I promised myself since I am only working part-time I would awaken my internal, sleeping Domestic Goddess. I would do great things! So far all She has done is roll over in her sleep.
Today I finished the cobweb seek and destroy mission. I took my fluffy thing on a stick – and please notice I use all of the professional terminologies! – and wiped down all of the walls and ceilings. The puppygirls followed closely along – sneezing.
I am working up – or in this case down – to shampooing the living room rug. That is going to take a lot of turning the mind and convincing myself to do it.
Well, stranger things HAVE happened; you know. ?
And while I think about shampooing the carpet, it is time for a page! Hopefully, there is something in the email to save me from myself.
Healio listed the five top articles about retinal disease in June. The first one was about intraocular lenses (IOLs) for those of us who have both AMD and cataracts. In Austria, they are implanting lenses that magnify in those who have had cataract surgery. The bottom of the lens sounds like it is more like a bifocal (my interpretation) while the top takes care of far vision for distance. The lenses provide 1.5 magnification at 25 to 30 centimeters ( read 10 to 12 inches) and 3x magnification at 12 cm to 15 cm. I assume that is 5 to 6 inches.
The researcher, Andreas Borkenstein, said that even though the scotomas (blind spots) are still there, the magnification makes it so they obscure less of the image.
They are finding great improvements in best-corrected distance acuity. People with acuity scores of 20/400 corrected to 20/63. Yippee!!!
Borkenstein stated he wants his colleagues to be able to give dual diagnosis patients (AMD and cataracts) hope. Just because a patient has advanced AMD doctors should not tell them cataract surgery is pointless and will do nothing! …Damn right! You tell them, Andreas! ?
In addition to the acuity improvements, contrast sensitivity and color perception also improved. Another yippee!
Now, having used MaxTV lenses, I can tell you, my depth perception can be way off when I use magnification. My low vision specialist warned me about moving and wearing them. Doesn’t work well. I tried to. (So maybe I am from Missouri?)
Anyway, my point is this: nothing was said about depth perception, driving, etc. in the article. I am thinking the neuroplasticity of the brain is such that it just eventually adapts, and you learn how to do all of those things normally. No going to put a cup on a table and missing the table by a foot! Or going to drop cans in a cart and have them rolling all over the floor like I did. Oops. Anyway, not sure if you can drive – or even walk fast – with these IOLs. Need to do more research on that. Also need to see if they have been approved in the USA, Canada, UK, etc.
But that will have to be another page. Bye!?
Written July 10th, 2018
