sorta makes me feel like a Borg off the StarTrek: Next Generation series! :lol: Occasionally the eye pressure changes makes it pain slightly, so I know when my BP is elevated. :sad:

With the eye distortion, it takes a little more patience to adjust to what I am seeing sometimes. I have to double check myself lot now.

After my first operation (which happened suddenly), I went back to my shop where I had left a shotgun barrel laying for over two months. As I walked up to it, I saw that it appeared to be BADLY bent/bowed down on either end! :shock:
I started cussing, because I wasn't sure how it got that way, or what had happend in my absence. :evil:
When I picked it up to examine it, it began to straighten out and then bowed the other way! :shock: :veryconfu
I freaked out when I saw it do that, and it took me a second to figure out what was going on. It was my distorted, out-of-round eyeball causing the problem! :veryconfu
I can laugh about it now, but at the time....... whew! :evil:

[Beekeeper]

Do any of you that have had cataract surgery have problems with bright light?
Before my surgery I never wore sunglasses (ilegal in the Navy when I was in so got out of the habit of wearing them) Now every time I go outside I have to have them on or I get super Mag headaches.

I agree that cataract surgery was one of the best things I ever had done ,with a qualifier: get a good Dr. as I have a friend that didn't and is now leagaly blind.

I went from( seeing eye dog) no more drivers license to I can now read any chart the DMV puts up and even the lady who tests me each time is amazed at the change..

It has been 2 years and I still have 20/30 vision and with the exception of the sun glasses it is great.


Jim

[Charlie Sometimes]

As per my last post above- adamantly YES.

[tward]

GREAT NEWS!!!! Hate to think about losing my sight, Tim

[TripletDad]

Freightman, your mistake was going to an Optometrist.
...
The Optometrists could easily see the cataracts but instead of saying anything they simply sold me stronger and stronger glasses more and more often and said nothing.

An Optometrist earns his living selling glasses, ophthalmologists earn their living fixing problems and thus helping you. If anyone needs eye care I highly recommend seeing a real eye doctor and not a quack eye glass salesman. After I did it's a whole new world for me.

RickThe optometrists you dealt with should be reported to your state's optometry board. If that's what happened, they were unethical. My grandfather, grand uncle, mom, dad and 2 uncles were/are all optometrists and their biggest concern was fixing the problem themselves or referring the patient to an ophthalmologist. My brother in law is an ophthalmologist. I've heard stories from both sides.

The main difference between the two are the number/types of drugs that each can prescribe and the ophthalmologist can preform surgery. But both are there to help with your vision problems.

Off topic, I know. But its a family thing.

[cbrick]

If that's what happened, they were unethical.

The main difference between the two are the number/types of drugs that each can prescribe and the ophthalmologist can preform surgery. But both are there to help with your vision problems.

Welcome to Castboolits TripletDad,

If that's what happened?? That is exactly what happened! The very first time I heard the word cataracts was in the ophthalmologists office after 15 years of quacks and I was legally blind.

The main difference between the two is several years of schooling and an internship.

They may both be there to help with vision problems but I will never again go to an eye glass salesman. Kind of obvious the three different optometrists that I saw over a 15 year period weren't your family members.

Rick

[smoked turkey]

Thats the best news I've heard today. I rejoice with you.

[mold maker]

Well the detailed vision that I gained with the cataract surgery was as much unexpected as real. I mean that it was such an improvement that I got extremely excited. It didn't last and now there is a new normal. I can still see at a distance, better than ever, but close up has deteriorated to about the level it was pre surgery. I have slightly more tunnel vision than before, because the edges of the implant reduce the field of vision. I will have to have reading glasses or lasic to read.
Cutting gemstones isn't gonna be a part of my future, unless the readers help a lot. Shooting with iron sights didn't improve and only peep sights work now.
Would I do it again?? You bet I would. Although It wasn't the improvement I wanted, I really enjoy seeing detailed objects at anything over 6-8 ft with no glasses. Regular low power readers from the drugstore work to read. I can once more read the gun rags, even when fine printed over backgrounds.
If the doc says it will improve your vision, get er done.

[Mike W1]

I'm sure there's good optometrists and bad like in every other form of life. Mine pointed out my developing cataracts long before it was time to have them removed. The opthamologist then removed them and inserted special lens to correct my astigmatism. Went from about 800/20 to 20/l5 or whichever way those numbers are supposed to go. My eyes are a little drier than before and I need the trifocal to focus close up but I had trifocals before surgery so I'm used to them. Actually I don't wear sunglasses as much as I did before surgery but I notice that my night vision is not quite as good as it used to be. Low light is OK but real dark out (live in the country) and I need the flashlight to see the Black Lab doing his thing in the weeds!

[GOPHER SLAYER]

Fantastic.