WALK FOR VISION - September 29
Went back to clinic last tuesday, vision is much better. I can see very well long sight, without my glasses but because lenses are now wrong the vision is still blurry with them. Was hoping docs would say I can now drive but they say no, have to go back on 29th and not sure if they will agree then or not as my glasses will still be wrong and I cant change them til docs are satisfied.
Its a pain not being able to drive, I care for my disabled father and now have to rely on my husband or daughter taking me to look after him. Now the dilating drops have stopped I feel more confident walking outside so I am hoping the weather will improve so at least I'll be able to get out. The school holidays are now over so hubby and daughter are back at work so will have to walk everywhere. But at least there is now light at the end of the tunnel (and its not blurred!!!).
Hi Janet. Go to an eye glass store and ask them to replace the old prescription with a "blank" lens. Cost is about $10 US (very cheap).
It never cesases to amaze me that oophthalmologists don't recommend this simple step after cataract removal. The old prescription doesn't work, so why keep it; and, it interfers with your "new" vision.
When you are ready to be fitted with a new prescription, the blank will be replaced with an appropriate lens. In the mean time, you will discover that your make shift glasses work very, very well, perhaps even well enough for you to meet driving standards! Your corrected vision after cataract surgery would pass most driving tests in the US for example.
I know a practice in Boston that has patients have a blank lens put in their glasses a day or so before surgery. Being able to wear glasses protects the eye that had surgery, and allows you to continue to function quite well until new lens are fit.
Don't know if your docs told you, but the required legal sight for driving in the UK is 6/10 in one eye. It sounds as though, if you followed Liz's advice and had one blank lens fitted to your specs, you would meet this requirement.
I got fed up and had my eyes tested after my second cataract op after the glaucoma expert said it wouldn't be worthwhile getting anything other than reading specs. With the help of weak lenses for both eyes, I had driving sight with a bit to spare. Then it was the internet specs site and glasses with lenses for around £20.
It's even worth checking the websites of the bigger optician chains to see if there are any free or cheap eye tests on offer. D and A did my last one for free and then quoted over £100 to reglaze the lenses. I went back to the internet and bought another pair of specs complete for less than £20.
Not driving is an absolute pain. It has driven me mad at times. Hopefully, you'll be back behind the wheel soon.
Apparently I cant drive because the eye hasnt healed enough to hold the lens firmly in place and if I were to have an accident it could be dislodged (stitches havent been used to hold it in place) I argued that this could happen as a passenger but as I had been advised NOT to drive I wouldn't be covered on my insurance so even though the vision is quite good I have to do as I am told.
My husband has cleaned the windows now but unfortunately I cant do anything about the wrinkles I found had developed while my vision was poor unless I book myself in for a face lift or botox. It is good to go outside in the bright light and to be able to see who the person stood in front of me is before all I could see was a blinding light and everything ws blurred.
I am now looking forward to our holiday to New York with a cruise to the Carribean. All I need to do now is cure my fear of heights so I can go up the Empire State Building and walk across the Brooklyn Bridge cos now I can see I want to see the sights!!!!!
I'm back at hospital on tuesday so I am hoping I'll be able to drive again then. Its been a very, very, very long six weeks. I feel lost not being able to jump in the car and go where i want, alhtough I have started doing a lot more walking which is good cos I'm doing the Race for Life in June in memory of my sister-in-law (I will be walking the race NOT running) so its good practice.
I will also be glad to get my specs changed with a better prescription. then I can sit back and hope and pray I dont have any more flares.
Regarding trip to Boston it would be good if there was a Uveitis coinference there then we could all go and have a TEa Party!
Walk for Vision ~ Trip to Boston in your future?
There is a great event every Fall in Boston . . . The Wlak for Vison . . . which raises money for uveitis research. In addition to the walk, there is luncheon, and speakers, usually including Dr. Foster talking about the latest treatment or research.
I would love to see a team from the UK, either coming here to Boston, or walking "in Spirit" at the same time as the Boston walk. Some other cities have begun to adopt this strategy when travel to Boston isn't possible, and it has been great, great fun.
If you come here, I will personally host the Tea party! would love to meet all of you. Any spark plugs out there who want to work on organizing a meeting here or there?
Re: Walk for Vision ~ Trip to Boston in your future?
Janet,
I'm all too familiar with the pain of not driving, so I hope you get the ok to get behind the wheel again. Also hope you enjoy the Race for Life as you raise money. If you send me your address through ez box, (clicking on my name takes you to it)I'll join your sponsor list.
I think if you have money and time to spare, the birdshot conference is the weekend before the uveitis one. Is that right, Liz? Might be wrong, but I suspect any treatment that works for birdshot may also have a place in treating other forms of uveitis. Perhaps there is even an overlap in what sparks off the immune response in the first place. Wild guessing here. With Annie going to the first conference, you'd have company the first weekend.
Liz,
That's a very kind offer, hosting a Boston tea party for us.
It would be great to meet people from the board and take part in the Walk.
Re: Walk for Vision ~ Trip to Boston in your future?
I would suggest coordinating it with the Walk for Vision in October. I'll find out more about the dates. There are many who walk "in spirit" (ergo: "Spirit Walkers") A large team formed last year in NJ, and there have been teams in 7 or 8 other states. How exciting it would be to have a UK walk for uveitis research at the same time.
Re: Walk for Vision ~ Trip to Boston in your future?
Hi everybody
I have now got my new specs and I'm amazed at the difference everything is so clear!!!!!!! I can now see peoples faces as they approach me in the street. My specs are very trendy and I've a great pair of sunglasses all ready for my hols (I DID go to specsavers!!!!!). The optician has said my vision is now excellent and I could pass the eye test for my pilots licence but I'm not sure I want to!
Mr Jones thinks I may need to stay on Maxidex indefinitely but he's hopeful I may be able to stop the betoptic for pressure soon as its staying steady at 12.
Thanks to everyone for their support and a special thanks to Maxine for the donation to race for life.
Re: Walk for Vision ~ Trip to Boston in your future?
That's brilliant news, Janet. It's a whole new world with an IOL and specs. I like the way Vision Express get the specs on your nose within the hour, but I don't like their prices.
The walk comes closer...just think, you'll be able to see everything as you do it!
I popped in for a quick "lurk" and was thrilled to see the suggestion of "Waliking in Spirit" to raise money for Uveitis Research. The Keys family would love to take part here in the UK - we live by Hadrian's Wall and would be happy to walk the wall to raise money. (We climbed up to the Wall the day Tom was diagnosed and took comfort in the light and the space so it seems appropriate to walk it to raise money for research
You are simply AMAZING. That would be wonderful. Simply wonderful. I can see it now.
The Walk is September 27 this year. I am going to ask you to hook up with Alison Justus at the Foundation. She coordinates the Spirit Walkers and will know just what to do. This is her email: ajustus [AT]MERSI[DOT]us. Could you drop her a note so she has your contact information? Thanks.
Also, I received a letter in the mail to day form Phil Hibbert of the Uveitis Information Group who said that he would be glad to do what they can to help support the Walk. You can reach Phil at info[AT]uveitis[DOT]net. Please tell him that I put you up to contacting him. He is a wonderful man. Amazing what he gets done over there.
I think its an excellent idea to have a walk at the same time as Boston and I would have loved to have been involved but I am committed elsewher that weekend. If Gibby and everyone else would like to make this an annual event I would loved to be involved with organising and taking part next year. To walk part of Adrians Wall would be amazing and I think that suggestion by Gibby is brilliant. Please keep me informed.
Send your contact information along to Alison Justus at the Foundation. She will keep you up to date about next year and get you involved.
Her email is: ajustus[AT]MERSI[DOT]us
I can now see peoples faces as they approach me in the street. My specs are very trendy and I've a great pair of 
sunglasses all ready for my hols (I DID go to specsavers!!!!!). The optician has said my vision is now excellent and I could pass the eye test for my pilots licence
but I'm not sure I want to!
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