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I shouldn't really even be posting, because I had a full eye exam a couple of hours ago and was dilated and am still not seeing very well. But I'm feeling a bit knocked sideways and wanted to vent
I had cataract surgery in one eye about 13 years ago and have known for some time that I have "issues" with pressure in my eyes, namely glaucoma. But I've been seeing an eye specialist every six months, and he's been telling me that everything's fine. About a year and a half ago, I had a special laser test to measure damage to the optic nerve and the specialist told me that a "very small amount" of damage was showing and that I needed to be vigilant about using the meds I'm on, but no big cause for concern.
Flash forward to today. Please note - about a year later. In this time, original specialist has retired and I have a new one, with flashy computerized equipment and photographs of back of the eye. HE tells me that I have virtually no optic nerve left. That I must NEVER, repeat NEVER miss a dose of the medication or there's serious risk of losing my sight. And that I have a cataract starting in my other eye, so am facing surgery again (not immediately, and would be no big deal except I had some complications last time which makes me a bit fearful).
All this is the kind of thing that a surgeon of that kind would be telling an 80-year old. I'm 54. I've already had a hip replacement, too! I feel like my body is seriously letting me down. I also feel like I've been badly let down by last surgeon who was a lovely, gentlemanly man but didn't have all the latest equipment. How could I go from only a little damage to virtually no optic nerve left in just over a year??
And my other hip is hurting.
Bleah.
Bleah.
Bleah.
I had cataract surgery in one eye about 13 years ago and have known for some time that I have "issues" with pressure in my eyes, namely glaucoma. But I've been seeing an eye specialist every six months, and he's been telling me that everything's fine. About a year and a half ago, I had a special laser test to measure damage to the optic nerve and the specialist told me that a "very small amount" of damage was showing and that I needed to be vigilant about using the meds I'm on, but no big cause for concern.
Flash forward to today. Please note - about a year later. In this time, original specialist has retired and I have a new one, with flashy computerized equipment and photographs of back of the eye. HE tells me that I have virtually no optic nerve left. That I must NEVER, repeat NEVER miss a dose of the medication or there's serious risk of losing my sight. And that I have a cataract starting in my other eye, so am facing surgery again (not immediately, and would be no big deal except I had some complications last time which makes me a bit fearful).
All this is the kind of thing that a surgeon of that kind would be telling an 80-year old. I'm 54. I've already had a hip replacement, too! I feel like my body is seriously letting me down. I also feel like I've been badly let down by last surgeon who was a lovely, gentlemanly man but didn't have all the latest equipment. How could I go from only a little damage to virtually no optic nerve left in just over a year??
And my other hip is hurting.
Bleah.
Bleah.
Bleah.
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