Results of eye exam...

[spike]

I'm only posting this because I had mentioned during the "font wars" recently that I had difficulty with my eyesight in my right eye. I saw my eye doc yesterday and the upshot is that my right eye has become a bit farsighted (no distance is clear) and there's a bit of astigmatism too. A bit of background retinopathy, but "nothing to write home about" were his exact words. Nothing else out of the ordinary, so all I need is a new set of computer/reading glasses. I've been able to ditch my irritating progressive sunglasses for cheap non-rx ones because my left eye, formerly near sighted is now 20-20! Geez, I've been wearing glasses since I was 13 and now I can get by driving w/o them! The right eye which used to be 20/20 is now a bit blurry, but not enough to make it worth spending 100's of bucks for another pair of prescrip lenses. If I can just remember to always tote some reading glasses with me, I'll be able to read the receipts I sign at the check out registers and product labels.

Thanks to everyone who expressed concern over the possibility that my vision problem was the result of something more serious.

[valc3]

Spike, glad to hear the vision was nothing too serious. I also saw the eye Dr, no major problems, new lens(I'm getting older is what I was told. lol)

[duck]

**** this getting old ****! when are they going to cure that?

Good to hear you're okay, spike.

[spike]

**** this getting old ****! when are they going to cure that?

Good to hear you're okay, spike.


Thanks! As to your question: the day after I succumb to old age?:mad:

[Keezheekoni]

Glad to hear that your eyes are okay. :) As for getting old, ugh, I feel same as you do...the minute I succumb to old age there will be a cure! :mad: :thumpdown :rofl:

Rikki

[BriOnH]

just kinda fyi: According to statistics, any diabetic that has had diabetes for >=20 years will have some retinopathy. Been searching for one that has'nt just to prove that wrong :). Glad to hear it isn't diabetic related Spike. Do colors look any different from your left to right eye? the sight in my left eye is almost 20/20 and it's 20/40 in my right (this is after lasik) and my right eye just doesn't see color as crisp and as sharp as my left.

[spike]

just kinda fyi: According to statistics, any diabetic that has had diabetes for >=20 years will have some retinopathy. Been searching for one that has'nt just to prove that wrong :). Glad to hear it isn't diabetic related Spike. Do colors look any different from your left to right eye? the sight in my left eye is almost 20/20 and it's 20/40 in my right (this is after lasik) and my right eye just doesn't see color as crisp and as sharp as my left.

No, the colors are the same except for a lifelong SLIGHT difference in color that I noticed as a kid. When I close one eye and look at a white wall, and then look with the other eye--I see 2 different hues, but it's not noticeable with both eyes open. Very subtle color difference. I presume you were asking about something more dramatic.

[BriOnH]

No, the colors are the same except for a lifelong SLIGHT difference in color that I noticed as a kid. When I close one eye and look at a white wall, and then look with the other eye--I see 2 different hues, but it's not noticeable with both eyes open. Very subtle color difference. I presume you were asking about something more dramatic.

Nope, pretty much the same exact thing. I probably just make it more dramatic lol.

[Belinda]

just kinda fyi: According to statistics, any diabetic that has had diabetes for >=20 years will have some retinopathy. Been searching for one that has'nt just to prove that wrong :). Glad to hear it isn't diabetic related Spike. Do colors look any different from your left to right eye? the sight in my left eye is almost 20/20 and it's 20/40 in my right (this is after lasik) and my right eye just doesn't see color as crisp and as sharp as my left.



FYI... Not all diabetics get retinopathy. It occurs quicker in people who don't have as tight as control BUT....even if you have very tight control you can develop retinopathy. I was at an intense vision institute this summer ( going to become a vision specialist in the school system) and my topic was diabetic retiniopathy....very interesting. I use to like going to the eye doc but now that I know all the terms he uses...YIKES>>>>

[JasonJayhawk]

Spike,

I don't know if you have a Costco located near you, but they've been the cheapest "high quality" glasses around -- they include a name-brand quality anti-reflective coating (good at the computer screen). If your Rx is less than -2.00, they charge (in my area) $50 for the lenses and whatever you buy for the frames (or bring in any of your old frames and they can create lenses for them). If your prescription is stronger, the lenses generally are $100 and can be done with any frames.

There are some websites that also offer (from Hong Kong) $39 glasses, including the frames, if you're interested (IM me). They're very cheap from the reviews I've read when I considered them, but maybe nobody would care if you sat at home in them behind the computer screen. My wife's prescription is so weak that she didn't plan on getting any, but now that she did, she is amazed at the reduction in headaches and clumsiness that she was having before!

[Belinda]

There is a place here in town...Opticals for less...that cost 29.95 for frames and lenses (barring you don't have bifocals etc)...they have designer frames too. What they have are last years frames....LOL...like people change frames yearly...the only draw back is that it takes 10-14 days to get them back..just like the old days. I have used them, so have family and friends. You can take in a prescription from your own eye doc and they honor it. IT is a WONDERFUL store.

[am1977]

Glad to hear that everything is ok with your eyes :nerd:... I know, it's always a relief to hear that there are no major problems to speak of :top:.

thanks for updating us :ciao:

[Cinnabon]

not bad Spike! Glad to hear everything is being treated and there is really not much to treat. Wish I wouldve caught mine as early as that... CONGRATS!!:thumbsup:

[spike]

Spike,

I don't know if you have a Costco located near you, but they've been the cheapest "high quality" glasses around -- they include a name-brand quality anti-reflective coating (good at the computer screen). If your Rx is less than -2.00, they charge (in my area) $50 for the lenses and whatever you buy for the frames (or bring in any of your old frames and they can create lenses for them). If your prescription is stronger, the lenses generally are $100 and can be done with any frames.

There are some websites that also offer (from Hong Kong) $39 glasses, including the frames, if you're interested (IM me). They're very cheap from the reviews I've read when I considered them, but maybe nobody would care if you sat at home in them behind the computer screen. My wife's prescription is so weak that she didn't plan on getting any, but now that she did, she is amazed at the reduction in headaches and clumsiness that she was having before!

There is a Costco 1.5 miles from me. I'll check with them next time I go there. Thanks!

[kgm0612]

Overall, Spike, your appointment was a good one. I keep forgetting to call and make my annual appointment for August. I'll do that this morning!

Karen

[spike]

Overall, Spike, your appointment was a good one. I keep forgetting to call and make my annual appointment for August. I'll do that this morning!

Karen

Yup! And I need to remember to call today to see if VSP will cover a portion of the cost of a refraction exam and lens. I still need to get my reading/computer glasses replaced.

I've been using 4 pairs of glasses the last few years:

1. Progressives for driving at night
2. Tinted progressives for daytime
3. Intermediate glasses for watching TV
4. Computer glasses (and for reading, but they are set at too far a distance to really be called "reading glasses")

Because my eyes have changed so much recently, I can now do away with #1,2 & 3. I can see well enough to drive with nothing at night, and cheap sunglasses during the day. I can see the TV's clearly now w/o glasses.
All I need is custom lens for computer & reading. I can't see properly with generic reading glasses because of astigmatism & a marked difference in focus between my eyes.

[drewgolden]

just kinda fyi: According to statistics, any diabetic that has had diabetes for >=20 years will have some retinopathy. Been searching for one that has'nt just to prove that wrong :). Glad to hear it isn't diabetic related Spike. Do colors look any different from your left to right eye? the sight in my left eye is almost 20/20 and it's 20/40 in my right (this is after lasik) and my right eye just doesn't see color as crisp and as sharp as my left.

Me.

I have treated myself rather aggressivly and have had this for 20 years. I consistently have A1Cs from 6 to (near but never)7. I don't mean to brag, but this is the one thing in my life I have stayed on top of. I think of it this way; when you reach the older years of your life, you begin to add up all of the things you neglected or did wrong. So "having high sugars for a day is okay" was never okay with me, I shoot insulin to manage my numbers and I keep an eye on my numbers all the time.

My thoughts were if I keep that part normal as possible, I should manage to keep my eyes and limbs as long as possible.

I have always been yelled at for never seeing an eye doctor, and in some little way I have pushed it off because I was operating under this theory - keep as close to normal and you will live a normal life.

So I see the eye doctor last week. Tell her my background, etc. We run through an hour and a half of exams, optical and medical exams.

At the end: My vision is near perfect (one eye has a slight focus issue at distances, but to not worry as I have probably had it all my life, don't run out and buy glasses.) And there are NO signs of any early stage retinopothay. Nothing. Nada.

So the lesson learned: For heavens sake, please do see the eve doctor. The whole thing was painless and I had been a sissy worrying about going. Oh, and the peach of course is to not neglect your diabetes for a second. Vigallance over time yeilds results! It's never too late to get started manageing better!

[JasonJayhawk]

Yup! And I need to remember to call today to see if VSP will cover a portion of the cost of a refraction exam and lens. I still need to get my reading/computer glasses replaced.

Be careful with VSP. You probably get a VSP "vision discount" on glasses at some optical shops (usually between 10%-40%), but their prices were already inflated in the first place, and that doesn't include anything like the AR(antireflective coating). Often times, you can find a provider that does not accept VSP, and they will cost less than the VSP discount.

Depending on your VSP plan, you can go to their website (VSP.com) and log in using your SS#/name, and find a place where you can create a request for a VSP discount by sending in your receipt. My VSP plan did not accept outside discounts, but the Costco optician said that some people get back a good portion of their glasses purchase. YMMV!

[gettingby]

That's good news Spike. I figured there was something up with your eyes but I hoped it wasn't serious. (Font War?? LOL, that was a good one <g>).
I have had diabetes for over 20 years and so far, no retinopathy. I hope that continues.:)
Glad that you are ok. :)

[Keezheekoni]

Heh, YMMV with VSP, just like with insurance. We have a pretty crappy health plan through my husband's company, but vision with VSP is the best plan they have... We only pay a $25 copay for the exam, lenses and frames (up to $125), that includes the anti-reflective and scratch coating. Contacts are an additional $25/year. Just got my 7 year-olds new glasses and she wanted the Nickelodeon SpongeBob frames that are the kind you could bend around your finger and they won't break for all of $4.00 extra.

I know most people don't have that kind of VSP coverage, but then again most of the people at my husband's company do wear glasses or contacts! Our family seems to be the only family in the company that has long-term health issues, so they don't seem to want to pay a ton for our health coverage. Ah well!

Rikki

[JasonJayhawk]

I know most people don't have that kind of VSP coverage

That is a good deal! With my prior vision insurance (it was VSP with a different company--the VSP I have now also is different), the eye doctor guided me to the "vision shop," and a rack of glasses was pointed out to me. I was told to select my frames from that rack. All of them were ludicrously cheap and poor quality. If I wanted "regular" glasses, I had to pay a huge out-of-pocket fee.

I was able to get glasses from a non-VSP provider for a lot cheaper and better quality. That really didn't shock me much, but it seemed as though the VSP coverage I had at that time was making a profit by banking on people picking a better, more expensive (by over $100) frame and lenses (another $100).

I kind of feel bad when people tell stories of their horrible medical insurance, when really it's the company that buys them that insurance is at fault.

[Keezheekoni]

I kind of feel bad when people tell stories of their horrible medical insurance, when really it's the company that buys them that insurance is at fault.
Well, I'm trying to get them to change our insurance. It's really weird because the company is headquartered in California, the Windows-development side is all in New Hampshire, one tech support person is in Florida, another employee is in Arizona, there's a UK sales guy and then there's the Unix-development side here in WA (all of two people, one lives about 40 miles away from us). Everyone except the NH and CA people work from home. Guess what? The CA and NH people have the best medical coverage (they make up 95% of the company's employees). The rest of us have no "choice" in coverage. It's the PPO and nothing else... I'm really working on finding a good fit for the WA people, since both families have health issues.

We'll see, I guess!

Rikki