Eye Stuff

A visit to the opthalmologist was scheduled today. The results? I have two separate conditions. The first is glaucoma. I will be using drops for the rest of my life. I can live with that to save the vision I have left.

The other is posterior capsular opacification. This is when one has had cataracts removed, an implant inserted and then the eye begins constructing another cataract on the implanted lenses. When my vision was checked, I couldn’t even read the top letter on the chart with my left eye without my glasses and could barely see it with them. Then, he did a laser procedure right there in his office where he cleaned away the cells growing on the insert and made  a clear area. After he had done this, which took, maybe 15 minutes and was not painful or invasive, I put my glasses back on again and looked around. I could see MUCH better! I thought at first it had to be a placebo effect but, no, I really COULD see much better. Without my glasses, my left eye could now see about five lines down the Snellen chart, and with my glasses, it was seven lines.

He sent me away for an hour to get lunch and when I got back, he looked at the eye again and then told me to shake my head. Hmmm, and why was I doing this? Because a little bit of what he had lasered away was clinging to the insert! He said natural movement would free it, and actually, it happened when I was waiting to pay the exorbitant parking fee to get out of the hospital. I thought I saw, in the corner of my vision, one of those little tiny spiders that float around on a thread. I moved my eye trying to see what it really was, and eventually realised that it was a piece of debris floating inside my eye! Dr, Wood said it might take two or three days for my body to absorb these little thing, but eventually, they would go… I see him again in two weeks.

I am not thrilled with the idea of having glaucoma but I did some research on how it is treated. Eye drops are the first thing tried. So, we shall see. I have to say I was both amazed and delighted at the laser treatment and the results!

QUOTATIONS:

"Step by step. I can’t think of any other way of accomplishing anything."

Michael Jordan

If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.

— David Viscott

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Laser treatment is amazing and I’ve had several different kinds of eye surgeries/laser treatments and know very well about the “spidery” strands you speak of. =) So glad you have an “on-top-of-things” opthamologist.

I’m glad for you that the laser treatment went so well. 🙂

Lasers are an amazing technology.

November 7, 2007

Aargh! I hate eye stuff. I’m glad that yours was so easily treatable. I hope that eyedrops is all you’ll ever need for the glaucoma.

November 7, 2007

Eye stuff is such a pain… Glad you’ve got what sounds like a good Dr, and glad the results were good. I don’t know alot about Glaucoma. I know it has to do with pressure in the eye, but that’s about it. As I recall, I used drops for that after my surgery, as my pressure was higher than normal at that time, and that they worked really well… Love to you! ~M

November 7, 2007

wow, thats awesome that he did this right there.

So-o-o glad the glaucoma was found early and that the laser treatment worked.

November 7, 2007

Glaucoma is usually very successfully treated with drops. Glad you caught it early!

November 7, 2007

I’m glad about the laser treatment. Did he give you any idea as to what could be causing the glaucoma?

November 7, 2007

*huggs* take care of those beautiful eyes!

November 7, 2007

Glad you had the routine exam to pick up on this. You’re right about the lasers too. I amazed at what they do.

November 7, 2007

I remember all the times I’ve had to take the glaucoma test during eye exams. I really, really hate that test. I just cannot keep my eyes open when I know that air is about to be blown into them.

November 7, 2007

It is amazing some of the new ways of doing things they have nowadays! :o) !! I’m sorry you have glaucoma, but I bet the drops will be very effective. hugs, Weesprite

November 7, 2007

Sorry about the glaucoma. Laser treatment is amazing though.

November 8, 2007
November 8, 2007

glad you were able to get the lazer treatment right away. hope the drops keep the other condition under control. take care,

November 8, 2007

I would really like to get laser surgery to eliminate the need for my glasses. Given the scarring on my left eye, I’m not sure surgery would even be an option. I need to add vision to my health plan so I can continue to figure out what’s causing my eye issue! Glad you caught this so soon.

November 8, 2007

Here’s hoping that the eye drops work well for you. I’m glad that he could clear stuff away just like that, wow.

Pat
November 8, 2007

That’s a wonderful thing that he could fix your eyesight like that!

November 12, 2007

I was diagnosed with glaucoma in my mid thirties and have used drops ever since. My mother also has it, and her younger sister, plus a deceased sister.

November 14, 2008

the advances made in medical technology is so awesome (including for eyes) I’m happy there are treatment options for you & that the procedure he did was so easy.