The Absent Uncle: The eyes have it

I will never forget the first time that I visited an optometrist. It was in the summer of 1962, and it resulted in glasses that were prescribed to allow me to clearly see the blackboard in school and always have a pair sitting on my nose and hugging my ear. 

But that first vision with correction was a revelation. Clarity! Wow! 

It has been a lot of years (63 and counting) since that first black horned rim – thick as a Coke bottle bottom – pair was given to me. Over the years, with new prescriptions, most of my optometrists have suggested moving to contact lenses, but I just knew I didn’t have the patience for the care and upkeep necessary for that mode of vision correction. 

But along with the near sightedness that was corrected with glasses came with progressive growth, with age, a number of other conditions to deal with. 

Please accept that I am not complaining. Not at all. Sight is a blessing and I have not missed a day without it. But the challenges are growing. 

Along with my nearsightedness, I have to make sure my diabetes is in check, keep my blood pressure steady (easier now in retirement than in my working days), my eye pressures to stop the progressive glaucoma from getting worse – three drops a day from two prescriptions – (mom passed that one on to me), and the now seeming to get more critical, cataracts. 

My present ophthalmologist – a step up from an optometrist (no offense intended) – who handles all of these issues for/with me has been clear. The cataracts will have to be dealt with and on our last visit a week or so ago, his scans showed what I knew already that the day was getting closer when I would have to deal with them. 

I am very aware that this type of surgery is routine – not to worry about. Except you do. My vision today is not as clear as it was a year or two ago. My night vision especially has been affected. 

My thought is that many of you reading this have gone through the process without a hitch, but I am sure not without a concern that your sight is at risk – just like me. That one in a hundred thousand (or whatever number they quote) could be you.  

The can has been kicked down the path as far as it can. It’s coming up and I do hope the “eyes have it” and sight is maintained.