loss of eyesight

Message

ofblong · #1 Unread post by **ofblong** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:25 am

well I was diagnosed today with macular degeneration. apparently it is stopped with laser surgery in 2/3's of all cases. What it is is the nerve endings growing into the retina causing blind spots. So I am hoping that it was caught early enough that the eye doc was able to get all of the problem area so it will stop growing. it is very rare for someone under 50 (I am 27) to get this but it does happen. It is apparently very common in people over 70. So for me I am going to ride as often as I can till I can no longer ride lol. You never know if it may start growing back (the nerve endings). I have a permanent blind spot because of it but id rather have a small blind spot then go completly blind. Although if I go completly blind I will get long term disability for a while but I would rather not have to go that route if I can help it.

Do any of you ride with partial blindness that glasses/contacts cant fix? I still have 20/15 vision even with this blind spot.

ninja79 · #2 Unread post by **ninja79** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:39 am

I don't get it -- why don't you get the surgery to fix it?

Shiv · #3 Unread post by **Shiv** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:40 am

I don't get it -- why don't you get the surgery to fix it?

$$ most like.

As for the blind spot, I guess it would depend on where it was. If it were dead center of the eye, that would be a problem. But like, the lower left/right hand? Probably not so much of a problem.

Shorts · #4 Unread post by **Shorts** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 11:42 am

DH can't fly for Navy anymore because of a weak muscle for his eyeball. Looking to the extreme right, he gets a skewed picture, especially if he's tired. He also has perfect vision. He can compensate very well as he's had this long enough to manage and understand when this affects him or how bad it is. He had trouble flying at night and imaging. But he can fly in the day. Asa for riding, he doesn't ride at night (here there is no reason to unless he's coming home late from work), but he rides during the day. He's always sure to turn his whole head and see with both eyes rather than just using his eyes to view what's around him. This isn't very severe, but its enough he knows he has to adjust.

Go in for surgery if you're sure about it. And then just know and respect the limits on your eyes.

ofblong · #5 Unread post by **ofblong** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 1:10 pm

lol I did have the surgery (sorry to misguide you guys). The surgery only prevents the nerves from growing any further. What it does is "burns" the nerve endings not allowing them to grow anymore however giving me a blind spot since it burns the retina lining. I will always have a blind spot no matter what. What really suxors is I had no choice but to ride my bike to work and then from work right to my appointment. Then they dialated both eyes to take pictures etc etc. then they numbed my eye that was bad and did the surgery since it was so close to the center of my eye. If it were to hit the center of my eye I would become completly blind in that eye. I have insurance so $$$ is not an issue for me in this respect (other than I have to pay 20% up to $1500 then it becomes 0% I have to pay).

anyways back to the ride thing I had a patch on one eye and a dilated left eye. Had to ride home as I had no choice (wife had kid at school and i had a babysitter for my other children). I just took the back rodes and took it easy. Only had 1 car get behind me the whole way and he was pissed cause I was doing the speed limit. tailgated me for like 3 miles (meaning he was like 10 feet behind me). friggen a I hate that when I am on my bike. dont bother me when im in my cage but I hate it when im on my bike. anyways I made it home safe and like I said just took my time. was only a 20 min ride so I didnt feel bad doing it either.

forgot to say where the blind spot is. the spot is to the right of center so its not horrible.

Glassjaw · #6 Unread post by **Glassjaw** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 3:39 pm

How does the blind spot work, if you don't mind me asking? Is there just a black dot in which you can not see anything, or...well I don't really know?

NorthernPete · Tue Sep 05, 2006 4:12 pm

I have 20/300 vision without my corrective lenses...I think thats somewhere in the bat/mole catagory of blindness isnt it? Im allways a bit worried my contacts will flip out or something when Im riding. Im sure if the blind spot doesnt interfere with your DMV vision test it shouldnt impair your riding ability.

Heck, if pirates can sail a big boat with an eye patch, you should be able to ride your bike.

ofblong · #8 Unread post by **ofblong** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 4:35 pm

lol northern

the blind spot before laser surgery was grey and I could see shapes through it but they were blurry. now after surgery the blind spot is completly black. It is too early to tell what the damage is because there is still swelling which is giving me blurry vision in the area where the grey spot was. I can still pass my vision test with 1 eye and with the right eye I just gotta move my eye around a little to pass the test with that eye

.

VermilionX · Tue Sep 05, 2006 4:44 pm

i don't have partial blindness. my peripheral vision is still good.

BUT... i can't see clear very far. it's all blurry to me. i can see objects from afar but not the details of the object.

i still ride and drive. although, i get lost a lot and miss my turns since i can't read city streets until i get realy close.

i look and ask for landmarks instead of city street names when i wanna go somewhere im not familiar w/.

anyway... hope it gets better for you.

Nalian · #10 Unread post by **Nalian** » Tue Sep 05, 2006 5:18 pm

NorthernPete wrote:I have 20/300 vision without my corrective lenses...I think thats somewhere in the bat/mole catagory of blindness isnt it? Im allways a bit worried my contacts will flip out or something when Im riding. Im sure if the blind spot doesnt interfere with your DMV vision test it shouldnt impair your riding ability.

Heck, if pirates can sail a big boat with an eye patch, you should be able to ride your bike.

I was 20/400 before lasik! I actually had the surgery because I went swimming with the contacts in one day (stupid stupid stupid

) and lost them, so I was basically blind for the day. It kind of made me panic so I had it.

I have no advice for you ofblong, but it sounds like it will be manageable for you now at least. I hope it stays that way!

One of my dad's long time riding buddies had no peripheral vision in his right eye, and he says he just stays conscious of the fact and makes an effort to glance that way more often.