Cellar Scribblings

[serious crayons]

There are days I feel like I'm talking to myself  here, so anytime anyone wants to come here and discuss anything, I'm fine with that. 

Thanks!    In that case, I'll elaborate a bit on the eyedrops and glasses:

Eyedrops: Yes, they're kind of a hassle. Three different kinds that have to be applied three times a day, one for three days before the surgery, one for two weeks after the surgery and two for three weeks after the surgery. And then the same thing on the other eye. I missed a few applications along the way, but with no apparent damage.

The doctor ordered the drops directly from the pharmacy. The pharmacy called for my insurance information and mentioned that the drops cost $1,300. What?!?? Oh, the pharmacy explained, you can get generic for $145. The difference with the expensive ones is you only have to use them once a day. In this case, of course, I could have gotten the expensive ones for free (again, they'd be over my deductible). But in the interest of holding down expenses for my fellow insurance-holders and to punish big Pharma for (probably) overpricing its product, I ordered the cheap(er) ones and put up with the hassle.

Glasses: I now no longer need glasses to drive or watch TV. I bought a pair of graduated reading glasses on Amazon for $35, and that's about right for computers and conversation. But for close-up or fine-print reading, I need stronger reading glasses. I'm not totally thrilled with this, because before this, even with the cataracts, I could read without glasses if necessary. I had to strain a bit but I could do it. Now I can't. And since I spend more time reading than I do watching TV or driving, this is something of a disappointment. I'm haunted by that episode of "Twilight Zone" where in a post-Apocalypse world this curmudgeonly guy finally has all the time he wants to read -- and then he drops and breaks his glasses.

Of course, if I'm ever in that situation I can find plenty of replacements at any drugstore.

The doctor gave me a glasses prescription that he said would be good for reading and even be a tiny bit better for distance vision (they try to match the lens to the shape of your eye, but they can't always be perfect, so even your distance vision might need a bit of correction). I haven't had it filled yet. I'm probably going to order glasses off the internet.

For years, my distance vision was so bad that when there was a full moon or super moon, I always saw at least double if not triple images, no matter what: covering one eye or the other, wearing glasses or not. Now I can see just one moon.

Colors are lighter and brighter. Cataracts turn everything slightly yellowish. The downside of this is that I thought I had a golden tan and it turn out I don't. (Just kidding, I never have a golden tan, but I'm even paler than I thought.)

On the bright side: Eyedrops aside, it was by far the easiest surgery I've ever had. No pain, no blood, no scar, immediate recovery. I was driving the next day.

[brianr]

I know everyone agrees with you, it is a painless operation.  It is just the thought of someone cutting into my eye that gives me the shivers.

In NZ all prescriptions from a GP are just $5. From a specialist $15. That is for everyone from 1yr to 99yrs and above. So my eyedrops will be $15 for each type.
In Australia I needed 4 prescriptions per month. When I was under 65 I paid $28 (I think it is higher now) per prescription per month. There was a safety net which meant I usually only paid $5 per prescription in December.
When I turned 65, Prescriptions went down to $5 per prescription per month. They were free after 52 in one year.
When I arrived in NZ GP prescriptions were $3 for a 3 month supply. They went up to $5 about a year later and everyone was complaining but I thought it was still wonderful.
However in Australia, age over 65 doctors visits are free. In NZ I pay $42 per visit. Again there is a safety net and children under 13 are free but not the aged.
So I gained on prescriptions but lost on visits.

[CellarDweller]

I know everyone agrees with you, it is a painless operation.  It is just the thought of someone cutting into my eye that gives me the shivers.

I'm the same way.  If I ever had to choose between  contacts or glasses, I would take glasses.  I can't bring myself to put my finger into my eye.

[Jeff Wrangler]

I'm the same way.  If I ever had to choose between  contacts or glasses, I would take glasses.  I can't bring myself to put my finger into my eye.

When I got contacts when I was in college, that's exactly what I thought--I'd never be able to stand inserting or removing the lenses. I was very surprised when I adapted to it very quickly.

[serious crayons]

It is just the thought of someone cutting into my eye that gives me the shivers.

I'm the same way.  If I ever had to choose between  contacts or glasses, I would take glasses.  I can't bring myself to put my finger into my eye.

I can understand that feeling, but the actual operation isn't really gross. They give you tons of drops -- one of which really stings but the others are fine -- and cover you with a warm blanket (at least my place did). They they roll you into the OR, give you some relaxing medication intravenously, and put something on your eye to hold it open. You can't see what's going on and although you're aware of something happening with your eye it's not the least bit painful. It's over in five minutes. Some people say their eyes felt slightly scratchy or irritated for a day or two after, but mine didn't. I had to wear a clear plastic cover on it when sleeping the first couple of nights to keep from accidentally poking it. They said not to read or watch TV that first day but I did both with no problems.

I don't know what your eye is made of, but it closes right up afterward. It's like putting a spoon in applesauce and pulling it out again.

The skin-cancer surgery was far more traumatic -- blood, stitches, aftercare. But frankly that's really not that big a deal either.

[Jeff Wrangler]

I don't know what your eye is made of, but it closes right up afterward. It's like putting a spoon in applesauce and pulling it out again.

I think that's probably a good analogy. I know my dad said he had no pain at all; I don't recall that he even complained of any scratchiness.

My objections to the procedure--unless really necessary to preserve vision--are just based on the complicated nature of my dad's follow-up care, plus the procedure not delivering what the ophthalmologist promised.

Really, I gave it a lot of thought, and I decided that at least in my case, the appeal of no longer needing eyeglasses was really an appeal to vanity--and at my age that's really pretty stupid. If I were 30 years younger, that might be different, but in later middle age, wearing glasses is no big deal.

[brianr]

The skin-cancer surgery was far more traumatic -- blood, stitches, aftercare. But frankly that's really not that big a deal either.

I have had that so often, it is not a big deal. The biggest pain is to my wallet. Once it was on my back and I could not reach to take the bandage off and had to make an appointment with the medical practice nurse (not the skin surgery). My skin doctor in Australia once told me to have my wife check my back and I told him "I do not have one of those." 

[brianr]

Really, I gave it a lot of thought, and I decided that at least in my case, the appeal of no longer needing eyeglasses was really an appeal to vanity--and at my age that's really pretty stupid. If I were 30 years younger, that might be different, but in later middle age, wearing glasses is no big deal.

The cataract completely covers my right eye and I cannot read with it alone, I was told upgrading my glasses would be pointless. So when the left eye goes the same way I might as well be blind. Well I could get around, but no computer and no books. I am even a bit nervous about going to Europe for 6 weeks by myself. I want the left eye to be bad enough when I come home for the operation on my right to be free but not so bad I cannot read at all.  The operation therefore is a no brainer.

[CellarDweller]

Hiya BetterMost friends!

I hope that everyone is relaxing and enjoying a three-day weekend!

Snow is falling here in NJ,  they're not calling for much accumulation, and tomorrow the temps are going up, and rain will wash it all away.

[CellarDweller]

My skin doctor in Australia once told me to have my wife check my back and I told him "I do not have one of those."