Hi Is there a word limit in this system?? I'll post in parts. Sorry for suspense.
No doubt everyone's heard that I have had a retinal detachment and am currently grounded. Like can't leave the house-grounded. Can't fly either.
In the interest of not have to tell the backstory over and over when I see you guys again Here's the history in full technicolor, gory detail. For the ADD'ers out there here's the bottom line. As of Thursday 12/1/05 at 11:30am (approx.), the doctor said "it looks perfect." "I would say your outlook is excellent."
The long version.
I developed a visual acuity problem about 5 years ago in my right eye. I have been extremely nearsighted my whole life and have been a successful hard contact lens wearer for about 2 decades. The initial problem was my optometrist could seem to get correction right. I was effectively seeing about 20/40 in my right eye. I was almost 20/20 in my left. So I struggled along with this for a year. The first opthamologist(eye surgeon) I went to couldn't find anything wrong and sent me back to my optometrist. I went to a second opthamologist who accidentally discovered the cataract in my right eye. That's an interesting story but you'll have to sit in suspense.
I'm really young for a cataract but it's off to Opthamologist #3. I was referred to #3 by #2. "He's our best guy" I'm certainly not going to turn that down. My wife and I walk into the clinic and it's a wall to wall retirement community. No body is under 60. I feel pretty out of place with my "Flytec Championship 2003" shirt on. #3 says "yep you've got a cataract. He goes on to say it's pretty minor surgery these days but it is surgery and so there is a small risk of complications. In addition, due to your nearsightedness you have a slightly elevated risk above the already small risk.
So I decide to think about this a while since I'm still seeing mostly OK and not having the more developed symptoms of halos and blocked vision. I see #3 every 6 months for 2 years or so while thinking about it and doing research etc. Finally, as of last summer 04 I was starting to have a little (micro) trouble connecting my foot to my hacky sack. "Hold on Stop the presses That's it. I'm sick of this. I'm thinking if I schedule this for winter it wouldn't impact my flying season too badly.
I procrastinate and don't get around to calling Doctor #3 until December at which time I find out that #3 is not doing any surgery for the indefinite future. They won't say why on the phone but it's weird enough that I'm left thinking he's got a health issue or for whatever reason he's not being allowed to do surgery. (This is a top guy at USC's Doheny Eye Center) HE'S NOT SOME QUACK!!
My piano teacher is having similar issues and recommends his eye doc who was recommended to him by another medical doc he knew. OK it's off to Opthamologist #4. Upon hearing my details #4 suggests that "Since you are at an elevated risk of a retinal detachment I want you to go see a retinal specialist(Fancy Opthamologist) who can shed some light on serious your risk is. OK off to doctor #5.
#5 said "Yes you do have a cataract. Your retina does have some latticing(thinning) on the sides. That does put you at a slightly elevated risk of a retinal detachment. Given your age and current visual status, I'm going to recommend that you have the surgery. Yeah, I think?
Back to #8. who says let's schedule you for surgery." By now it's the middle of February. I have about 2 weeks till surgery and I'm researching like crazy because frankly the prognosis after cataract surgery was not very appealing to me.
Retinal Detachment Part I
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