Have your eyes changed as you've aged?

[AARPTeri]

There are quite a few changes that can occur in your eyes as you age, what have you experienced?  More information can be found in this article - 

https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2019/eye-changes-with-age.html

[RebeccaP605404]

I was diagnosed with start of cataract in my late forty. Now 10 years later they say I'll need surgery before the age of 65. Been living with glasses since I was 5 years old when I got my first pair. My mom said I stood looking up at a tree for hours. When she asked me what I was looking at I said the blob had something crawling on it. It was the first time I realized that trees had individual leaves not just a big blob. But as I grew up I watch as my mom struggled to get me a new pair to keep up with my failing eyesight. But as new thinner lens my sight seem to improve. But now it seems that the cost of good eye glasses is cheaper if u don't use your insurance. They  want to charge twice as much for 1 pair ($323 )when they heard I had Medicare. Than 2 pairs ($100)  would have cost without insurance . What's up with that? 

[Sea2Summit]

Similar issues as well. I just went with what worked best for my wallet.  I had pretty reasonable luck with LensCrafters. At least they told me if it was better not to pay a high price. 

[SpringIsHereVA]

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[Sea2Summit]

Totally agree with one place for exams. I just take my prescription to shop the cost of glasses

[ss11943859]

Oh, sure ! I dislike glasses, but better to see, than not ! Got new glasses recently, and afte the exam,there was no mention of finding any diseases, etc. in the eyes. So I asked. She said that would require another test-for $39.00 more. Every eye exam I've had included this 'extra' test.

When did this change ?

[LizzieS433377]

Often the .D O. Optometrist cannot

interpret however. If you have met your 

deductible, Aetna may pay 80% of 39$.

Do not complain small amt. for service and convenience.

[MsStretch]

I had cataract surgery a couple of years ago.  What a difference! 

I have been very nearsighted for most of my 67 years and wore contact lenses for over 50 years (I hated glasses) -- started out with the hard plastic lenses that you had to clean and sterilize every night and ended with the extended-wear 30-day disposable lenses.  After I turned 60, I started to suffer from the dreaded, but inevitable presbytopia requiring readers, mostly in low light.

About that time, my eye doc said I was also developing cataracts (earlier than most, but because of my nearsightedness, it wasn't uncommon), but that I could probably make it to my Medicare years.  The only problem was that cataract surgery does not address presbytopia, and that I would probably still require readers.  Bummer.  However, I learned there were multi-focal options and discussed it with my regular doctor and the doctor performing the surgery.  I was informed that Medicare and/or health insurance only covers single-vision, since multi-focus is still a fairly new technology and considered 'experimental'.  Considering this would affect the quality of the rest of my life, I was willing to splurge on the added expense and I am glad I did.

I got the Symfony Toric lens on the recommendation of my surgeon since they would also address my astigmatism.  It was money well-spent IMO.  My vision went from 20/750, 20/700 to 20/20, 20/15.  I don't think my vision has ever been that good.  Even with contact lenses, it was more in the 20/30 - 20/50 range.  And for the first time in decades, I have not had to stick something in my eyes.

[LizzieS433377]

Yes but I do not trust the multi focal lens.😙

I wear a minus 17 for driving & can not even walk or see the dashboard of the car with them. Only good for driving! What if there is an error in the IOL?

[cat0w]

@JohnS857378 

Do you have any additional insurance? It's been a few years now since I had my cataract surgery, but my advantage plan covered everything. I had to make copays on the prescriptions for eyedrops etc.

[JohnW583669]

At 59 years old I am legally blind. I have not driven a car in three years and I finally had to close my business after 40 years and many awards. I have finished writing a book about the changes in my

life and now plan to cross a few more things off my bucket list

[powgeorge]

after my 83rd birthday I had my caterate surgery, this was after I had a new A orta valve and A orta stent.  it has become something to age.  if you need it done do not put it off.

[dl55734958]

Yes, my eyes have certainly changed over the years.  However, the CURVITURE is what has really changed.  It has gotten quite expensive to change my glasses each and every year for the years 4th grade through age 76 years.

[retiredtraveler]

No major changes as of yet. I've always worn glasses. I need a slight adjustment to my prescription about every 3-5 years. It's usually that the small print gets smaller. I do have some floaters, but nothing serious.

[MarkF973979]

My eyes have gotten better with age.  I only need to wear glasses while driving, but I do have do have "readers" for fine print now. Years ago hated bi focals, come to find out they ground off the bottom half of the lense to fit the frame, so I really didn't have bifocals, but paid for them.

[dk9757]

About ten years ago I went to my regular eye doctor who said I had a retinal bleed. It didn't hurt at all. I just had a little fuzziness in my vision and thought I needed new glasses. He sent me to a specialist who corrected the retinal bleed immediately without a problem, but found a very small tumor on that retina, I then had an exam by a retinal surgeon who said he was sure it was cancerous and that I needed surgery to place a patch behind that eye with radiated pellets. After a second opinion, I had the surgery for the patch and had it removed a week later. The tumor is gone. I go back for a check-up at least once a year now. I am so grateful for that retinal bleed and my surgeon, Dr Goldbaum at UCSD Shiley Eye Center.

[LogicsHere]

Like many, yes, my vision has changed.  It's changed more or less since the time I reached 40.  Cataracts are not a problem, but I have acute angle glaucoma in both eyes and have to undergo the laser in both to relieve potential pressure issues.  Must say I'm terrified.  I can only imagine me blinking and I've got holes in my eyelids or me moving and instead of my eyes, the laser puts holes in my brain.

[dk9757]

I had cataract surgery in my second eye a few months ago. My vision is now 20/20. Also, I have what is called "monovision" which means I can see distance with one eye and close-up with the other. This doesn't work well with everyone, but I knew it would work for me since I used to have monovision contact lenses several years ago.

[kathyj28]

About last June I started taking blood pressure medicine. It has brought my BP down cured my Essential Tremors and helped with my anxiety which the doctor said it would. I’m happy with the results. However in about November I began having weeping, teary eyes and I feel my cheeks and nose seem reddish. I spoke to the doctor and she has sent me to an eye doctor as she said blood pressure medication is a Vasodilator and she wanted to double check that was not the side effect of the BP medication. The Optamoligist flushed my tear ducts with saline and said let’s see if that works. He did not think it would be the medication. So far the flushing has not worked even though I’m using preservative free drops, gels at night and taking fish oil to help lubricate at his suggestion. I have scheduled to see him again as well as my primary to help decide how to deal with the constant watery eyes. I’m still wondering if after a few months on the BP medication with great results if for some reason the redness of my skin and watery eyes can be causing these problems. I’ll be 71 this month and i have not had the watery eye problem before.

[bgsdaughter]

Yes of course!  I was diagnosed with cataracts at age 55 and told they were barely started. I am now 71 and my eyes have definitely reached the stage where I want to do something about it.  Last year I went for an eye exam and while the doctor said the cataracts weren't a priority, I would see so much better.  So this year I am hoping to get it done!  My eyesight has been terrible since I was about 9 so while I will still need glasses, maybe not such strong ones.  P.S.  I ate a lot of carrot but I don't think it helped!

[karenf1227]

I wore glasses, then contacts, then had Lasik, then had cataracts removed (over a period of 60 years) I saw perfect after cataract surgery for a couple years and just recently started wearing cheaters for close up ...so I am a firm believer of the cataract surgery  easy easy

[Singerringing]

Yes, in a word: I had cataract surgery on my left eye in October (2018). I’ve been near sighted since 8th grade. But now, my vision is really blurry, because the surgery caused an astigmatism, and the right eye still has cataracts. I’m considering a product to help me cope with the anxiety that I’m feeling, waiting for my left eye to heal, and wondering what to do about the the right eye. This product is supposed to help me breathe properly, reducing fear and anxiety. It’s called Flow State.