I have worn glasses since 1990. Started out just needing readers for a while but quickly noticed that intermediate range from arms reach to thirty feet was fuzzy. Then long range went out of focus. Wore bifocals for a short time and found them to be nearly useless. Progressive lenses made a big difference but took awhile to adjust to. Over the years I have had a new prescription every three years or so. Translation…… spent a ton of money on lenses and frames. But Those of you who have been wearing glasses for multiple years already know that. 2018 was when I got my last new prescription and frames. Best glasses I ever had. Silhouette titanium frames, anti glare, and transition lenses. $1700 worth of damn I can see better with these than I have in years.
Well the eye doc who saw me then said he wanted to see me in one year to evaluate my cataracts. I assumed that this was just found during that examination.
Well about the time I got around to making an appointment to have my eyeballs looked at again the Covid shutdown put everything on hold.
This August I finally got around to seeing an ophthalmologist who specializes in cataracts. He did my Wife’s eyes last December. He did a great job for her and she convinced me to see him. I still thought I had very good eyesight with my glasses but driving at night was getting to be less fun than it used to be.
Well anyway back to the history of my eyeballs when the doctor I saw in 2018 mentioned cataracts that was the first time I heard that I had them.
But before making the appointment in August I looked back through the online records of my eye appointments and there was a doctors note in 2015 regarding my bilateral cataracts. This was news to me that doctor never said a word about cataracts to me.
Okay so it has already been a long story to this point. So no point in making it short now.
Turns out that my left eye cataract was the worst of the two. So we scheduled it for October 3rd. Then during a pre surgery procedure for measurements and thorough check of condition of both eyes to determine what lenses would be appropriate. The doctor discovered a problem in my right eye. There is a pocket or bubble in the area where light focuses on the retina. So I have an appointment with a retina specialist on the 23rd.
Went ahead with the surgery on my left eye Tuesday morning and opted for an upgrade on the lens. There are four levels of lens available. The basic lens would be covered by Medicare. This lens would require me to still need the same or slightly stronger prescription glasses. The next level lens would also require a prescription a bit lower than that. The lens I went with will only require a low power reader for very fine print. I am not a candidate for the fourth lens because of my astigmatism.
This upgrade comes at a cost of $2650 per eye but with the savings on frames and lenses we decided it would be worth it in the long run.
So now to the result of my first new eyeball! I love it! I had no idea how dim my world has been. Everything in my view from my left eye is bright and colors are vivid. If I close that eye everything from my right eye has a dim yellow cast to it. With both eyes open my new good eye seems to over ride the right eye to a large extent. Watching television without glasses is awesome. I can’t wait to get my other eye done to balance out. Of course the retina issue will have to be dealt with and hope is that it doesn’t require a different lens. If it at least clears up the yellow tint that will be a big improvement.
I am right handed and right eye dominant so hoping for the best outcome for the sake of being able to shoot straight.
