OH my GOSH Paul, you have a *cataract in the back of your right eye but your left eye is fine with no debilitating cloudy crud growing on that one! OH joy, I shouted, “I’m blind in one eye, and can’t see well with the other, and I just don’t give a crap with either!”
Now I have to find out just how large the font can get on my E-reader. Or subject me to an operation on my right eye. Here is what the ophthalmologist told me. “A stronger pair of reading glasses would likely be a boon to your reading abilities and the operation can be put off for a year or two.”
I answered back, that this past three months the Optometrist at two different stores in the mall have manufactured me three new pair of reading glasses and that all three are different refractions and none of them worked, they became woggly and blurred and failed. BTW I paid for each pair even though they didn’t work. But then where was I standing when that happened?
I was told by the professionals at the mall to see (No pun intended) an ophthalmologist because they believed my eyes were at fault. So I did and the ophthalmologist took all three of my new reading glasses and checked them and announced that all three were a different prescription. And he now understood why I couldn’t read very well. (I almost used the word good vice well, but I’m trying to keep the grammar police off my butt.)
My-my how shocking. But using the glass half full analogy, (Remember we have the power to refill all half empty or half full glasses) I found out a lot of useful information, and due to puffs of air into my eyes, I found that I don’t have glaucoma (I guess they’ll be no medical Marijuana for me) so the three beers a day rule will have to do.
Also, my old bi-focal glasses can be used to read, again proving that the Mall is wrong. Now the question I know is on everybody’s mind, “Will the Optometrist refund my money?” I will not hold my breath without the aid of a Scott Air-Pack waiting for that to happen.”
My Real Doctor at the Bay Pointe Hospital(Why the hell is there an “E” on the end of “Point”?) is going to refract my eyes and send me to a non-mall Optometrist that he recommends and more than likely is his good buddy! BUT the glasses will be GUARANTEED to be working reading glasses that will function properly. (I hope)
Being 70 years of age and not really understanding cataracts I looked it up on this webby thing and learned something new. Also during the test, they dilated my eyes with some liquid that knocked my vision out of whack for ten hours. So at 20:30 (8;30 PM on Tuesday night I’m done, and since I’d been there since 17:00 (5;00 PM) I was hungry, Texas Joe’s was 3 minutes away and a salad with a broiled chicken breast sounded good so Mayang and I ate prior to returning up the mountain. No, Texas Joe’s does not pay me to mention their restaurant, but maybe they should help me pay for all those reading glasses. The other alternative is to start downloading those talking books which I used years ago while driving across country. But listening Mrs. Clinton drone on about why she lost the election (What Happened) or Donna’s new book “What Really Happened” Doesn’t seem like fun!
CHEAP JOKE ALERT: There was a man who fell into a glass grinding machine, and made a spectacle of himself! (I groaned myself over that one)
*A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye which leads to a decrease in vision. Cataracts often develop slowly and can affect one or both eyes. Symptoms may include faded colors, blurry vision, and halos around light, trouble with bright lights, and trouble seeing at night. (OH and reading!!!)
Addendum
Friday 18 Nov. I went to the mall to check on my two pairs of reading glasses. The Optometrist who recommended I see a specialist and have my eyes checked didn’t agree with the Ophthalmologist who told me both pairs were incorrect and lacking a prism to correct my non-focusing woggly eyes. (BTW the term “Woggly Eyes” is now accepted by both medical experts)
So now I own three pairs of mal-functioning reading glasses and one 7-year-old pair of bi-focal glasses that I can read with if my arms were just a tad longer. The Ophthalmologist refracted my eyes and then sent me to his Optometrist BFF. We didn’t use the new style eye reader and used the ugly glasses that you snap lens in and out until you can read. I opened my E-Reader and went out and read a chapter of my book, with no woggly eye action. Hopefully, my problem is solved, now would anyone want a nice pair of reading glasses for free. (No refund was offered because part of the Optometrist’s pay is derived by profit participation.)
I just want to read!!!
I went to one of those mall places who couldn’t do a test because they said I had glaucoma and cataracts. I have neither.
Alex;
Only an ophthalmologist could possibly tell you that, as I spent two hours with one finding that out.. I’m wondering what the folks at the mall were trying to sell you by telling you that lie, or were you interfering with their lunch break? (LOL)
That’s the funny part. They were trying to sell me nothing, just didn’t know how to use the equipment.
Alex;
That is some serious big money equipment, I’m surprised they had it at a mall shop. Ordered by mistake? (LOL)
Off topic, but it reminds me of a ticket agency here in Phil recently failing to sell me an airline ticket because (a) they could not remember the password of their computer and (b) they told me that HCMC/Saigon has no airport!
Mike;
Saigon has no airport; the Air Force must have taken it with them during the fall. You must admit that living here is fun; if you were home and told that story no one would believe you. But we on LiP do!
Paul, if you were diagnosed with cataract, the best thing for you would be to bite the bullet and have BOTH eyes fixed. I suggest to go with trifocal lenses (similar to your progressive glasses) and that way both your distance and and near vision will be very good and you will hardly ever need readers except when the font is very small.
I’m in my late forties and had it done myself due to congenital cataracts and whenever I visit the Philippines with all the sunlight (contrast boost) my vision is amazing. I work in a clinic here in Canada that specializes in Lasik and cataract procedures and see happy patient on daily bases.
The only thing that worries me a bit is the “woggly eyes” as you call it. You might have some strabismus since you mention the prism. BTW, there is a surgery for that as well if divergence is significant and you experience double vision…
Perpetual;
I turned 70 this year; I wore contact lens during my vain years and glasses since I was two years old. Dear lord the money my folks spent on broken or lost glasses.
By the time Lasik was available for my eyes I was well past caring about it and reverted back to glasses again (Bi-focal by then) The reading glasses were because I enjoy reading lying down where bi-focal’s don’t work as well.
My ophthalmologist feels that with only one eye affected it’s better to wait and not rush into any operations. Since operations are where he can make the most money, I think he is being honest with me. Wait and see. (Oh crap, another pun!)
I have had a similar experience to yours, my vision has been really crappy since birth. One of the reasons why I work in ophthalmology.
I have to disagree a bit with “wait and see” though. Here in Canada with our socialized health care the government will cover about 80-90% of the cost of the procedure when cataract is “mature” enough (your vision is really bad) and many people with less capital chose to wait.
The thing is, by what you are saying, since cataract in one of your eyes is quite advanced causing you difficulties with your vision, the second eye is probably not far behind. Advancing cataract causes your lens power to shift constantly, therefore, you may be forced to get a new glasses couple of times before you are be forced to undergo the cataract procedure.
I am assuming that the cost of the procedure will go out of your pocket (unless you have some kind of “Medicare”), therefore, it does not really make sense to wait much longer. The cataract procedure has been around for many decades and it’s one of the most common ophthalmological procedures out there. Just find yourself a surgeon that does this kind of procedures on daily basis and believe me, you will be happy with the results. Also, please, consider average lifespan, why would you prevent yourself to gain good vision for the time you have left to enjoy it?
Paul,
I too wore spec’s my whole life (severe nearsightedness) Anyway, I was working on a project in Canada, and went for an evaluation of Lasik surgery, they informed me that at 50 years old I was not a good candidate for corrective surgery, because I had a small cataract in left eye, and tiny beginning in right eye. They suggested I have lens replacement…hmmm never heard of that before. The only drawback being that I would most certainly need reading glasses, because the lenses are “fixed” (either distant, or near) At this time the cost was about half of the price in the USA, I had the time and the cash so WTH? I went ahead with the procedure, after eight years now that was absolutely the best $$$ I ever spent! No more $300-$500 pairs of bifocal, trifocal, plus sunglasses, etc. Now plain cheap stylish, safety/sunglasses are my everyday wear, these can also have small +2.0 readers lenses at bottom ($7-$8 a pair) just for handy needs, phone etc. For any long reading or computer work I still use regular standard quality readers (on the end of my nose, LOL)
Good luck,
SD
P.S. They can do only one eye if required
SD;
I was only in Canada for a three month shipyard and eyes were not what I was after while there, because I was a well paid single sailor. (LOL)
But I’m happy with my vision, and have been most of my life, but I knew as I aged it would not be improving for me. Now that I’m waiting for new reading glasses in a week or so, the forth pair in three months, but I am using the new frames from one pair for the newest pair. So things are looking up. (Crap another pun!) I’m pleased for your great results, but my Doctor said that I’ll be fine, if someday I need a lens replacement we’ll deal with it then!
I’m trying to respond for 2 days now, however, system keeps flagging my reply as a spam for some reason..
I have had a similar experience to yours, my vision has been really crappy since birth. One of the reasons why I work in ophthalmology.
I have to disagree a bit with “wait and see” though. Here in Canada with our socialized health care the government will cover about 80-90% of the cost of the procedure when cataract is “mature” enough (your vision is really bad) and many people with less capital chose to wait.
The thing is, by what you are saying, since cataract in one of your eyes is quite advanced causing you difficulties with your vision, the second eye is probably not far behind. Advancing cataract causes your lens power to shift constantly, therefore, you may be forced to get a new glasses couple of times before you are be forced to undergo the cataract procedure anyway.
I am assuming that the cost of the procedure will go out of your pocket (unless you have some kind of expat “Medicare”), therefore, it does not really make sense to wait much longer. The cataract procedure has been around for many decades and it’s one of the most common ophthalmological procedures out there. Just find yourself a surgeon that does this kind of procedures on daily basis and believe me, you will be happy with the results. Also, please, consider average lifespan, why would you prevent yourself to gain good vision for the time you have left to enjoy it?
I am happy to read that you used to use contact lenses in the past, because if you were born with astigmatism, you would not be able to use contacts due to double vision. Most likely your “woggly eyes” are side effect of advancing cataract causing your eyes to shift, trying to look through unaffected parts of your natural lenses.
Perpetual
Please read my article once more, my vision problem stems from poorly mad reading glasses from two stores at a mall, then their refusal to admit it and sending me to specialist, who told me that surgery was not required because I had a small cataract at the back of my right eye. And my vision could be corrected with glasses. I am fully insured and any surgery is fully covered. They are making a fourth set of reading glasses for me and hopeful it will solve the problem, thank you for sharing your advice.
I understand Paul. One last reply and I will shut up, I promise! Probably my professional “deformation” locked me on the cataract you have mentioned. Nonetheless, as SD mentioned in his reply, there is something called clear lens replacement, which in essence is a cataract procedure without having been diagnosed with full blown cataract yet that will correct any refractive error you might have forcing you to use glasses at present. I am not trying to sell anything, just wanted to mention alternative, besides having headaches dealing with improperly made glasses. Good luck!
Perpetual;
Please never shut up, I found the information useful, and am better prepared for the future if my vision takes a turn for the worst.
My “Real” eye Doctor at the hospital explained those lens SD mentioned, but even with them I would still require reading glasses.
Reading glasses are destined to be part of my life I just need to find someone who knows to make them! (LOL)
David had glaucoma in his early 40s. Now he is waiting for the op for cataracts. They won’t operate here until the cataract gets to a certain state. The opticians keep his glasses up to date with his eyesight.
Happy reading.
Marjorie;
My insurance and my Doctor asked when or if I wanted to have the operation. I do what the Doctor recommends. But I must pay for all my classes but if I damaged my leg, they will pay for my cane but never eye glasses!
“one 7-year-old pair of bi-focal glasses that I can read with if my arms were just a tad longer”
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/61e95e4398ab42546f086d8c9f496a4082173711e1cf08e1d3f6fd65659bc70e.jpg
No charge!
gc165:
MMMMMM….
I wonder if it would hold my pad? (LOL)
I am sure they have them just for you Paul! Heh!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b40840b1bc051527ff374363cc69bcf7c3583a54a99ea28cd0a0f394f9e6a55e.jpg
gc165;
Now we’re cookin’ with gas!
I have been wearing contacts all my life because I have irregular corneas and need the contacts to smooth out the surface. Now I wear these monster sized contacts, size of your thumb. I pain to put on or take off, but I can see.
I was also diagnosed with glaucoma in the right eye, about 60% progressed but my left is fine. Now also cataracts. Daily drops to keep the pressure down. The blast of air in the eye is old tech for testing glaucoma. The tapping on eye with a little pen like gadget is much more effective, and doesn’t scare the shit out of you the way air blast does.
I go to Asian Eye in Makati (near Rockwell Mall). Probably the best opthomologists in the country. Vision is one thing, among many, not to skip out on.
Also, we have a guy who comes by Handlebar selling those cheap reading glasses for about 100p. At least you can try on all the different powers before buying Cheap enough if you scratch or lose, no big deal.
Don;
Wow with all the trouble you’ve had I feel like a wimp for complaining of my minor trouble In Pampanga they have a Vision Works that is American owned and with my prescription I have to wait for them to Air Ship my lens from the US-of-A all these reading glass troubles are my fault as I knew I should have drove over there the two times and saved me time and money. I’ve had the old glaucoma test so many times it is no sweat, bur some person tapping my eye with a pen like device, there might be a fight! (LOL)
Stay well and the best to you and your vision!
MSDE THREE PAIR OF
FOUND
You never fail to make me laugh. I had lasik in 2004, best $1800 I ever spent. Every once in a while, I have to put a pair reading glasses on to read the fine print on something. Other than that, I’m good.
RT;
Lasik was recommended to me many years ago until the Doctor realized it wouldn’t work for my eyes, now that it does I’m too old to care. When my Granddaughter (She’s 15 now) turns 21 I’ll pay for hers. (if I’m still around LOL)
Blame the bloody Normans among the prior English management for the E