Just out Im legally Blind

Silly Goose · 11-16-2009, 10:13 PM

Well many years ago I was diagnosed with Keratoconus (I was about 15 or 16) in my left eye then to be told years later I didn't have it at all my eye problem was caused by an injury I had as a kid (walked into a stick). Well today I decided I need to have my eyes checked as it was becoming harder to see and I thought I just needed a pair of glasses. So i went to the optometrist only to be told that I'm not allowed to drive as I'm legally blind in both eyes and that I have Keratoconus in both eyes and I have to get glasses to improve vision in my right eye as there in nothing they can do for my left eye. I'm feeling awful about my loss of vision but mostly about the fact I was putting my kids in danger as well as everyone else. The only thing that made me smile was that the lenses I'm getting for my glasses are "Pentax"

Steve Beswick · 11-16-2009, 10:18 PM

Get a second opinion, and a third.

Peter Zack · 11-16-2009, 10:27 PM

I completely agree. I've had to change eye doctors a couple of times and have had some very bad diagnosis over the years. A few prescriptions (glasses) that were off by more than 50%. Plus if the glasses can correct the vision enough to drive safely, you should be fine.

Ratmagiclady · 11-16-2009, 10:38 PM

Ow. I'm sorry to hear that, Goose.

I suppose you know you're photo people when someone says, 'I've been declared legally blind,' and your first thought is, 'He's gonna need better autofocus,' though.

Enable the Live View!

I'd definitely agree with the notion of getting more expertise if you can. Part of the reason I was pretty out of the photo thing for a long time had to do with cheap optometry (Ok, I guess when I say 'cheap,' I don't mean cheap, in the sense of I paid the first one a lot of money out of pocket, but I may as well have gone to a mall kiosk for all the good that cash did. ) doing the very wrong thing. (they managed to turn a very small optical problem into some pretty big frustrations.)

Last edited by Ratmagiclady; 11-16-2009 at 10:49 PM.

Silly Goose · 11-17-2009, 12:14 AM

Originally posted by Steve Beswick

Get a second opinion, and a third.

I've had many opinions over the years that all agreed that I had Keratoconus in my left eye and only one that said it wasn't and me being the optimist I chose to believe him as he said he dealt with a lot of people that have the eye disease and seeing at that time it wasn't present in my right eye that it was caused by an injury (because a huge % of people have it in both eyes)then moved back to the town I live in now and had little faith in the optometrists here so I failed to go back for a long time, so I'm kicking myself for it but I was told it wouldn't have made a difference to where I am now. So now I just hope the glasses work so I can continue with my photography.

Phil1 · 11-18-2009, 02:48 AM

At 73, my eyes too are slowly deteriorating. I have the usual 'floaters' that blurr vision, need minor reading correction and most recently developed a wierd spot about 11:00, a few degrees away from dead center focus. Very annoying! I was thinking it was a torn retina. My retina specialist says no, but it might go away since it came up fast. No fix, no meds at this point.

Any way, that's the long way around saying how much I love my FB-1,FC-1 view finder on my old LX film body. I wish there was a digital available with a similar 'sport finder' option. I just aquired a rare Pentax reconverter that will work on my K20D. It is a 90 degree look down device with a 1.5 and 2 magnification option. I am thinking that should help quite a bit, but the 90 degree look down and I believe reversed image, it will take some getting used too.

I have not looked at the 645 or 67 film systems which might be an improvement.

I am just a hobby photographer and feel for one with eye issues and makes a living in photography.

Looking back, I am lucky as I have abused my eyes by not wearing protection. I have had a steel sliver removed and as a kid and have done gas welding with no goggles, much time in the sun on the water etc. Really stupid stuff.

If you in a similar situation, look into the old LX film body with the FB-1/FC-1 that combo is really great.

Pentax LX - Full Info on Its Interchangeable Viewfinders

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/sold-items/79204-sale-sold-pentax-fb-1-fc-1-finders.html

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-film-slr-discussion/67945-lx-fb-1-...-eyepiece.html

Getting old sucks.

little laker · 11-18-2009, 03:12 AM

Silly Goose,

Lots of luck, I hope that your eyesight gets better.

I also want to mention, not just for you but for everyone having problems with their vision.
If your on medication, or a funny diet it may be causing some of your problems

Of course ask your doctor first, but weening yourself off of any meds, or onto a more normal diet might just fix your eyesight.
I made the discovery, when my vision would go soft for a while, then return to normal.
However, in my case I had more spinal cord problems at that time than usual, which may have caused some of the problems as well

Phil1 · 11-18-2009, 08:55 AM

I stumbled onto this site which will link your meds to eye sight issues:

Medication Database

They say 50% of the people with high blood sugar don't know it and diabetes is a big cause of eye sight deterioration. Watch your blood sugar and excess sugar intake.

11-16-2009, 10:13 PM	#1
Silly Goose Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Eskdale, Australia Posts: 25	Just out Im legally Blind Well many years ago I was diagnosed with Keratoconus (I was about 15 or 16) in my left eye then to be told years later I didn't have it at all my eye problem was caused by an injury I had as a kid (walked into a stick). Well today I decided I need to have my eyes checked as it was becoming harder to see and I thought I just needed a pair of glasses. So i went to the optometrist only to be told that I'm not allowed to drive as I'm legally blind in both eyes and that I have Keratoconus in both eyes and I have to get glasses to improve vision in my right eye as there in nothing they can do for my left eye. I'm feeling awful about my loss of vision but mostly about the fact I was putting my kids in danger as well as everyone else. The only thing that made me smile was that the lenses I'm getting for my glasses are "Pentax"

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11-16-2009, 10:18 PM	#2
Steve Beswick Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ontario, California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,736	Get a second opinion, and a third.

11-16-2009, 10:27 PM	#3
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	I completely agree. I've had to change eye doctors a couple of times and have had some very bad diagnosis over the years. A few prescriptions (glasses) that were off by more than 50%. Plus if the glasses can correct the vision enough to drive safely, you should be fine.

11-16-2009, 10:38 PM	#4
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	Ow. I'm sorry to hear that, Goose. I suppose you know you're photo people when someone says, 'I've been declared legally blind,' and your first thought is, 'He's gonna need better autofocus,' though. Enable the Live View! I'd definitely agree with the notion of getting more expertise if you can. Part of the reason I was pretty out of the photo thing for a long time had to do with cheap optometry (Ok, I guess when I say 'cheap,' I don't mean cheap, in the sense of I paid the first one a lot of money out of pocket, but I may as well have gone to a mall kiosk for all the good that cash did. ) doing the very wrong thing. (they managed to turn a very small optical problem into some pretty big frustrations.) Last edited by Ratmagiclady; 11-16-2009 at 10:49 PM.

11-17-2009, 12:14 AM	#5
Silly Goose Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Eskdale, Australia Posts: 25 Original Poster	Originally posted by Steve Beswick Get a second opinion, and a third. I've had many opinions over the years that all agreed that I had Keratoconus in my left eye and only one that said it wasn't and me being the optimist I chose to believe him as he said he dealt with a lot of people that have the eye disease and seeing at that time it wasn't present in my right eye that it was caused by an injury (because a huge % of people have it in both eyes)then moved back to the town I live in now and had little faith in the optometrists here so I failed to go back for a long time, so I'm kicking myself for it but I was told it wouldn't have made a difference to where I am now. So now I just hope the glasses work so I can continue with my photography.

11-18-2009, 02:48 AM	#6
Phil1 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,292	At 73, my eyes too are slowly deteriorating. I have the usual 'floaters' that blurr vision, need minor reading correction and most recently developed a wierd spot about 11:00, a few degrees away from dead center focus. Very annoying! I was thinking it was a torn retina. My retina specialist says no, but it might go away since it came up fast. No fix, no meds at this point. Any way, that's the long way around saying how much I love my FB-1,FC-1 view finder on my old LX film body. I wish there was a digital available with a similar 'sport finder' option. I just aquired a rare Pentax reconverter that will work on my K20D. It is a 90 degree look down device with a 1.5 and 2 magnification option. I am thinking that should help quite a bit, but the 90 degree look down and I believe reversed image, it will take some getting used too. I have not looked at the 645 or 67 film systems which might be an improvement. I am just a hobby photographer and feel for one with eye issues and makes a living in photography. Looking back, I am lucky as I have abused my eyes by not wearing protection. I have had a steel sliver removed and as a kid and have done gas welding with no goggles, much time in the sun on the water etc. Really stupid stuff. If you in a similar situation, look into the old LX film body with the FB-1/FC-1 that combo is really great. Pentax LX - Full Info on Its Interchangeable Viewfinders https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/sold-items/79204-sale-sold-pentax-fb-1-fc-1-finders.html https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-film-slr-discussion/67945-lx-fb-1-...-eyepiece.html Getting old sucks.

11-18-2009, 03:12 AM	#7
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	Silly Goose, Lots of luck, I hope that your eyesight gets better. I also want to mention, not just for you but for everyone having problems with their vision. If your on medication, or a funny diet it may be causing some of your problems Of course ask your doctor first, but weening yourself off of any meds, or onto a more normal diet might just fix your eyesight. I made the discovery, when my vision would go soft for a while, then return to normal. However, in my case I had more spinal cord problems at that time than usual, which may have caused some of the problems as well

11-18-2009, 08:55 AM	#8
Phil1 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,292	I stumbled onto this site which will link your meds to eye sight issues: Medication Database They say 50% of the people with high blood sugar don't know it and diabetes is a big cause of eye sight deterioration. Watch your blood sugar and excess sugar intake.