General Discussion

I'm 77. You have a long way to go.

Ha! The eye doctor! Thank you for the opening to "rant." I knew I had cataracts (likely caused or made worse by my cancer treatment drug), so I have had regular checkups once or more a year with my long-time ophthalmologist. My vision has rapidly been getting worse - just since December - so I scheduled a visit to the cataract surgeon in the same office. When the assistant did my pictures, he almost reflexively remarked, "What's this?" Then took a moment to look at the last set of pictures and said, "Oh, nothing's changed since last year."

When I finally met with the cataract surgeon, he was concerned with a fluid pocket on my left retina - the better eye! - that had apparently been there for some time and that my ophthalmologist had NEVER mentioned. The surgeon said that he would not do cataract surgery until that pocket would hopefully resolve, since the surgery could make it worse. He put me on some expensive eye drops that I need to use four times a day (package insert said the usual dose was once a day) and that I needed to return in a month.

I am frightened, pissed, and somewhat saddened by this oversight by a doctor I truly liked and trusted. Now I am not sure how long I have had this issue and whether or not the delay in treatment has done permanent damage. So now my right eye sees through a heavy fog and my left eye is somewhat clear but has trouble focusing (the fluid creates waves).

This, and we still have Trump and Musk.