42 replies to this topic

[Nick Hope]

OK, I admit defeat. I can't focus on my u/w monitor anymore

"Presbyopia", I've heard. Now I don't know if that's a fancy term for excessive self-abuse or what but I can no longer tell if my focus is sharp or not.

I took this as an excuse to visit those ladies at Top Charoen Optical etc. and get a freebie test. In 30 mins I managed to rack up 4 different results at 4 different shops. +.5, +.75, +1.0 and +1.25. Perhaps the sight of those tailored uniforms was destroying my sight as I went along.

So what should I do about it? Contact lenses? Prescription lenses? Plastic things that stick to the mask? Laser surgery? Whopping great magnifier in front of the monitor???

Honestly I'm totally clueless about this as I never thought it would happen to me. All suggestions, serious or otherwise, welcome.

Edited by Nick Hope, 24 April 2009 - 03:29 AM.

[Aussiejosho]

Bugger! Sorry to hear your peepers are failing you Nick.

If lasers will work for you, take that option. I only have second-hand experience with it but it seems to be the perfect solution for those lucky enough to have a laser-fixable problem.

If not, get a whopping big screen, figure out a way to house it, and post the answer here for the rest of us.

Good luck mate
Josh

OK, I admit defeat. I can't focus on my u/w monitor anymore

"Presbyopia", I've heard. Now I don't know if that's a fancy term for excessive self-abuse or what but I can no longer tell if my focus is sharp or not.

I took this as an excuse to visit those ladies at Top Charoen Optical etc. and get a freebie test. In 30 mins I managed to rack up 4 different results at 4 different shops. +.5, +.75, +1.0 and +1.25. Perhaps the sight of those tailored uniforms was destroying my sight as I went along.

So what should I do about it? Contact lenses? Prescription lenses? Plastic things that stick to the mask? Laser surgery? Whopping great magnifier in front of the monitor???

Honestly I'm totally clueless about this as I never thought it would happen to me. All suggestions, serious or otherwise, welcome.

[Probie]

Ive heard that to much hand use causes blindness but am yet to suffer any problems

[jeremypayne]

If lasers will work for you, take that option. I only have second-hand experience with it but it seems to be the perfect solution for those lucky enough to have a laser-fixable problem.

I'm not there ... yet ... but I did have laser corrective surgery for myopia ... and it was AMAZING ... 3 years later and I am still testing out at almost 20/10.

My physician has been pioneering laser for presbyopia ... here's an article about it ... Sandra Belmont ... she's a leading expert. We may not have any nice diving in NYC, but we have good doctors ...

http://ophthalmology...e/detail/130091

[cor]

Julie had laser surgery 5+ years ago. Still going strong. She had +3ish.

Cor

[Nick Hope]

Cheers folks.

OK, so while I'm in the queue for the laser surgery and saving up for the huge screen, what about the other options.

[DeanB]

Keep your hands off 'little Nick'...


I'd say laser... My ex had it done (she was a minus 9) and it was fantastic... Hmmmm 'thats why she left me'...

Dive safe

DeanB

[MikeVeitch]

hehehe....

old git

you should be able to get some of those stick on lenses for the mask in the meantime?

[scorpio_fish]

Laser surgery to correct Presbyopia is not a solution unless you replace the whole lens, which is quite expensive and carries higher risks.

The prioritization of options depends on your normal vision. I won't waste space elaborating. The key question is what is your current distance vision? No correction, mild correction or strong correction.

[jeremypayne]

Laser surgery to correct Presbyopia is not a solution unless you replace the whole lens, which is quite expensive and carries higher risks.

The prioritization of options depends on your normal vision. I won't waste space elaborating. The key question is what is your current distance vision? No correction, mild correction or strong correction.

I'm not a doctor ... but as explained to me by my physician, this is pretty new stuff:

"The procedure involves use of an erbium:YAG laser (OptiVision, SurgiLight) to create eight radial incisions in the sclera. "

http://ophthalmology...e/detail/130091

Interested to hear your comments on this as I will be a candidate for this in a few years ... and she says when I'm ready, the procedure will be good to go ...

[Nick Hope]

...The key question is what is your current distance vision? No correction, mild correction or strong correction.

Distance vision is good

[bruceterrill]

Hi Nick,
Your reading vision must be really impaired coz this subject was covered extensively just a couple of weeks ago. . . .
Bruce...

[reubencahn]

I've also been told that state of the art at the moment is RLE, in which the the lense is removed and an artificial lense inserted. RLE is expensive, around $3k or more per eye. Reading is problematic for up to a month as you retrain your eye to focus the new lense. Also, even lasik produces problematic results for some people, not many, but some. Like you, my distance vision is fine, and having prescription gauge readers in my mask works well.

[jeremypayne]

I've also been told that state of the art at the moment is RLE, in which the the lense is removed and an artificial lense inserted. RLE is expensive, around $3k or more per eye. Reading is problematic for up to a month as you retrain your eye to focus the new lense. Also, even lasik produces problematic results for some people, not many, but some. Like you, my distance vision is fine, and having prescription gauge readers in my mask works well.

The new procedure will improve on those results:

"Patients were able to read immediately after surgery, and at 12 months, the group demonstrated a statistically significant increase in near UCVA, with 90% achieving J3 or better. In addition, 100% of eyes had>1 D increased amplitude of accommodation with a mean increase of 2.4 D. One patient with a poor 12-month near vision outcome had resumed spectacle wear. Safety was favorable with no changes in IOP or corneal topography."

[reubencahn]

The new procedure will improve on those results:

"Patients were able to read immediately after surgery, and at 12 months, the group demonstrated a statistically significant increase in near UCVA, with 90% achieving J3 or better. In addition, 100% of eyes had>1 D increased amplitude of accommodation with a mean increase of 2.4 D. One patient with a poor 12-month near vision outcome had resumed spectacle wear. Safety was favorable with no changes in IOP or corneal topography."

Jeremy, This is very interesting to me. My work involves a lot of reading so the potential one month of reading problems following RLE makes it a non-starter. But in looking at the article, I notice it is from 2004 and yet doctors are still recommending RLE. A quick google search didn't net any more info other than on an experimental surgery developed in Colombia. Is this currently available?

[Steve Douglas]

Almost everyone I know who has had laser surgery still has to have glasses for close up work. Then a few years later they all seem to need the surgery again. I had lenses put on my dive mask and they work great.
As for your palms, Gilette Fusion makes great blades for the hair that may be growing there.
Steve

[TheRealDrew]

One thing to keep in mind (as Steve mentioned) is that the eyes will change. I spoke to my doctor about laser surgery and was told not yet because my eyes are still changing and I would be back in a few years (2-3).

A prescription mask or those sticky things may be worth it. A good prescription mask may be the way to go.

[jeremypayne]

Jeremy, This is very interesting to me. My work involves a lot of reading so the potential one month of reading problems following RLE makes it a non-starter. But in looking at the article, I notice it is from 2004 and yet doctors are still recommending RLE. A quick google search didn't net any more info other than on an experimental surgery developed in Colombia. Is this currently available?

I recommend you call and speak with my doctor - she ran the clinical trials and I believe designed the procedure. I believe it may still be awaiting final FDA approval, but I haven't been keeping up as I don't need it yet. Last time we spoke about it, she said: "When you need it, the procedure will be ready."

Her name is Dr. Sandra Belmont ... here's her website:

http://www.belmonteyecenter.com/

and her number (listed on the site) ... +1 212-486-2020

Dr. Belmont is the Director of the Resident Refractive Surgical Education/Laser Vision Correction Program and a Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at New York University School of Medicine. She served as Director of the Cornea Service and Founding Director of the Laser Vision Correction Center at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University-New York Presbyterian Hospital from 1997 to 2007. She also has operating priviliges at the two prestigious eye surgery hospitals in the city: New York Eye And Ear Infirmary and Manhattan Eye Ear and Throat Hospital. As a renowned Manhattan LASIK and cataracts surgeon, she leads a Corneal Surgery Fellowship program, and during the academic year, she has a Fellow with her to train and observe.

Edited by jeremypayne, 24 April 2009 - 03:11 PM.

[KimInNB]

Bifocal lenses??? That's the path I took a couple of years ago and I'm very happy with it!!
[url="http://"%20<a%20href="http://www.getwetstore.com/prescription_masks.php""%20target="_blank">http://www.getwetsto...ption_masks.php"</a>"]GetWetStore.com[/url] has masks that you can get with full lens prescription OR bifocal lenses!!

[Mike L]

I wore glasses and contacts from the time I was 9...until I have Lasik done in 07...and it was the best thing Ive ever spent money on. Diving with Contacts is a PIA, but at least I could see. I went from 20/1000 vision (legally blind) to 20/15 within 15 minutes after my surgery..and 2 1/2 years later its still the same. Now mind you yes they did warn me that at a certain time in your life (I am only 26) you will find the need for reading glasses (usually around your mid 40s this starts).

In the meantime, its been amazing, and diving after Lasik is a whole new thing. Heck, even if I only get 5-10 years out of it before needing a "fix", its worth it!!

Edited by Mike L, 25 April 2009 - 10:15 AM.