Eye problem

[Spooksar]

So I went to Africa on the 24th of June, before I went I had a problem with my right eye, that I thought was a blocked tear duct. As I was there it got a little worst, I managed to get my Buffalo and Lechwe in South Africa. Then I went to Namibia for Leopard and my I got worse, to the point that I missed my shot at a Leopard. So I get home and see my optometrist and it turns out I have something bad going on, get sent to a specialist and I have Macular Degeneration. So treatment is a shot in the eye every 5 weeks. I can still shoot my double at 50 yards, but I do have a Trijicon scope on it. I don't know if my eye will come back to where I'll be able to use it for longer ranges, so started shooting left handed.

Has anyone on here dealt with this and what was your success and treatment. In the pamphlet they gave me it talks about laser surgery used in conjunction with other treatment. Just looking to see what my other options my be. With the "free" health care in Canada our options are limited

[Battis]

I have not dealt with your condition, but I did have a serious eye problem that was misdiagnosed for two years by three local doctors. I finally went to Mass Eye and Ear in Boston and it was diagnosed as melanoma. If I had waited, I'd be dead. Two surgeries later, I still have 20/15 vision.
I know, it's quite a trip from where you are, but I see people from all over the world at this hospital.
I can recommend a DR if you want.
Do they allow 2nd opinions in the Canadian health care system?

[Eldon]

It's a VERY serious problem. Given the current science you will eventually lose sight in that eye. Get to the US and see the best you can. Canada will not help you as socialized medicine is set up to keep people alive, not treat unique conditions.

[GhostHawk]

My dad and my wife's mom are both legally blind because of this problem.

Dad is 94, until a year ago he was active, still living at home, mowing the yard, blowing the snow and climbing up on the roof to clear gutters.

Cindy's Mom is some 6 years younger, she has been fighting a loosing rear guard action hard for some 15 years. She did the whole shots in the eye, etc.

Once it starts it can be a hard progression to stop. I don't think there is much recovery.
You hold what you can for as long as you can and when it is gone it is gone.

Best of luck to you.

[bedbugbilly]

It's a degenerative disease of the eye. From my understanding, it is progressive and can also be a "genetic" tendency passed on from your parents,etc.

My mother-in-law developed it in her early 80s and it was progressive up until her death last year at 93. I also think it can come on at earlier ages - all depends on your genetics.

You need to read up on the condition and make sure that you are seeing an opthamologist who is up on the latest treatment. Don't be foolish and think it will "go away" as it won't. You should be given an eye chart by your ophthalmologist that you look at every day which will show you if you are developing additional blind spots, etc. and if so, you need to get in to see them. You should be seeing an opthamologist on a regular basis to keep tabs on it.

GhostHawk's experiences are pretty much the same as it was with my family/parents. Some are prone to the condition and others aren't - you just never know.

While I don't have macular degeneration, I do have "diabetic retinopathy" which is a disease of the eye caused by diabetes. I've been a diabetic for over 50 years, always maintained the best control that I could and kept up with the technology changes in the treatment of the disease. In diabetic retinapaty, you get hemorrhage in the eyes which require laser treatment to basically "cauterize" the bleeds. Each laser shot caused you to loose you site in that spot. I went through extensive treatment for a number of years and am now "stable" and have regular check-ups. I pretty much lost the central vision in my right eye and my side vision is pretty well shot in both eyes. I had to start shooting left handed and in the end, you do the best you can and stay active and keep a smile on your face. I'm just thankful that I can still see but I have stopped doing many things - and, have to be careful of steps, curbs, etc. and be more aware of such things.

Not the things you wanted to hear, I know, but educate yourself on the condition, see a good opthalmologist and if you can't get satisfaction in Canada with the health system, then consider coming in to the US for an opinion. There are many good specialized eye centers - as mentioned above, Boston is top rated - I go to Kellogg Eye Center in Ann Arbor, MI which is part of the university of Michigan health system.

Keep your spirits up and good luck to you. It's like anything else in life - you make the best of it and remember that your glass is half full, never half empty. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you.

[Spooksar]

Thanks for the replies, I turn 65 this year, and it's due to extreme near sightedness. Going to the US is something I would do. I started doing some research and looking for options

[PB234]

Coming to the US for treatment is going to be very expensive if your health insurance doesn't cover it. I just read about a couple Canadians who were vacationing in Hawaii and their child came a few months prematurely. Mother and child are fine and the $950,000 hospital bill is a shocker to them.

US health care is excellent if one can manage to pay for it. Guy I knew fell off a roof breaking most of his body badly. Spent a year in the hospital and came out with a $4 million dollar bill and a continuing need for lots of pain killers. My recollection is his health insurance took care of the first million. The rest broke him.

[KCSO]

After shooting rifle and shotgun with my right eye for a lifetime the eye went to heck. The back if the eye is turning to bathroom glass and I can no longer sight with it. For the past two years I have been relearing to shoot left handed and now another problem as my left shoulder is acting up and I can't stand the recoil from my buffalo guns. A life time of accumulating so I could have fun in retirement and nw it is all going south... The best laid plans!

[Spooksar]

After shooting rifle and shotgun with my right eye for a lifetime the eye went to heck. The back if the eye is turning to bathroom glass and I can no longer sight with it. For the past two years I have been relearing to shoot left handed and now another problem as my left shoulder is acting up and I can't stand the recoil from my buffalo guns. A life time of accumulating so I could have fun in retirement and nw it is all going south... The best laid plans!

I tried shooting my 470 NE with my left side, it's going to take some practice, doesn't help that I've injured it badly a couple of time.

[GOPHER SLAYER]

My family suffers from the same condition, however it usually starts later in life than yours has. While there is little modern medicine can do to stop the progression it apparently can be slowed somewhat. My left eye has just started it's decent into macular degeneration and I have recently had the laser treatment, with little effect. There are vitamins that seem to help slow the process. I saw a commercial yesterday for a drug that claims to help but I cannot recall the name of the product.

[xs11jack]

I too., have some macular degeneration. The worst is in the right eye, and I have had the shot for it. The aftermath is that it feels like gravel in your eye for two or three days. The left one, fortunately I am left handed, has a spot that has not yet affected my vision yet. I had the shot about 5 months ago and the damage has been stabilized so far. I see the eye doc every 6 weeks. Oh, the chart with the grid on it is called the AMSLER Grid. I have one posted on my wall and every morning I look at it to see if anything has changed. I have be blessed in that the anomaly in the right causes mostly vertical lines have a bump sticking out of them. I find myself as I go thru the day, looking at the vertical lines of a door, door frame, posts inside buildings and other vertical lines.
One last thing the AMSLER Grid is a square grid of lines 1/16" apart. The grid then is 3 15/16" wide and tall. Put a black dot in the center. Stand or hold the grid 14" away. Looking at the dot one eye at a time and look for wavey line, Distorted or blurry lines, dark or missing areas, and distorted or Dark areas. Do this every morning to catch and changes right away. I can not make a comparison between US and Canadian medicine as I get my health care from the VA. For what it is worth, other people have told me how good they think the ST.Louis, Mo. eye clinic is. God's Blessings on you and I will pray for you.
Ole Jack

[Spooksar]

I too., have some macular degeneration. The worst is in the right eye, and I have had the shot for it. The aftermath is that it feels like gravel in your eye for two or three days. The left one, fortunately I am left handed, has a spot that has not yet affected my vision yet. I had the shot about 5 months ago and the damage has been stabilized so far. I see the eye doc every 6 weeks. Oh, the chart with the grid on it is called the AMSLER Grid. I have one posted on my wall and every morning I look at it to see if anything has changed. I have be blessed in that the anomaly in the right causes mostly vertical lines have a bump sticking out of them. I find myself as I go thru the day, looking at the vertical lines of a door, door frame, posts inside buildings and other vertical lines.
One last thing the AMSLER Grid is a square grid of lines 1/16" apart. The grid then is 3 15/16" wide and tall. Put a black dot in the center. Stand or hold the grid 14" away. Looking at the dot one eye at a time and look for wavey line, Distorted or blurry lines, dark or missing areas, and distorted or Dark areas. Do this every morning to catch and changes right away. I can not make a comparison between US and Canadian medicine as I get my health care from the VA. For what it is worth, other people have told me how good they think the ST.Louis, Mo. eye clinic is. God's Blessings on you and I will pray for you.
Ole Jack

Thank you sir

[Geezer in NH]

Two drugs today has made a miracle in the treatment of this disease. I was diagnose with the diabetic type 3 years ago. 15 years ago I would be blind by now but eyes are 20/25.y right eye is my better eye and has not had treatment since March 2016 after the laser surgery also. The left every 5-6 weeks needs an injection.

The injections are expensive running 2000+ for each. Thank fully covered by my insurance as for both eyes they would surpass 50K per year for both. When my left retina finally gets rid of the edema the laser can be completed and hopefully make as stable as my right eye.

Don't fear the shots they sound way worse than what they are it is a simple procedure. The most uncomfortable bart is a bit of stining do to the Betadine they eyelid and ball are cleaned with, it goes away in a couple of hours.