My Eyes

[Alan Clarke]

Eric, even though you and I were at extreme odds on the evolution/creation debate, I can truly say I'm elated with your wonderful news. I considered numerous times of having eye surgery to eliminate my need for glasses. I once read a post from a guy who couldn't see the fuzz on a peach after his operation. Everyone told him the outcome would be great but it wasn't and he became psychologically depressed.

I took your advice and have been hanging out on the Pharyngula site:

Thread 1
Thread 2

Bob Zale would have shut these threads down long ago for the abusive language. I appreciate him even more when his civility is contrasted to that of P.Z. Myers'.

[BOB MECHLER]

Eric,

It's good to hear you're doing well.

Being a diabetic I've wondered if this type of surgery would be good for me. I've long ago went to 3 pairs of glasses. One for driving, one for reading small print and one for programming. I used to need a correction every year or two but since I've had three pairs, my correction has remained steady for about 8 years now with good checkups. I guess it could be that my finer control of my diabetes may be the contributing factor.

My last correction was done just after discovering I was diabetic and my optometrist was also a diabetic. He cautioned me to be sure my sugar levels were well under control before getting my next change because glucose levels effect the lenses. If you get tested while not under control the correction will be wrong when you get back under control.

I actually see better now without glasses than I did when I was in the 3rd grade. At that time I had 20/45 with a big craving for sugar. I often wondered if there was a third kind of diabetes that I've had all my life where I had insufficient glucose tolerance. I didn't get diagnosed until I was in my late 40's.

Sorry, if I'm off point with the thread but didn't think it warranted a separate thread. I am curious about different endocrine problems handling glucose properly that aren't full blown juvenile diabetes. It may affect how I deal with glucose levels today.

Bob Mechler

[Gösta H. Lovgren-2]

Originally Posted by Eric Pearson

Even then, they wanted me to wait two more weeks before trying to focus up-close. If you try to focus too early in the healing process, you can affect the "accomodation" of the lens. My doc said to try not to focus on anything within arm's-reach until 2-3 weeks after the second surgery, at least not without drug-store reading glasses.

-- Eric

Eric,

Have been wondering how the operation has gone. Now almost 3 months after. Do you see 20 20 at all distances? Or do you need glasses for certain things (distance? close up?).

Would you (still) recco the operation?

Thx

===================================
"The only difference between me
and a madman is that I'm not mad."
Salvador Dali (1904-1989)
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[Barry Erick]

I am a diabetic, too and as you can see, I am scheduled for this surgery. Just waiting for my strenght to be released, which in January was for March or April. I know my Dr. had a meeting with the company last Friday and that was on his list of items. The did tell him when I was there, last Thursday, that it was very close. I hope so. I hope it isn't "we can do the range 11 to 20 but 9 is still buggy. This is starting to get close to a long vacation drive and it might come to me being a passenger and my wife driving.

Anyway, for a diebetic, you would take care of catarac's, correct? Well this is the same. With the changes a diabetic may have, one may still have to wear glasses, but maybe just for reading or just lighter glasses. I'm luck.. other than the cataracs, my eyes have not changed. I'm type II.

[Eric Pearson]

Gösta --

> Do you see 20 20 at all distances?

Hmmm... Before I answer I'll offer a technical definition, or at least my layman's understanding of it.

"20-20 vision" means that a person can see objects at 20 feet as clearly as a person with "normal human vision" can see them at 20 feet. 20-40 is worse than normal; you can see at 20 feet what a person with "normal" vision can see at 40 feet. 20-50 is worse than that, 20-10 is better than normal vision at 20 feet, etc. A friend of mine in high school had 20-10 vision.

Second, if a person can focus on an object at 20 feet it requires surprisingly little effort for their eye to focus on an object in the far distance, such as the stars at night. I don't remember the exact number, but it's something like 5% of the focus range of the eye is devoted to focusing from 20 feet to "infinity". So unless there is another medical problem, a person with 20-20 vision can usually see objects clearly from 20 feet outward.

20-20 is a measurement of distance vision; "20-20 at all distances" is a little confusing.

Now to answer your basic question... My left-eye surgery was almost exactly four months ago today. The right-eye surgery was ten days letter. I now have 20-20 distance vision in both eyes, without glasses. I can focus very easily on objects from about 3 feet (one meter) to infinity. From 3 feet inward, it takes more and more effort for me. For reading and for most computer work I still use reading glasses most of the time (cheapo "readers" from a drug store or grocery store). If I sit back from my monitor I can function without glasses, but I tend to make a lot of typos. If I am doing up-close work I always use my readers.

It also depends on light intensity. I went out to get the newspaper the other morning and I had no trouble reading it because of the bright sunlight. The more light, the closer I can focus.

> Would you (still) recco the operation?

You bet! It wasn't cheap but I'm very glad I did it. Don't forget, cataracts were a problem on top of my other vision problems. The surgery was done to fix the cataracts, and the "no glasses" thing was a bonus.

I can drive without glasses. My night-driving problems (flaring of bright lights, etc.) are a thing of the past. But I do still have problems reading menus in dark restaurants.

Interestingly (to me anyway) this is almost exactly the opposite of my pre-surgery vision. I used to work on my computer without my glasses, but I wore them for driving and everything else.

Barry --

I'm not sure whether or not your questions were directed to me, but my answer is... Sorry, I have no idea. Not being diabetic I didn't ask my doctor any of those questions.

If it were me, I'd hesitate to install bionic components that were called "buggy" just last month. I'd probably wait a year, but that's just me.

-- Eric

[Gösta H. Lovgren-2]

Thanks the detailed answer Eric. I'm really glad it's worked out for you. I don't have cataracts or anything like that but do use glasses a lot. At least 4 dif prescriptions which can get to be a pain. Don't REALLY need glasses to see (except for reading and computer screen), just at different distances glasses (driving, tv, ...) sharpen things up. Pretty much all age related stuff I guess.

I guess what I meant with "20 20" was "Is your vision 'perfect' now? No need for glasses at all?" and you've answered pretty clearly.

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Hold faithfulness and sincerity as first principles.
Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC)
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[Barry Erick]

Eric - The diabetic question about cataracs was for Gosta, to see what he knows about it. I know lots of diabetic people have this surgery as it has nothing to do about what changes with diabetics. The retna is what usually troubles diabetics and this is only the lens.

Now, one thing they have warned me about is close up. I can see and focus from about 1 inch to a foot and this is great, working with surface mount components. But I'll be retiring, soon. As far as a pair of everyday reading glasses, I can do that. Right now the cataracs are causing problems with computer work and reading.

[Russ Srole]

A lot of us are hitting the age. I was told about 8 years ago that I had early stage cataracts. Like Eric, it's finally time to do something about it. I'm scheduled for my right eye in the first week of May and the left eye one month later. Fortunately for me, it's covered by my Kaiser insurance. I currently can read without glasses, but it's getting harder. Everything else requires them. From what I'm told & others experience, I'll be wearing reading glasses, but distance vision will be much better then I've had in decades. So I guess I'll see you in a few weeks

Russ

[Barry Erick]

I've got to start giving out my cell phone number instead of home number. When I got home today, the answering machine had a message that my lens strength has been released and we need to set the schedule for the eye surgery! Since it was Friday and 7pm, I now have to wait until Monday and be sure of my schedule. I've got tons of work and also I program the election software for the TV station and we have the Children's Miricle Telethon and a Vets day parade coming up. But I am doing it and if they don't like it... well, retirement is close..it could be closer.

[Barry Erick]

May 6 - Left Eye, May 20, Right eye!

[Barry Erick]

Yesterday, I had my left lens replaced with Tecnis ZM900. All day and until I went to bed my left eye was dialated and hard to see an image with, but this morning, distant vision is good, but near vision isn't. As Eric said in his first post; that takes time. It is a real pain to use my "one lens" glasses to see this computer screen. With my new eye, I clearly see the PowerBASIC logo as I type this, but this text is a blur. Easiest to to close that eye and use the glasses to see. In two weeks from yesterday, I get my right eye.

I could see the alarm clock without glasses. I could look out the window and see the beautiful morning without glasses. I could come downstairs to let the dogs out without glasses. Pretty soon I won't even need the one lens glasses once I am up.

After the proceedure, they give you a coupon for a free breakfast at Haystack's next door and escort you there (you do have a general anestetic and fast for the 4 minute proceedre; not so much that food turns your stomach, tho.)

In a new world,



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At the day after visit with the Dr., he gave me eye drops to speed the healing of my eye. He also moved my seconds eye's surgery up a week to next Wednesday! On the drive home (with my wife driving, of course), I saw immediate improvement and upon getting home, I could see the computer screen. My near vision was down to about 10 inches. Today, I will take a short drive as this is clean-up and deliver-it-yourself week in our comunity and the pickup is packed.

It's a good thing the surgery was moved up to next week: they never penciled in my second appointment that was made for the 20th! Since they did not have a slot open on the 13th, they added one up front on the 13th and I am now first of 16 being done that day. I know the Dr. flies through these, because as he was looking over my papers at yesterday's visit, he commented... "Oh, you're the one with the Tecnis!" Then, he told me of his meeting with the company and finding out mine was shipping. I should be ready for my Blue Ridge Mt., Georgia vacation in June with time to spare!

[Barry Erick]

It is now 3 days after receiveiving the Tecnis ZM900 10.5 strength lens in my right eye and I see better than I can ever recall. I can also see my computer screen and read without reading glasses. I just read Time and Readers Digest easier than I have in years. I do find myself trying to look down through where my reading pane of my trifocals was, but it is much easier to read straight on.

I just can't believe how clear things are at this early date.

What an amazing thing it is to wake and see the time without squinting or putting on my glasses.

If any of you are thinking about doing what Eric and I have done... do it. It is worth it.

[Nick Luick]

So would it be accurate to call Eric & Barry bionic men or just part of the borg

[Barry Erick]

Originally Posted by Nick Luick

So would it be accurate to call Eric & Barry bionic men or just part of the borg

Whatever works

Actuually, the Tecnis comes in two flavors: Acrylic and Silicon. I do not know the type I received, other than the serial numbers, physical size and strength.

I know the day after my last surgery, my vision was measured at 20/25 and it is better today than Thursday.

[George Bleck]

Well after slightly over 30 years of computing work of 8+ hours hours a day the old eyes are starting to give out.

They gave me a good run and I was just diagnosed with 75/-50/35 and 75/-75/110. Those that know the numbers know... I barely need glasses but I do have an astigmatism.

I came across these computing glasses (see below) and just ordered a pair of them in my prescription. I'll let you all know how they pan out.

http://www.gunnars.com/products/metallic_weezer.php