Getting older (>60) or the aging process, brings with it specific changes to one’s body. There is an entire medical specialty (Gerontology) devoted to it but few doctors enter this specialty which is unfortunate since the Baby Boomer generation (largest generation in history) is now in its 60s. For this reason it behooves us to learn as much as possible about the aging process.
I have just gone through a medical revelation which might prove important to others.
We all know that our sight changes as we get older. I have worn glasses most of my life (lazy eye syndrome / astigmatism) so I progressed to bifocals and then trifocals but over a year ago, I noticed that my vision was just not a sharp as it used to be. I kept going to optometrists to check if my prescription had changed and they maintained that it did not change.
Later, my right eye kept watering. Since I have allergies, I was prescribed allergy drops for my eye – no help. Then I was told that I had “dry eye” which can be brought on with a lot of computer work so I started using lubricating eye drops – no help.
Then came the pieces de resistance; I had trouble driving at night and that I was not going to take as a normal part of the aging process even though I know many people my age that have trouble driving at night.
I went to my ophthalmologist (not optometrist) and presented my case. He looked and looked into my right eye until he proclaimed that I had a MACULAR PUCKER and he was sending me to a RETINA SPECIALIST immediately; you would not believe all the old people at the office of this retina specialist – wow!
After a barrage of tests and pictures of the inside of my eyes, it was concluded that I need surgery, specifically a VITRECTOMY. It seems as we age, the vitreous inside our eyes contracts and separates from the retina. This is usually a clean separation but in my case it was not so clean and a crease or pucker was left which distorted my vision. That pucker or scar tissue needed to be removed surgically to give me the vision I enjoyed previously.
The outpatient surgery was done with the surgeon looking through a microscope – fascinating! My vision improved immediately and my watering stopped. I will test night driving as soon as I recover (1 week) but I am very optimistic all will go well.
I should have done this long ago and that is why I am sharing my story just in case someone else out there has been experiencing similar symptoms.
I have just gone through a medical revelation which might prove important to others.
We all know that our sight changes as we get older. I have worn glasses most of my life (lazy eye syndrome / astigmatism) so I progressed to bifocals and then trifocals but over a year ago, I noticed that my vision was just not a sharp as it used to be. I kept going to optometrists to check if my prescription had changed and they maintained that it did not change.
Later, my right eye kept watering. Since I have allergies, I was prescribed allergy drops for my eye – no help. Then I was told that I had “dry eye” which can be brought on with a lot of computer work so I started using lubricating eye drops – no help.
Then came the pieces de resistance; I had trouble driving at night and that I was not going to take as a normal part of the aging process even though I know many people my age that have trouble driving at night.
I went to my ophthalmologist (not optometrist) and presented my case. He looked and looked into my right eye until he proclaimed that I had a MACULAR PUCKER and he was sending me to a RETINA SPECIALIST immediately; you would not believe all the old people at the office of this retina specialist – wow!
After a barrage of tests and pictures of the inside of my eyes, it was concluded that I need surgery, specifically a VITRECTOMY. It seems as we age, the vitreous inside our eyes contracts and separates from the retina. This is usually a clean separation but in my case it was not so clean and a crease or pucker was left which distorted my vision. That pucker or scar tissue needed to be removed surgically to give me the vision I enjoyed previously.
The outpatient surgery was done with the surgeon looking through a microscope – fascinating! My vision improved immediately and my watering stopped. I will test night driving as soon as I recover (1 week) but I am very optimistic all will go well.
I should have done this long ago and that is why I am sharing my story just in case someone else out there has been experiencing similar symptoms.
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