Cataracts

[Jeff Higgins]

I am experiencing one of the most incredible things I think I have ever experienced. I went in for cataract surgery on my right eye just two days ago, on Monday. I had experienced an incredibly rapid deterioration of the vision in my right eye over the course of about the last year and a half or so. From essentially 20/20 to approaching legally blind.

Monday, my world changed. My vision was restored. I went in for a follow up yesterday, just one day later, and tested at 20/20 again in my right eye. The very next day after surgery. I am simply gobsmacked. No one could have ever convinced me this was possible.

I'm told that undiagnosed, untreated cataracts blind over 17 million people every year. What a horrible statistic. As "quick and easy" as this surgery was, spending literally less than ten minutes on the table and maybe one hour total in the clinic, I find that inexcusable. We are quite good at this. We know how to do this. But I digress.

You guys know how important my shooting is to me. I have essentially not fired a rifle in almost a year. I went to the handgun, because I could almost see the targets and sights, but that's been it. Even that I was not doing very well. I quite honestly thought my shooting days were behind me.

Beyond that, driving my beloved 911 on the track had become rather unenjoyable. I was simply missing too many of my markers, with things surprising me that should not have. Even on tracks where I have thousands of laps, it was starting to feel maybe even a bit dangerous to continue. Not to mention riding my motorcycles... I just wasn't "noticing" things soon enough to adequately react to them. I was really starting to worry that my days were numbered for all of that.

I found myself, unsurprisingly, falling into a pretty deep funk. Where I had for all of my life been able to engage in those pursuits as my own form of "mental therapy", I was at the point of starting to consider the real deal.

What a difference a day makes. I cannot believe the change. Not just in vision, but in outlook. No one could have convinced me this was even possible. God bless those of us who have dedicated their lives to doing these things for us.

[Bugsinrugs]

Modern medicine is amazing!! I got both my eyes done about five years ago. It went from blurry vision to high def in twenty four hours.

[HobieMarty]

Glad the surgery worked out for ya, there are two people that I work with that are having the same thing done this week.

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[pwd72s]

Glad it went well for you Jeff...for me, both eyes lens replacement helped, but wasn't the miracle I'd hoped for. I had to complicate things with glaucoma (drops twice a day) and age related macular degeneration (magic jungle juice injections in the eyeball). Had a shot yesterday, matter of fact. Yesterday, tested 20-25 in the right eye, 20-40 in my bad left eye. That's with glasses. Okay for general living, can still drive, etc. But my pool playing days have ended...just can't mentally adjust to my shot making having dropped by 30-40 percent from when I could see better.

[KFC911]

That is simply awesome news Jeff !

[Steve F]

Great news Jeff! My wife is having this done as well very soon and this is a great story to tell her!

[Jeff Higgins]

The best part is that now I can tell these two apart without Ed having to yell at me.

[Seahawk]

I get it: Cataract Surgery

Right eye will be done in February and the end of glasses, need cheaters for computer work, is over.

One thing you said made me smile: My son lost his left eye in an accident, his vision was 20/10 in both eyes. His comment to me was I can still shoot.

You people are amazing.

Best.

Edit: Btw, I used a scuba mask to take showers for the week they usually recommend no water in the eye.

[CurtEgerer]

Exact same scenario for me early last year Jeff. I went from diagnosis by my regular eye Doc to surgery and new 20/20 eyes within a span of several weeks. Unreal life change. I did develop scar tissue after the surgery (I was told about 1/2 of patients develop scar tissue) and went back a couple of months later to have that removed (a 5-minute laser procedure).

[GH85Carrera]

My eye doc said I am getting them, and he is ready as soon as I am.

Right now it is not bad. The one thing I hear is that driving at night will have rings around oncoming headlights. I will avoid that as long as possible.

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Edit: Btw, I used a scuba mask to take showers for the week they usually recommend no water in the eye.

Why didn't I think of that? I was just keeping my eyes tightly closed, hoping nothing came in ....

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I get it: Cataract Surgery

Right eye will be done in February and the end of glasses, need cheaters for computer work, is over.

One thing you said made me smile: My son lost his left eye in an accident, his vision was 20/10 in both eyes. His comment to me was I can still shoot.

You people are amazing.

Best.

Priorities...

Originally Posted by Seahawk

Edit: Btw, I used a scuba mask to take showers for the week they usually recommend no water in the eye.

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

Why didn't I think of that? I was just keeping my eyes tightly closed, hoping nothing came in ....

You mean I can't just use the same "safety squint" that has served me for years in my shop?

[wdfifteen]

Great news. My wife had similarly amazing results. Eye surgery is so common anymore, and I still don’t understand how it’s possible.

[Bill Douglas]

Great news. Especially when you are doing gun things you need good vision.

Funny thing is my dog has recently had cataracts done in both eyes. He was completely blind and it was heartbreaking seeing him walk into sold objects and howl with pain. Expensive but he's running around like a puppy enjoying life again.

[Crowbob]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

Great news. Especially when you are doing gun things you need good vision.

Funny thing is my dog has recently had cataracts done in both eyes. He was completely blind and it was heartbreaking seeing him walk into sold objects and howl with pain. Expensive but he's running around like a puppy enjoying life again.

Wow!

I don’t have any idea what the recovery phase would be for a dog but can you imagine being blind then waking up from a nap and being able to see all of a sudden? People who prepare themselves are still shocked when it happens.

I remember when I got my first pair of glasses. It was almost overwhelming. There are videos of colorblind people who put on special glasses and can suddenly see color. Some of them just start crying. They didn’t know the sky was actually blue or the grass was green. ‘Blue’ and ‘green’ were simply words that had no meaning.

[Bill Douglas]

what the recovery phase would be for a dog

He could see very well straight away. And he went from being very shy, overwhelmed by everything, to being Mr Smartypants again. Three months ago and I'm still putting ointments in his eyes every day but he's my little buddy and everything is worth it. Phew, he's cost over $28,000 in the last 12 months LOL

[gsxrken]

Jeff, I wouldn’t shoulder more than .22 rimfire rifle for a few weeks. The first 3 months or so after cataract surgery is when you’re at a higher risk for a detached retina. The surgery is quick but somewhat traumatic to the eye vitreous and retina. You won’t to do any more boxing from here on out either.
Enjoy the Kodachrome

[sc_rufctr]

I'm really glad you had a great outcome Jeff.

My uncle is going through the same right now and he's well into his 90s!

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by gsxrken

Jeff, I wouldn’t shoulder more than .22 rimfire rifle for a few weeks. The first 3 months or so after cataract surgery is when you’re at a higher risk for a detached retina. The surgery is quick but somewhat traumatic to the eye vitreous and retina. You won’t to do any more boxing from here on out either.
Enjoy the Kodachrome

Wow, you know me better than I thought. Thanks for the advice - I was wondering about both.

I actually shot some of my air rifles today. The "springers", believe it or not, do offer up some recoil. I was kind of thinking, while I was shooting them, that they should be about my limit for awhile. No big Sharps buffalo rifles for a little while longer.

As far as the boxing, the only things I hit these days are hanging from a chain and can't hit back. Even so, I'll consider the bags off limits for awhile. I'm in no hurry.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Priorities...





You mean I can't just use the same "safety squint" that has served me for years in my shop?

I wish I'd been told about the "no water"...yeah, a pair of swimming goggles could be a good investment. Stung like a SOB...