Cataract
 

I need to speak/communicate with a opthalmologist who is familar with cataracts in the eye. I am not looking for a freebie and I am willing to pay for someone who is a fellow model aviator. I have one in my right eye that is progressing rapidly and is causing a 4.0 split in rx right vs left. He tells me that I might adapt, but when the split increases, I likely will not adapt.

Help

Roy

RE: Cataract
 

Roy: I'm not an ophtalmologist. But an otolaryngologist.
Ophs. say that when a cataract is "mature" is time to put
an IOL( intraocular lens). BUT if your cataract is giving you
a bunch of problems with your sight, I would recommend
to get a 2nd., 3rd, or 4th. medical opinion by other ophtalmologists
until your problem is solved ( surgery).

E.N.T.

RE: Cataract
 

Get the eye done. You will be surprised at the difference and the improvement in your vision. I went thru the procedure last year...

RE: Cataract
 

Wow, this is a timely thread. I've been struggling all summer with new glasses as I finally switched to blended bifocals from swapping with "reading glasses" for close work. I've had some difficulties getting used to them so I've been flying slower planes all season as the comfort level just wasn't there yet. Not being happy with the results so far, I consulted for a second opinion and was told that I have a cataract in one eye. I'm very nervous about any type of surgury on my eyes and will be consulting with yet another doctor to hopefully raise the comfort level somewhat. They had told me that the surgury would replace my lense, but they are reccomending that I go with a blended lens as well to fully correct both near and far vision without glasses. When I explained that I really don't mind wearing glasses for close work and I'd rather concentrate on getting good distance correction they thought I was nuts. I guess they don't understand the importance of "toy airplanes". :eek:

Opinions from those that have gone thru this before would be greatly appreciated. Like Roy (Kometfreak) I need to get something done before next season.

Thanks!

Bob

RE: Cataract
 

I went to Florida Jets in 2010, and flew my new F-15. The 1st, and only flight went great, until I flew downwind and got ready to turn 90 degrees, then it disappeared. The sky was blue with a little haze, the F-15 was white, and it was gone. I frantically searched the sky, no plane, it finally came into view about 20 ft off the ground, it was level, and it pancaked flat. End of the F-15. A trip the ophtalmologist revealed a caract in the right eye, that partially covered the lense, which the doc. said would cause a prisim effect, bouncing light around the eye, and causing a whiteout. It happens intermittent from different angles. Or , when you happen to be flying a beautiful, F-15. They ( the insurance co. standards ) said it was not enough to warrant a lense inplant, your vision must be 20/40, nevermind the prisim effect thing. So, I didn't fly jets that summer, and returned a year later when I "quallified" for the insurance to cover it.( apparently, insurance people don't fly jets ) The procedure is nothing and it goes like this. Lay on a gurney, chat with nice nurses, they put a thing in your arm, you relax, but you can remember. They wheel you in to a room, doc. comes in, says hi, starts doing "something" with your eye, I remember a bright light moving around, then he says all done. They put a plastic patch over the eye, you go home. Never felt a thing. Next day, you go to his office, he removes the plastic patch, checks it out, home you go. You wear the patch when you sleep for a couple days, and put drops in two or three times a day until they are gone.
I never felt a thing, I still need glasses . A little " fogging" developed on the lense, barely noticed it, but I did notice. They said it happens sometimes, come back in a year, and we will lazer it clear in a minute, ( in office ) So, I fly again, and have an " implant ", that I can talk about. It is fantastic technology. I hope this helps qualm your fears.
Dale

RE: Cataract
 

Hello

My father is an eye surgeon ophthalmologist and does cataracts on a regular basis. Very common and easy operation. Takes about 15-20 minutes per eye. Basically what Daleroger sed is correct. Please ask me any questions you have.

Paul

P.S. He understands fully the needs of a jet modeller, he watches me fly every now and then :)

RE: Cataract
 

Daleroger:

Whew, glad I'm not alone! My cataract is also in my right eye and I have similar problems when flying. I can see it, I can see it...hey! Where did it go?! Haven't hit the insurance obstacle yet and hopefully I can get past it. Thanks for the Readers Digest version of the procedure. Sounds like I can handle that!

Paul,

Please ask your father the pro's and cons of having a plain (no correction) lense vs. a single correction or even a blended bifocal lense inserted, specifically how it can impact flying. One of the problems I had to overcome when I switched to blended bifocals was to find the "sweet spot" to look through while flying to keep things in focus. I found that I had to adjust my flying style dramatically by turning my body and keeping my head turned towards the plane at all times. If I don't things get out of focus quickly. I'd like to eliminate that as much as possible.

Mod's, sorry that this is a bit off topic, but as we all get older [&o] we're going to need this info. Or maybe get a couple of ophtalmologist's into jet flying.....

Thank you!

Bob

RE: Cataract
 

Paul, thank you for your response.

My questions for your dad:

What can be said about the Crystalens AO?

The promo literature is impressive, but what is being said elsewhere, especially those who have them?

Are there any good options for a replacement lense that mimics the OEM's varible focus?

Roy

PS: We need to request that RCU establish a hobby related health forum.

RE: Cataract
 

Outstanding thread! But it should be a sticky in a Health forum.

Bruce

RE: Cataract
 

I know the feeling, I went through the same thing - counting myself amongst the most squeamish of patients when it comes to anything touching my eyes - I would never wear contact lens' ! However, at some point, the vision - or lack of it - becomes too much of a burden...double, triple and even quadruple vision...can't drive at night, can't see model airplanes in the sky - sometimes they are there, then they disappear.... I had to put aside my reservations and get both eyes done...

the procedure was painless...it was like looking up from the bottom of a swimming pool at a bright light, while the surgeon did what ever he did.. within 15 minutes I was walking out of the hospital under my own steam... There is a regimen of eye drops and wearing an eye patch at night, so you don't rub the eye, but that was a minor inconvenience... the results were phenomenal....I threw away my glasses, ....only need over the counter reading glasses for the smallest of print....

RE: Cataract
 

Hi guys

Give me one or two days to get back with your answers.

Paul

RE: Cataract
 

The thing with cataracts is the gradual cloudy progression until it reaches the point that it really affects your vision. Had both eyes done a couple of years ago, and just recently had Yag surgery. About 50% of patients who have cataract surgery end up having to have Yag surgery within one to three years after cataract surgery.

Seek out the best opthalmologist you can find and get the best lens you can afford if the insurance won't cover. Dr. Lance Ferguson did mine and has done thousands. If you ask anyone in the immediate area who has had cataract surgery who did theirs, they answer Dr. Ferguson.

While Dr. Ferguson is not an r/c pilot, he does fly full scale and loves to talk about flying.

http://www.facebook.com/verylightjet#!/photo.php?fbid=261494913864312&set=a.2614949005309 80.81034.147231571957314&type=1&theater

http://www.ucomparehealthcare.com/drs/lance_ferguson/

RE: Cataract
 

I found this site that explains it pretty well. Even has pictures !!

http://www.goodhope.org.uk/departmen...t/yag-caps.htm

RE: Cataract
 

My wife had cataracts in both eyes and had the implants done. Within the past couple of years she had to have the Yag laser treatment to clear up some tags that occur in some post cataract surgeries. She took a little longer to heal because she is a diabetic, but no problems now. Now I have been diagnosed with a cataract in the right eye (what's the deal with the right eye?) and the left is just beginning so looks like this winter, along with doing some building, I will have the surgery. I have always been near sighted and worn glasses to see far off, so it would be nice to just wear glasses to see close up. Just glad the technology is there to correct the problem. Hate to stop flying because I can't see.

Roy