kingsarcades Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 Well only 3 days now and I will be seeing the world again through new eyes. I have had cataracts which have slowly been getting worse over the last 7 yrs. I stopped driving at night about 5 yrs ago due to the flare effect caused by headlights of cars. During the day my vision is like looking through netting curtains with no peripheral vision. At times I get bad flickering in the peripheral area, which is so bad it makes me dizzy. My kids and grandkids call me Mr Magoo, and are more like lookouts instead of passengers when I do drive in the daytime. They tell me it is just like going on a sideshow ride instead of a trip to the shops. Nobody sleeps when I am driving. My phone has txt size about 1" high to see it. I am looking forward to loosing the bad double vision, and watching tv again, and only one ball on pinballs. You don't appreciate sight until you start loosing it. Sent from my MYA-L02 using Aussie Arcade mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayakkingoz Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 Yeah it certainly doesnt get any better as we age. Hopefully better for you though next week Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairground Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 Hi Peter I am 3 weeks into my new lens and am so happy to have had my cataract surgery of my left eye. I had the same symptoms as you and was very close to not being allowed to drive. I can see as i type here without glasses........ something I haven't been able to do for quite some years. I hope your surgery goes well and you enjoy your new "outlook" on life :cool: Cheers Ali Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dzhay1981 Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 Let me know how you go. I need to have the same operation (not for cataracts, but just because my eyes are munted). Who's your surgeon? Are you doing one eye at a time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punkin Posted April 4, 2019 Share Posted April 4, 2019 Getting to the specialist on the 13th of this month. Only had the cataracts diagnosed in my left eye so far but it's driving me crazy. I am really careful riding my superbike and not getting the most out of it, and the trail bike is a real danger as the net curtain (or to me it's like looking through mist or cloud) really hampers my vision, especially following someone and looking through dust as well. I think it's contributing to me hitting the ground hard sometimes (old age and inexperience on trail bikes being the other contributors). I'm really worried they are going to tell me it has to get worse before they can operate or that the waiting list is 2 years long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingsarcades Posted April 5, 2019 Author Share Posted April 5, 2019 Well both eyes now done. My life is now completely different. Chrystal clear vision with 20/20 eyesight. No glasses needed, except reading. The hardest part was getting used to peripheral vision again after so many years with out it. You never appreciate eyesight until you are close to loosing it. Whenever my optomatist, specialist and surgeon (Dr Oconnomu paragon clinic) asked about driving , I always said I didn't drive, for fear of loosing my licence. It was just the pain of resitting it once I had the surgery. Due to age (65) and other reasons. I am also removing the heavy vehicle component from my licence to avoid having to pass a medical in June. Stave that off now until I turn 70. Hate getting old, with all the restrictions aging throws up at you. Sent from my MYA-L02 using Aussie Arcade mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingsarcades Posted April 20, 2019 Author Share Posted April 20, 2019 Well 4 weeks out since my second (right) eye surgery and getting better and better every day. Still getting a small amount of flickering in the peripheral area but slowly improving. If anyone is contemplating this cataract surgery, don't wait, it is life changing and a very simple procedure. Another funny side effect is getting up from my seat and reaching for my glasses out of habit. I have had glasses for over 20 years. The downside is now having to carry them in case I need to read something. Where the hell do you carry them in the true Aussie uniform of thongs, t shirt and thongs. Very uncomfortable sticking them in the crack of my bum. Guess that is a very small problem and insignificant when weighed up against perfect vision. I don't want to put a chain on them and hang them around my neck and look like a bumbling old man.., oh hang on that may be the answer... I just realised I am a silly old bugga now. (65) Sent from my MYA-L02 using Aussie Arcade mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punkin Posted April 20, 2019 Share Posted April 20, 2019 Sent my paperwork ff at the start off the week to get on the waiting list for the left eye. How long did you have to wait to have the second eye done? Left is the only noticeable one for me but they said they have to do both. One at a time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingsarcades Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 I did both through private health, no waiting time. Three weeks between each operation to ensure no complications. Extremely happy with the results. Biggest noticeable change was the bright colours, clear crisp vision, and no glasses. Easy operation, and highly recommended. In my case I was close to legally blind by the time I finally got around to getting it done . Because of an unrelated accident 5 yrs ago , which I am still recovering from, I kept putting it off. Sent from my MYA-L02 using Aussie Arcade mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punkin Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 No worries mate. Looking forward to it, bit scary riding the trail bike hard or riding the superbike at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini2544 Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 Is this procedure available to Medicare holders. My left eye has a Cataract, which causes me to see double vision at night. If I look at the moon I see two moons in a figure eight configuration, & a motor bike coming at me with it's light on looks to me like a car is coming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punkin Posted May 20, 2019 Share Posted May 20, 2019 Is this procedure available to Medicare holders. My left eye has a Cataract, which causes me to see double vision at night. If I look at the moon I see two moons in a figure eight configuration, & a motor bike coming at me with it's light on looks to me like a car is coming. Yes the maximum wait for the first eye is one year, your doctor may shorten that if it's more urgent. There is some hefty gap payments to the consulting specialists on the way there though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingsarcades Posted May 22, 2019 Author Share Posted May 22, 2019 There is some hefty gap payments to the consulting specialists on the way there though. Yes for both eyes and full private health I was still out of pocket $1300 Sent from my MYA-L02 using Aussie Arcade mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Railways Posted May 22, 2019 Share Posted May 22, 2019 Thanks for the thread. I'm of similar vintage and my eyesight hasn't been 20/20 for some time. My last visit to specsavers said I had a cataract forming in one eye so I'm thinking I should be doing something sooner than later. I'm glad to hear it's all working out well for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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