Eyes Update
Fri., May 25, 01:56 PM
I went to the eye doctor yesterday, even though I saw him about five months ago. My vision difficulties are proceeding faster than I had expected. I brought with me a list of symptoms. The lenses the doctor prescribed last year are still good — but — I use them with difficulty. The strain is obvious.
For starters, I keep feeling the need to clean my glasses — which are not dirty. Neither are my magnifiers. (Imagine seeing a hazy day when everyone else says it's bright and sunny.)
I pointed out to him that he may see a light on the ceiling, but all I see is a collection of rainbows, very pretty but not very useful. (It has been suggested that this is cheaper than LSD. You couldn't prove it by me.) Furthermore, whenever I have an afterimage — y'know, the kind of thing after you look at a flashbulb — the edges of it are fragmented. New and different, but I don't think it's good.
Finally, I had been to my primary doctor last week, to find out that (1) my cholesterol is up, because I have more trouble getting out to exercise, and (2) those pains in my feet are the beginning of diabetic neuropathy. (That was not supposed to happen; my numbers are still good.)
The good news is that there is no diabetic damage to my eyes. The cataracts? They're still there; that's where the rainbows come from. Sooner or later, they will be operable, if…
The bad news is, there is “bubbling” at the back of the eye, which might be the beginnings of macular degeneration. I have been referred to another doctor (same practice) who specializes in this problem. He may advise to proceed, or not to do surgery at all; I fully expect him to say, “let's wait a couple of months and look again.” The recommended surgeon is also from the same practice; she has worked with my doctor for years.
I don't have to order a dog yet. Or a white cane. Remember, I can still walk around quite well.
When we got home from the doctor yesterday, I was still feeling the effects of the eyedrops he had used. I don't know if the drops are different or just the eyes, but it takes a lot longer for them to wear off. Since I couldn't see the computer very well anyhow, I started a cleanup program and walked away.
When I came back later, everything looked so much better. The texts were clearer, the colors were brighter. Surely that is not the usual effect of cleanup? Right. This morning I was back where I started from. It must have been the residual effect of the eyedrops. What a disappointment! Back to composing in 16-point bold.
I wonder, would using that medication regularly be harmful? The drops, in conjunction with my regular prescription glasses, made everything so much easier. I read about fifteen pages of my book last night, a 2007 record.
