The view from behind a cataract
I was complaining talking to my brother about the recent problem that’s developed with my vision. I’ve said that it looks like there’s a thumb print on my glasses and that’s a fairly accurate description, but I kept having this nagging urge to come up with a better description.
This post is that description. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I’ll quit describing it and just show you, courtesy of The GIMP (Gnu Image Manipulation Program).
As with all pictures I post here, to get the full effect, you’ll need to click on them to view them full-size.
Here is a picture of the moon which I took last spring:
This is a very close approximation of what I see when looking at the moon:
This is only noticeable when looking diretly at a light source at the moment. If I’m outside in the daylight just watching a soccer game, for example, I don’t notice the haze. however, if I’m trying to watch TV in a dark room, or if I’m sitting in a dark room looking out a window on a sunny day, the haze is very noticeable.
Now you know what it’s like to have cataracts. Do yourself a favor: take care of your eyesight. This is already a whole lot of no fun at all, and I suspect it’s going to get worse before it gets better.
My husband has cataracts. He is going to have surgery on one eye next week. They are going to correct his vision at the same time. He is disabled Vet and his eyesight had to get really bad before they would pay for it. We are hoping this works and will do the other eye. Scary thinking about getting eye worked on.
My wife developed s disease called Iritis which gaver her cataracts. She had both eyes operated on, and, for a short time, she had near-perfect vision. The iritis eventually caused scar tissue to form on her retinas, so now she describes her vision as looking through glasses that have been coated 1/4-inch thick in petroleum jelly.
Compared to her eyesight, my problem is minuscule.
Hope all goes well with your husband’s surgery.
My mother had cataracts, just hoping I don’t inherit them!
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My mom had the surgery a few months ago. Diagnosis at 53 years old was rough, but she sees better now than ever before in her life. Don’t put it off if you can help it.
I can’t imagine what it’s like having a part of the lens never mind the whole lens clouded by cataracts. I went on the Canadian National Institute for the Blind website to educate myself about the condition. Here’s what they say:
Cataract Facts
* Cataracts do not spread from one eye to the other, but they may develop in both eyes at the same time.
* A cataract is not a film on the outside of the eye.
* Cataracts are not caused by overusing your eyes, and using your eyes doesn’t make them worse.
* Cataracts usually develop over many years, not over a few months.
* Cataracts are not related to cancer.
* Having a cataract does not lead to permanent blindness.
* Cataracts are very common, especially in older people. Fortunately, they are treatable. Over 1.5 million cataract operations are performed every year in North America, and in most cases there are no complications.