Discouraging news, and woodworking has just become that much more of a challenge

allen levine

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new york city burbs
I saw the third specialist today for my eyes. Its been around 8 weeks since Ive noticed the first symptoms of something going haywire with my vision.
I saw my eye doctors man, on his reco, then another neuro specialist, then not getting the answers I wanted, I waited till today to see another specialist that someone I knew recommended.
Im not getting the answer I wanted to hear.
This double vision problem has made itself clear its here to stay with me.
Forever.
:I cannot cure it, nor can I treat it medically.

Its quite simple: I obviouisly had some defect for around 55 years in my eyes, and my brain did its job to correct it. And the eyes obeyed.
Now, they are too old, the muscles are too weak, to listen to my brain, and refuse to cooperate.
Since the woodworking show, where I was totally out of whack with my eyes, wearing these new coke bottle thick glasses with prisms, the doctor has added on prisms, now I have lines and bluriness but I can deal with the distance vision a bit better, and at least drive to and from work without feeling uncomfortable.
Night driving is probably going to become a memory for me.
The two things in my life I looked foward too in my near retirement age, drviing vacations, (I purchased a nice little convertible few years back to enjoy with my wife), and woodworking is now going to become huge challenges for me.
Thankgod, when I work close with objects, like saws, drills, I can see very clearly, but I can no longer hit a tennis ball or shoot a basketball.
My eyes are much stronger in the morning, like today, I was seeing without glasses till around noon, then they shut down and that was that.
Its an incredbily weird thing.
Im not posting for sympathy, or empathy, I was never clear on which one is which, or anything else other than to let everyone know, the value of what we all take for granted is worth 50 times more than anyone realizes.
Computer work is difficult for me. The doctor feels in the next few weeks to come, he will keep adjusting a set of glasses for me so I wont get tremendous headaches, nausea, neck pain, back pain, chest pain, when using the computer or watching TV.
The screen is a bit fuzzy right now, and if I try to focus correctly, Id be off in 30 seconds, the pain is not worth it.
I did put in alot of time today in the garage, now that things are a bit slower moving for me, I need more time.

Again, you will never know the true value of health, until you have your first problem.(and Ive dealt with back surgeries, knee surgeries, hernia surgery, 3 cancer surgeries, nothing compares to losing the one thing I always took for granted would be with me)
 
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Just curious but have you tried seeing a good chiropractor? It is amazing the symptoms/problems our bodies can show when our bones aren't just exactly where they should be.
 
Thanks for the reality check Allen. We often forget to be thankful for the things that mean the most to us. I wish you the best in your effort to maintain or regain vision. Keep us posted--we care; after all, we are Family.
 
I feel for you Allen. I almost lost the use of my right eye in the sixth grade due to a super ball hitting. Tore the retina off the back of the eye. Ever since my pupil doesnt work right and now my vision in that eye just keeps getting worse:(. I deffinitely wish you the best:wave:.
 
Allen, I am sadden to hear of this news. I will hold out hope that somehow it can be managed. I suspect that I am not the only one who has been inspired by your raw enthusiasm toward woodworking and willingness to try anything. Your posts are some of the first I read each day.
 
Really sorry to hear all of this Allen. I hope and trust that it does not deteriorate any further and that you manage to get more out of your woodworking.

I will no longer complain to my wife about needing to use glasses to read fine print.

On another note I would go for more opinions if I were you. I know its not the same but I have had a aged family member that for years lived with almost being blind in both eyes (one eye was completely for different reasons) then they saw another specialist and had a cornea transplant and now they can see. I know this is not your case but I lost my awe for specialists a long time ago when money entered the party.

In the end they are like mechanics, you get good ones and bad ones and ones that are interested in cars for the sake of cars.

I would get to see a few more before I accept what they are saying.

Keep the spirits up and I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
 
Hang in there Allen. I concur that you should keep at it. Maybe get in touch with a University that does optic research to keep up with the latest offerings.
My Dad's eyesight, for unknown reasons, has gone down hill in the last few years. (79 years old) His Dr. can't explain why he can see anything out of one eye as the optic nerve is almost non existent. He has fought with pressure drops in both eyes to the point that they could implode. He has given up most all of his tools, and he and Mom have considered selling their house at the lake and moving closer to my wife and I. But he is still going. And I pray that you will do the same. Jim.
 
thanx everyone.

just cruddy timing in my life, although its never good, but I think I would have accepted it better if I was a bit older.

Jim- my second specialist was out of the north shore hospital facilities. They have a ton of centers here on long island, and have alot of affiliations all over the place.
The specialist today said I already saw a top man in the field, as there arent that many neuro-opthalmologists as one would think.
I dotn think I have a really uncommon problem, prizms in glasses seem to be a pretty big thing, it just sets you back a bit., and Im sure Ill get used to it eventually
 
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Allen,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Hopefully the glasses will become transparent with time. It will probably take some adjusting with the WW, but where there's a will, there's a way.

Wes
 
Allen, there's not much I can say that hasn't already been posted, except to let you know that I am Truly sorry to hear about your current problems. I have become personally aware of the problems and inconveniences that come with the aging process and affect each of us differently and some more than others. I certainly wish for you the very best luck with the remedial corrections and hope they are able to stabilize the problem. Just hang in there and know that you have a host of friends here that really care about your well being.

Best Regards
norm
 
All the best to you Allen. I hope it gets better with the glasses and some treatment.

I know that this may not help you, but Jim Krenov who is 90 now and almost blind continues making his planes despite all the disadvantages.
 
its very strange, I wake up, Im fine, I can get around house, make breakfast, go outside, read this computer(with just my regular old computer glasses), and in around an hour or so, my eye will shut down.
There arent excersices, nothing I can do.
Its frustrating.
Id wear a patch, but that will most likely do more harm than good, and if my other eye has a problem, well, thats it.
I guess over time I wont have any strenghth in the muscle in the morning, and Ill be wearing the glasses 24/7, but until then, I can enjoy a computer screen or some clear vision in the garage for a few hours.
The human body never ceases to amaze me.
 
Allen your full steam ahead attitude will and can prevail you found a way to make chairs and from the start had no fear of tryun something new.. as bill satko said, i too would look for your posts first.. and here's another tid bit i am going to continue to do that! so keep yur chin up and get as many doctors or specailsts to get you back so you can do what you enjoy.. we are pulling for you allen and dont throw in the towel.. somewhere your gonna make it!!! you got the will power to do so!:thumb:
 
Sorry to hear the news Allen, hope one of the other Dr.s come up with a different conclusion. Until then hang in there and think positive. Loml has been fighting breast cancer and one of the tumors was behind her right eye and it finally took the sight. When she's feeling up to it she does a good job driving herself abound though:thumb:
 
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