Good news on my eyes!

[redstatebluegirl]

I know some of you know I have had issues with Macular Degeneration. I had cataract surgery 3 years ago as well. I began to lose sight in my left eye at an alarming rate. I was scared to go to the doctor for fear they would tell me the MD had moved to the more serious "wet" form. Well, finally I had no choice, I went in and to my amazement found that it was not the MD making my eyes worse, it was a side effect from the cataract surgery they could fix with a laser!!!!!

I had the first one yesterday and will have another one on the other eye next week!!! They said my MD was stable, my vision is fabulous in my left eye now.

Just a reminder not to be afraid to go to the doctor, sometimes the news is fantastic!!!!

Yipee!!! Had to share with my DU family!

[MrsCoffee]

1. That is excellent news!

I hope everything goes great next week for you!

[MikeydaDog]

2. How scary is it getting procedures done on the eye?

Good news for you. You are right, a lot of times our worse fear is only in our head. Get checked out.

[redstatebluegirl]

6. Honestly I think we make it worse in our minds.

It is scary when you have to have something done there, they do give you good drugs that calm you down if your nerves are really bad. It is a bit terrifying, but well worth it to have my vision back to something more normal! I was prepared to have to quit working and go on disability. It was making me nuts!

[MikeydaDog]

7. I bet, with all you say.

As I age, I see the possibility for me. I like the idea of a drug to calm me down. I am very happy for you, that it was treatable.

[gvstn]

15. Liquid Valium works wonders.

I had it when I got a chest tube and went from visibly jumpy to thinking how wonderful that warm blood running down my chest felt. I highly recommend.

[MikeydaDog]

16. Lol lol.

I got it when I had to start getting dental work. Well, I don't know about liquid valium. I have not heard of it. But, using drugs with a few things, this comforts me. Most of my life I have not needed any medical care and getting old, I am just starting to walk into it.

Cool to hear your story. How do you take the liquid valium? Mask?

[gvstn]

24. It was a syringe

So I guess maybe injectible is a better description. A large syringe filled with lots of neon green liquid. I felt like I was in a sci-fi movie about to be experimented on by aliens. Didn't help that the surgeon was an impatient pompous jerk. But the valium did its work.

[packman]

18. Had cataract surgery done on both eyes

Started with blurry vision, halo light rings around lights at night, color distortions. Eye doc said left eye was in bad shape and needed new lens. Scarry - you bet. I'm a wimp when it comes to anything dealing with someone poking around in my eye. But, had it done because I weighed blindness vs. possible pain and discomfort.

NOTHING TO IT - a breeze. Some calming drugs thru an IV and was on the table about 15 min. or less. Absolutely no pain, just a remarkable light show when they inserted the new lens. In and out of the hospital (really clinic) in 3 hrs. After a day of wearing an eye patch, the result was amazing. What I thought was light greens turned out to be white, no more halo effects, and my long-distance vision was remarkable.

I BEGGED the doctor to do the other eye and after some go arounds with insurance the right eye was done also. For the first time in decades I do not wear glasses other than for reading. Colors are brighter, life is more enjoyable.

100% recommendation for anyone considering cataract surgery.

[MikeydaDog]

19. This is so good to hear.

Thank you all for this information. I have learned to do the research before addressing then I am not nearly so fearful. Thank you. I love your post.

[redstatebluegirl]

38. What I had was post cataract surgery.

They had to open up the "lens" they put in to let more light in. It doesn't happen with everyone, but some people who have cataract surgery. I would do the cataract surgery again in a minute, I would have rather not had this done but it was a side effect of the cataract surgery.

[NastyRiffraff]

13. I am the biggest baby in the world about eye procedures

Optometrists have a hard time putting drops in them because I can't help blinking. Often I have to put them in myself. So I was terrified of cataract surgery; turns out that although it wasn't pleasant, it wasn't nearly as bad as I imagined. It helped that the doctor gave me what he called "happy juice" to calm me down. The end result definitely made it all worth it!

[MikeydaDog]

14. O.K. Thank you.

Face the fear monster head on. It does help to listen to others experience. Thanks.

[Wounded Bear]

3. Good to hear!

[malaise]

4. Great news

[TexasProgresive]

5. Great news.

[octoberlib]

8. My grandmother had wet macular degeneration. I had an appointment with my

opthamologist in October and he said they have a new treatment now for the wet kind which slows/ stops it. Congratulations !!!

[bluestarone]

9. good deal

glad to hear!!

[livetohike]

10. Great! Such a relief! n/t

[TheCowsCameHome]

11. That is such a happy ending.

You must feel like new again.

Congrats!

[pandr32]

12. It's always wonderful to get good health news

[Honeycombe8]

17. I'm so happy for you! Good news! nt

[gvstn]

20. Great news.

A very important warning for others afraid to get bad news.
My mother had an almost identical experience but she didn't go till she lost sight in the left eye. After that she loved her eye doctors for saving the vision in her right. It really is better to know, especially for something like eye health when you are probably going to do whatever they recommend anyway.
Thanks for the valuable post. I wish you continued health.

[PennyK]

21. Thanks and yay for you!

I've been having vision problems, which MAY be a side effect of Zoloft, my antidepressant. My mood is so improved that I'm uncertain about what to do...BUT I'm moving up my next annual eye checkup to make sure that the problem isn't cataracts or glaucoma, before I do anything about the Zoloft.

[spanone]

22. K&R...

[c-rational]

23. Happy for you. Do you take the supplement Restore by Eye Promise ...my eye Dr. recommended it and

my numbers got better after a year...that was years ago.

[redstatebluegirl]

39. I take Alreds II, plus safron and vitamin A.

[ramapo]

25. Dont ever delay getting an eye exam!!!

I’ve two bouts with wet MD, one in each eye. The problem was caught before I even noticed it, no degradation of my vision.

All because I went for yearly exams (now every four months). I’ve had some needles in the eye, and laser.

I am extremely fortunate

Never put off an eye exam. Never ever!!

[panader0]

26. Congrats on your vision.

Years ago when I first heard the term Macular Degeneration, I was playing
music with a drummer that had issues, but could be a good guy too.
I wrote a song called Immaculate Degenerate for him.

[Siwsan]

27. Yea!! I had to have 'Yag' laser treatments on both eyes, after cataract surgery

The doctor told me it was a good possibility I'd need it to remove a build up on the new lenses and he scheduled a 'late' follow up visit. I didn't even notice it, yet. It was an easy peasy treatment to take care of the problem.

Before this surgery, I was extremely - and I do mean EXTREMELY - near sighted so I opted to pay big bucks for some wonderful lenses that have me with otherwise unassisted vision, for the first time in decades. Smartest money I ever splashed out on myself. I keep a pair of 'cheaters' on hand, for very small print on a color background, but otherwise can read unaided.

[DownriverDem]

34. My lenses were tweaked a little

A few years prior to my cataract surgery I had a radiokeratonomy (sp?)/type of procedure to end use of reading glasses. It worked for quite a while. I had a little left so the doc had tweak my new lenses when I had cataract surgery. For the most part I don't need reading glasses but have them just in case.

[snacker]

28. Wonderful news!

What a relief for you!

[BobTheSubgenius]

29. That is fantastic news!!!

I can certainly attest to how badly MD can go; one of the nicest people I've ever known went from fully sighted to having only dim peripheral vision in 5 years.

[DownriverDem]

30. Happened to me too

And like you I didn't know this could happen. Glad it worked out.

[greatauntoftriplets]

31. I'm so happy for your great news!

[Freedomofspeech]

32. Good for you!!

[Ligyron]

33. Sure glad to hear that.

I'm like that too w health - assuming the worse with no real info

[calimary]

35. That is WUNNNNNNderful!!!

Thanks for letting us in on your great news, redstatebluegirl! Congratulations!!!

[joanbarnes]

36. Awesome news, glad you shared.

[radical noodle]

37. So good to hear!

I also had to have JAGs after my cataract surgeries. It happens often. There are new treatments for MD all the time, so you should never wait if you think things are getting worse.

[fierywoman]

40. YAY !!!!!!!

[Scarsdale]

41. Great news.

What a relief. I have MD and am getting shots in my eyes. The Dr. stopped the ones to the left eye, since they were not helping. The right eye responds to the shots. I dread them each time, but it is the only treatment available. Here is a surprise. There is a new, more effective shot available, but Medicare will not pay for it. Since Medicare will not pay, neither will my Supplement insurance!! The doctor contacted an organization that can help with the expense. Instead of $75 per shot, my co-pay will be $15, My question is WHY won't Medicare pay for a treatment that is effective in delaying blindness? I can imagine how relieved you are to get the good news. Congrats!

[oasis]

42. Wonderful news!

[suegeo]

43. Always go in, esp. for eye sight

Don't hesitate.

If you get on top of declining vision early enough, there is a better chance the doctors can stop the decline in vision. Depending on what's going on, anyway.

For macular degeneration, maybe not, but for other types of eye problems yes.

I am glad your story is happy. Happy for you!