Cataracts
I had an eye exam at the VA a week after my hearing test; in all of my 60+ years, this has been the best eye exam evah. A little background: I've been night blind for over a year and everything appears to be milky gray. My vision has deteriorated to the point that have trouble reading the internets, books, etc.
The eye clinic at the Jamaica Plain VA has brand new equipment in all their exam rooms as well as a trained staff that knows how to use this stuff. A young doctor (they're all young at my age) ran me thru the paces. The last thing she did was to give me a cataract test; dialate my eyes and put a drop of yellow dye in each eye.
After she finished the exam she told me I had cataracts and they were asymmetrical. The one in my left eye has covered most of the cornea whereas the one in my right eye is symmetrical. She informed me that the VA wound schedule a six month visit to the Cataract Clinic and then she needed to check with her Attending.
Both of them came back into the room in a few minutes talking doctor talk. The upshot of that conversation was the VA would schedule a visit the Cataract Clinic in two months. I was originally scheduled for a 5/12 exam but the VA gave me a call yesterday and said my appointment is now on 5/8.
Getting old ain't for sissies.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cataract
A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye which leads to a decrease in vision. It is the most common cause of blindness and is conventionally treated with surgery. Visual loss occurs because opacification of the lens obstructs light from passing and being focused on to the retina at the back of the eye.[1]
It is most commonly due to biological aging, but there are a wide variety of other causes. Over time, yellow-brown pigment is deposited within the lens and this, together with disruption of the normal architecture of the lens fibers, leads to reduced transmission of light, which in turn leads to visual problems.
Those with cataracts commonly experience difficulty in appreciating colors (yup) and changes in contrast (yup), driving (yup), reading (yup), recognizing faces (not yet), and coping with glare from bright lights (oh yea).[2]
= new reply since forum marked as read
on both eyes. Mine were not nearly as bad as yours seem to be.
The surgery was a piece of cake.. 2-3 weeks apart.
I waited on a prep gurney, was given anesthetic drops in the eye being operated on, and an IV inserted in my arm/hand.. I forget which. rolled into the operating room..head covered with a sterile covering except the eye.. doctor came in, I guess, they started a mild sedative through the IV... doc said hold still.. YOU BET MAN. HEY DOC DON'T SNEEZE. :>
I saw some kinda kaleidescope (can't spell that) images all different colors.. really cool.. he cut a slit in the lens?, removed the cataract and inserted a new lens--or so I had learned before..done.. like 3-4 minutes.. I saw or felt nothing except the LSD colors floating around..The doctor did something like 20 cataract surgeries every MOnday...!
I was rolled back into the prep room. wide awake by now.. doc came by to check.. done.. You have to wear sunglasses when you leave because I tell you man, when you go outside that sun is like BRIGHT ! Vision a little blurry for a couple days but WOW the difference.
So, don't worry. Just be sure you have a very good surgeon who has done thousands of these...
Also, it is my understanding that the greater danger of blindness comes from glaucoma, not cataracts.
good luck..
...and I want to thank you.
I was rolled back into the prep room. wide awake by now.. doc came by to check.. done.. You have to wear sunglasses when you leave because I tell you man, when you go outside that sun is like BRIGHT ! Vision a little blurry for a couple days but WOW the difference.
I had my first cataract surgery yesterday morning, and today it still looks...a bit 'blurry', but a little better. This morning I was still wondering if it worked (even though I have an appt with my reg eye doctor later today). And you've answered that for me. Thanks again.
Glad I could help a little.
The halos around lights will go away also.
They should have told you all of this.
halos around lights, thank goodness, just the blurry vision which has subsided since yesterday. My left eyes is still screwed, waiting to do that cataract surgery next month. I remembered this thread when my doctor first suggested this surgery, but I was afraid, not so much now. But anyway thanks again. 
Far sighted, so when I couldn't read road signs till they were less than a block away, I knew it was time to do something. Now both eyes are 20/20, I can read the fine print on TV movie credits from across the room (20' away), colors are so much more vivid than I remember, ... It's like being reborn, everything is new again.
I do have to use readers, but at the lowest magnification. I went to WalMart and bought a pair for every room in the house plus a set for my purse, just so I won't forget where they are (they're only $5.88 there and exactly the same as those costing over $20). The only problem is that I'm so used to wearing glasses that I forget I have the readers on and have to put them on top of my head so I won't forget to put them back in the room I took them from...and then I do forget, so I'm constantly looking for that pair I'm wearing as a hair band.
Don't be nervous about the surgery, it's a snap. So worth it!
2015
I went to the Cataract clinic at my VA yesterday for the one week post-op exam.
Both eye pressures are well within tolerances.
My vision tested at 20/15 and I can see like I'm 35 again.
My thanks to the Jamaica Plain VA.
