Eyesight and getting old...

[Droning on and on...]

...sucks.

I'm 61. Yesterday I was blessed with a Vitreous Detachment in my left eye. I'm going to see my Optometrist to make sure that's what it is, which is benign, but I'm very sure, because I had the same thing happen in my right eye a few years ago.

So now my "good" eye has faint cobwebs and floaters all over my vision. I can still see just fine, sure I could read the 20/20 line on an eye chart, it's mostly just annoying. It will get a bit better in the coming weeks, but much will be permanent.

Literature says ½ of people have a VD by 60, ⅔ by 70. So as common as keratomas on aging skin. Still, I'm a little down today that I'm dealing with Good Eye Gone Bad.

There's gotta be a blues song in there somewhere...

 

[Phantomrain.org]

Wow ! From the picture above I thought you were much younger.

The fact that I have to wear glasses to see anything clear up close within 2 ft has been challenging and If I am honest have changed how much organization and structure I put into my life now to navigate around it. So yes it can be frustrating but dont let it get you sad , save those emotions for much greater diversity in your life or those around you.

Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly in the Rain. Land on the Water .

 

[@Rip]

Mrs. Rip had the same thing happen when she was as young as you. It was a scary experience. BTW She is my spotter! I have cataracts in the right eye. Between the two of us we can get it done! It's a bummer for sure.

 

[Droning on and on...]

Wow ! From the picture above I thought you were much younger.

The fact that I have to wear glasses to see anything clear up close within 2 ft has been challenging and If I am honest have changed how much organization and structure I put into my life now to navigate around it. So yes it can be frustrating but dont let it get you sad , save those emotions for much greater diversity in your life or those around you.

Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly in the Rain. Land on the Water .

That's a random image... I don't use personal photos as Avatars.

However, it's time to change it to MightyPug.

 

[MAvic_South_Oz]

Eyesight and getting old...er.​

Fixed that title for you

Good luck with the upcoming assessments and hopefully you can keep your spirits up.
Remember, there is ALWAYS someone somewhere on this Earth, far worse off.

 

[old man mavic]

@mightypilot2000 sorry to hear about your eye issues,i have have a cataract operation on my right eye which improved my vision ,but i have to wear glasses for reading, but up to now fortunately ,my long vision is still ok, sight loss like hearing loss due to age is a darn nuisance,and it creeps up on you ,

 

[hagman23]

@mightypilot2000 - so sorry for your news. I was dealt a blow last year when my eye doc told me I have early glaucoma and bot retinas are damaged. I can see well, but it's changing rapidly for some situations and I am 51, so I am hoping to hold off the effects of this as long as I can, which puts me at the eye doctor 8-10 times per year. Just gonna keep on keeping on until I can't any more, while praying it never gets to that.

 

[CactusJackSlade]

...sucks.

I'm 61. Yesterday I was blessed with a Vitreous Detachment in my left eye. I'm going to see my Optometrist to make sure that's what it is, which is benign, but I'm very sure, because I had the same thing happen in my right eye a few years ago.

So now my "good" eye has faint cobwebs and floaters all over my vision. I can still see just fine, sure I could read the 20/20 line on an eye chart, it's mostly just annoying. It will get a bit better in the coming weeks, but much will be permanent.

Literature says ½ of people have a VD by 60, ⅔ by 70. So as common as keratomas on aging skin. Still, I'm a little down today that I'm dealing with Good Eye Gone Bad.

There's gotta be a blues song in there somewhere...

I too am 60+... been flying "drones" since you had to solder them together yourself and flying R/C since 1979... I totally get the eyesight thing, mine certainly is not getting better.

THIS is one reason I have been harping on DJI to update current properly equipped models to allow for goggles use with the R/C controller (not the motion Controller!). I am WAY more comfortable wearing goggles when close to my subject matter (typically waterfalls, cliff faces, and other nature stuff in the boonies). Goggles eliminate the glare and I can just see way better.

Of course you would need a spotter, but my wife is accustom to that already. If the Mini Pro 3 and the Mavic Pro 3 were goggles compatible (with the R/C controller) I would have already upgraded my fleet.

Back to the subject of vision: Another alternative that I already use is a good sized tablet, not my phone for my viewing device. I believe it is a 10.5" tablet, and that helps a lot.... as long as I am in the shade so it does not wash out my screen.

I hope this boosts your spirits?!

 

[StantonZ]

@mightypilot2000 - so sorry for your news. I was dealt a blow last year when my eye doc told me I have early glaucoma and bot retinas are damaged. I can see well, but it's changing rapidly for some situations and I am 51, so I am hoping to hold off the effects of this as long as I can, which puts me at the eye doctor 8-10 times per year. Just gonna keep on keeping on until I can't any more, while praying it never gets to that.

I have had glaucoma (in 1 eye) for decades, but still see pretty well due to aggressive treatment (laser surgeries to relieve pressure)...so stay positive. I will put drops in that eye (Timolol) every night for the rest of my life.
Don't understand why he said both retinas are damaged since glaucoma affects the optic nerve, but I have retina issues as well (both detachments and tears)...and I see as well at 60 as I did at 50.

 

[Fly High]

...sucks.

I'm 61. Yesterday I was blessed with a Vitreous Detachment in my left eye. I'm going to see my Optometrist to make sure that's what it is, which is benign, but I'm very sure, because I had the same thing happen in my right eye a few years ago.

So now my "good" eye has faint cobwebs and floaters all over my vision. I can still see just fine, sure I could read the 20/20 line on an eye chart, it's mostly just annoying. It will get a bit better in the coming weeks, but much will be permanent.

Literature says ½ of people have a VD by 60, ⅔ by 70. So as common as keratomas on aging skin. Still, I'm a little down today that I'm dealing with Good Eye Gone Bad.

There's gotta be a blues song in there somewhere...

...sucks.

I'm 61. Yesterday I was blessed with a Vitreous Detachment in my left eye. I'm going to see my Optometrist to make sure that's what it is, which is benign, but I'm very sure, because I had the same thing happen in my right eye a few years ago.

So now my "good" eye has faint cobwebs and floaters all over my vision. I can still see just fine, sure I could read the 20/20 line on an eye chart, it's mostly just annoying. It will get a bit better in the coming weeks, but much will be permanent.

Literature says ½ of people have a VD by 60, ⅔ by 70. So as common as keratomas on aging skin. Still, I'm a little down today that I'm dealing with Good Eye Gone Bad.

There's gotta be a blues song in there somewhere...

I wish I only had that happen to me. I am 73 and have had both eyes do the VD in my 60's but things have got alot worse in my 70's. Last year I had 3 eye operation. First one was totally unnecessary due to a blocked left eye tear duct. That was caused by a large squamous cell carcinoma in my sinuses pushing against the left eye causing the blockage and the eye which was beginning to exit the socket. The doctor never did any scans to determine the true cause of the blockage and did this painful unnecassary operation that did nothing to cure the blocked tear duct and put off the true diagnosis of cancer 6 months later. I have since had cataract surgery and a a vitrectomy in the right eye to stop an unrelated macular hole development. However I can still see my DJI Mavic Air 2 which I have never crashed in my 3 years of flying. So....count yourself very lucky as thing could have been much worse!! Keep on flying gentlemen and count yourself lucky.

 

[Dale D]

...sucks.

I'm 61. Yesterday I was blessed with a Vitreous Detachment in my left eye. I'm going to see my Optometrist to make sure that's what it is, which is benign, but I'm very sure, because I had the same thing happen in my right eye a few years ago.

So now my "good" eye has faint cobwebs and floaters all over my vision. I can still see just fine, sure I could read the 20/20 line on an eye chart, it's mostly just annoying. It will get a bit better in the coming weeks, but much will be permanent.

Literature says ½ of people have a VD by 60, ⅔ by 70. So as common as keratomas on aging skin. Still, I'm a little down today that I'm dealing with Good Eye Gone Bad.

There's gotta be a blues song in there somewhere...

I am an ophthalmologist. I urge you to not see the optometrist, who is more specialized in eyeglasses and contact else and not as familiar with examination of the peripheral retina for minor tears and holes with a head mounted indirect ophthalmoscope and lens. A vitreous detachment (separation of the gel of the eye from its retinal attachment) is usually benign except for floaters and flashes. But it can tear off a small retinal piece. This can lead to a retinal detachment. The retinal tear can be easily sealed close with an in-office treatment (laser) like spot welding.

Call a general ophthalmologist,, or better still, see a retinal specialist immediately.

In Orlando, there are specialized eye hospitals and offices with a retinal specialists. Orlando has many retinal specialists - see my attachment. Do not risk your eyesight be seeing an optometrist and missing a small retinal tear.

Dale Davis, M.D., F.A.C.S. (Fellow American College of Surgeons)

 

[HoozierDroneDaddy]

In my younger years I had excellent eyesight. Until reading books with the moonlight in SE Asia, then 30 years of sitting in front of computer screens. My eyesight was getting so bad I could not read the license plate on the car in front of me. I had different strength glasses all over the place depending on what I was doing, in the bathroom, kitchen, at the TV, while driving, etc. When I was flying drones I would watch the sky, but had to put on glasses to look at the controller/monitor. The FIX. It was expensive, but I had a total lens replacement of both eyes, I was then able to collect all my glasses and donate them. I can now see very clearly up close and at a distance. My eyesight returned to when I was 25 from my 65 y/o worm out eyes. Best money I ever spent. Listen to Dale D, wise advise. Your eyes are not worth listening to someone not specialized with your problem. Wish you the best with your problem.

And for those that mentioned floaters. Make an appointment with the appropriate eye specialist. With their lasers the floaters can be removed in around a minute under the chair as an outpatient. You will spend more time waiting in the lobby.

 

[Droning on and on...]

@mightypilot2000 - so sorry for your news. I was dealt a blow last year when my eye doc told me I have early glaucoma and bot retinas are damaged. I can see well, but it's changing rapidly for some situations and I am 51, so I am hoping to hold off the effects of this as long as I can, which puts me at the eye doctor 8-10 times per year. Just gonna keep on keeping on until I can't any more, while praying it never gets to that.

Oh my... hardly right for me to whine at all.

I suppose you're treating this with pressure reducing drops? Best of luck with this as you enter that part of life where joints and muscle get stiffer and stiffer and hurts after you do anything.

Even if you stretch and work out. Just hurts then too

 

[Dale D]

In my younger years I had excellent eyesight. Until reading books with the moonlight in SE Asia, then 30 years of sitting in front of computer screens. My eyesight was getting so bad I could not read the license plate on the car in front of me. I had different strength glasses all over the place depending on what I was doing, in the bathroom, kitchen, at the TV, while driving, etc. When I was flying drones I would watch the sky, but had to put on glasses to look at the controller/monitor. The FIX. It was expensive, but I had a total lens replacement of both eyes, I was then able to collect all my glasses and donate them. I can now see very clearly up close and at a distance. My eyesight returned to when I was 25 from my 65 y/o worm out eyes. Best money I ever spent. Listen to Dale D, wise advise. Your eyes are not worth listening to someone not specialized with your problem. Wish you the best with your problem.

Hoozier:

I applaud you for pursing and getting a successful lens replacement in each eye. It was a huge leap of faith. You do not state what your underlying ophthalmic condition was ( ?progressive myopia I would guess, but it could also be hyperopia). The science of lens implants was developed while I was in training in 1963. I implanted my first IOL in 1964. Initially, doubters called these, "intraocular time bombs."!!! However, the technology has progressed far beyond our wildest expectations. We can now remove the human lens (either clear or cataracts) and replace it with a clear intraocular lenses through a 2 mm incision without a single suture! Cataract surgery has become the most successful surgical procedure in all of medicine. Watching this historical success has been a constant amazement to all of us.
Ophthalmologists have been fighting a multi year battle with well funded efforts be Optometry who want their members to be able to perform eye surgery! They are not medical doctors, but only doctors of optometry (lenses). This seems outrageous to most ophthalmologists. They did not go to medical school or have a surgical residency or training yet they put themselves out there as doctors. Similarly, podiatrists who want to operate on knees, hammer toes, etc.

Dale

 

[Joethedrone]

...sucks.

I'm 61. Yesterday I was blessed with a Vitreous Detachment in my left eye. I'm going to see my Optometrist to make sure that's what it is, which is benign, but I'm very sure, because I had the same thing happen in my right eye a few years ago.

So now my "good" eye has faint cobwebs and floaters all over my vision. I can still see just fine, sure I could read the 20/20 line on an eye chart, it's mostly just annoying. It will get a bit better in the coming weeks, but much will be permanent.

Literature says ½ of people have a VD by 60, ⅔ by 70. So as common as keratomas on aging skin. Still, I'm a little down today that I'm dealing with Good Eye Gone Bad.

There's gotta be a blues song in there somewhere...

I feel your pain, I had all the floaters in both eyes, got both cataracts removed and new lenses fitted, my long sight is now perfect and crystal clear. Downside is I now have to wear glasses for close-up, under 2’ 6”.

Had to make some changes for my hobby, i now Fly with an iPad 11 Pro Max with cellular. Of course you don’t really need the cellular, but I just like the convenience of being able to download maps on site, and the setup works brilliantly for me.

I hope they can get you sorted as soon as they can, and you can get back to happy flying. And yeh, this getting old stuff sucks.

 

[Dale D]

Oh my... hardly right for me to whine at all.

I suppose you're treating this with pressure reducing drops? Best of luck with this as you enter that part of life where joints and muscle get stiffer and stiffer and hurts after you do anything.

Even if you stretch and work out. Just hurts then too

I am sure you have good faith and reliance in your ophthalmologist, but I always say, getting a second opinion by a super-specialist (e.g.: a glaucoma specialist) would never hurt. Your ophthalmologist should not be offended in the least. Just ask for your records (especially your visual file exams and photos of your optic nerves) and bring them to a glaucoma specialist, along with a listing of your medications. Most glaucoma cases can be successfully teated without visual loss or optic nerve damage. Be careful not to just rely on your eye pressure measurements, because there are many cases of what we call, "low tension glaucoma," where the pressures are supposedly normal but still not low enough to prevent optic nerve damage. That is why the progressive visual fields are important.

Dale

 

[Droning on and on...]

Back to the subject of vision: Another alternative that I already use is a good sized tablet, not my phone for my viewing device. I believe it is a 10.5" tablet, and that helps a lot.... as long as I am in the shade so it does not wash out my screen.

Not as big, but I have a Samsung Z Fold 2, and open to it's "tablet" config it's much better than the typical candybar Android or iPhone.

I have a 10" Samsung tablet and a holder for the RC-N1 and the whole setup is just too heavy for my personal tastes. The Fold 2 is just right

 

[Droning on and on...]

We can now remove the human lens (either clear or cataracts) and replace it with a clear intraocular lenses through a 2 mm incision without a single suture!

No way Dale!! That's amazing!

Would you mind satisfying my curiosity? How do you get the old one out and the new one in through that tiny opening? pulverize/liquefy the lens tissue and suck it out?

As far as the new lens, coming up empty with my imagination. Can't wait to hear how the surgery works

 

[HoozierDroneDaddy]

No way Dale!! That's amazing!

Would you mind satisfying my curiosity? How do you get the old one out and the new one in through that tiny opening? pulverize/liquefy the lens tissue and suck it out?

As far as the new lens, coming up empty with my imagination. Can't wait to hear how the surgery works

There are several videos on Youtube showing the operation.

 

[offtheback]

I am sure you have good faith and reliance in your ophthalmologist, but I always say, getting a second opinion by a super-specialist (e.g.: a glaucoma specialist) would never hurt. Your ophthalmologist should not be offended in the least. Just ask for your records (especially your visual file exams and photos of your optic nerves) and bring them to a glaucoma specialist, along with a listing of your medications. Most glaucoma cases can be successfully teated without visual loss or optic nerve damage. Be careful not to just rely on your eye pressure measurements, because there are many cases of what we call, "low tension glaucoma," where the pressures are supposedly normal but still not low enough to prevent optic nerve damage. That is why the progressive visual fields are important.

Dale

My mini tale of woe.Had my cataract surgery 5+ years ago.Was very nearsighted(20/400 I recall).After cataracts 20/30 or so.Wow!Then one of my new lenses fell out of it's socket and they removed it and sewed a new one in.Soon developed macular edema.May be on drops forever.Don't see as well out of that eye but with both eyes open pretty good.I'm 75.