Cataracts

[Malcolm]

I'm sorry if this is a bit of an obscure topic ..

However, I've just had cataract surgery on both my eyes, which seems to be progressing as well as hoped.

But before my surgery, I was as short-sighted as can be. The only advantage of that was that I could hold something within a couple of inches of my eye and see it perfectly - possibly not ideal, but that is how I've done things for decades.

With my 'new vision' whilst my distance vision is vastly improved, my close distance vision is virtually non-existent - I can only read with reading glasses on - and have to hold the book at around 12" to read. I picked up a couple of parts from a kit that I was working on yesterday and whilst I can see them, I cannot see it with the same clarity that I could before (at 2" from my eye). I certainly cannot see well enough to sand the parts - for example, there are two bits sticking out from (what I think is a brake cylinder) - one will be the mounting 'stub' and the other will be the excess sprue that I need to sand off.

I'm currently wondering if I'll ever be able to get back to modelling. But perhaps I will adapt my modelling techniques to my 'new eyes' as time goes by.

If anyone has been down this route, I would be pleased to hear from you.

Best wishes
Malcolm

[bossy122]

I don't have cataracts but my aging eyesight is ****, at best. When I build, I wear my 1.5 readers
AND have to look through my desk magnifying glass. It sucks, but it is what it is: getting old

[Eagle]

Same here, no cataracts [yet] but all my modeling is done through a circular magnifier with a fluorescent light tube, my skills have diminished somewhat anyway, only working on 12th scale and larger projects now.

[willikem]

Recent surgery as well. Please contact me by private message.

[f1m]

[Paul_OFarrell]

Hi Malcolm,

You may need to investigate options now that your eyesight has been altered. Like Eric has already indicated, a magnifying visor may be an option, but I would suggest having a chat with your local optometrist and discuss your requirements as far as modelling is concerned.

You may end up needing multi-focal lenses for modelling purposes.

Cheers, Paul
Sydney, Oz

[ah100m]

My eye doctor gave me two prescriptions for "reading" glasses. One for close-up work, one for normal distance to a book. It's just a question of working distance. When needed I also use my Optivisor over them.

[JamesB]

Hi Malcolm, let me take and treat it lightly
Before anyway, congrats for the thing being fixed
And now welcom to the world of the non-myopes! We myopes or short sighted have been amazing other people by the trick you comment (I call it super power), but well you are now a mortal I suppose you have to do the same that long sighted people have to do. Magnifying lenses, even reading glasses might help you.
I combine myopy and "tired sight" (what you mention, not seeing wellclose objects) and after years of using the object-at-two-inches trick, I decided to switch to progressive glasses, to cover the wasteland between those 2 inches and the foot, aprox, where things start to be sightable again.
I think the same, go to your local glasses shop, they must have efficient people. You´ll work it out, no problem, that´s the main mesage!!!
And meanwhile, enjoy you long sight newly found glasses free sight, and the realm of colors and light you must have discovered.
I remember my late mom, passed thru the same, she was amazed and overjoyed about what she had been missing.
Take care, BR
James

[Gorf]

I had cataract surgery a year ago and my color vision has improved.I had been painting many colors more than a shade off from what they should have been!Many rebuilds in my future.
I have the same problem with seeing things up close .I wear 1.5 on a lanyard and have 2.0 on the bench along with a magnifier like Eric pictured and if that isn't enough I have a lit circular magnifier.
By the time I figure out which lens to use I have forgotten what I was going to do!!:>)

[Leftkeys]

Hi, Malcolm. I had my cataract surgery about 18 months ago. I elected to have one lens that gave me great long distance sight and one that allowed me to read without glasses. It worked great until I had to start using reading glasses again. I discussed this with my optometrist and he said that I had “scar tissue” that was disturbing my sight. His “fix” was to laser the eye to break up the membrane scar tissue. That worked pretty well, but now I have some “floaters”. Like the answerers said, it’s very interesting getting old! I sometimes use the magnifying glassed Eric posted.

Good luck, you can work this out!