Pickles by Brian Crane for July 08, 2023

A bit squeamish aren’t we, Earl.

Eye don’t think so

Does it work on people her age? Once you reach the bifocal stage, you will need glasses occasionally even if you have Lasik surgery.

I’m a bit squeamish about eyes, but when I had to circulate in theatre for emergency eye surgeries I found myself simply fascinated.

If I had told my husband that, I wouldn’t have gotten any farther than " what they do is" and he would have been a block away.

I haven’t had that surgery, but I had a cataract removed and replaced with a plastic lens implant. The the capsule around it clouded over so they had to use a laser to zap a hole in it. Then my retina tore and I had to have laser surgery to “weld” the retina down around the tear. Then the retina developed a wrinkle from all the surgery. I barely passed my DMV eye test in that eye even with glasses. Fortunately I can see well from my other eye, although a cataract is starting there, too. The first two surgeries were a snap, but the “welding” was no picnic.

Me too. But I had my cataracts removed and … it’s a VERY slightly mixed blessing. Mostly good. Scary as heck the first eye, though.

The one downside: I WAS extremely near sighted and had gotten very used to just pulling my bifocals down a bit and looking over the top at something an inch or two away. Like splinters, hang nails, a little “what the heck is THAT” picked up from the work bench… And now that not only doesn’t help, it makes looking at things WORSE. I did get some +4 flip-up reading glasses that help at about 6 inches distant. It’s harder to find +6 or so lenses that would work really close.

I can’t tell if she even has eyes under those glasses. Have we ever seen her pupils?

I have cataracts developing and I think I will put off surgery as long as possible.

Earl got his chair back

give him a hard-boiled egg and a paring knife

…

I’m with Earl on this one. I even have trouble putting eyedrops in my eyes!

I know it’s a painless process and all, but I’m with Earl on this one…not a fan of the idea…

I had Lasik 11 years ago in the UK. I wish I could have had it earlier. It’s great IMO. I couldn’t see (in focus) a foot past my nose. After Lasik I’m 20/15 vision. So it worked very well for me.

You know Earl’s squeamish when Roscoe can stand things better than he can…

Roscoe is just precious in todays cartoon as usual : )

I have to get my eye injected every 3 months or so, Earl would hate that!

Roscoe takes it all in!

Age plays a factor. I had it when I was 29. I got a lot of miles out of it. The older you get the less they recommend it.

I’m converting my SIL’s family video tapes and one is of eye surgery, YUCK! I didn’t convert that one. I’m debating what to do if I get cataracts done. They can correct your vision. My friend got one eye near vision and one far vision which seems to be an option. The thing is, depth perception is going to be off, I think, and I don’t like that.

I had LASIK about eight years ago. Unlike most people, I have a monovision correction. My left eye is corrected for distance and my right for reading. I have glasses that adjust the right eye for distance when I’m outside or driving.

Since my surgery, I can’t read as good close like I was able to before! I am sooooo PI-ssed! ☹️

And the glare is blinding me..had the left eye lasered but didn’t help one bit! I ordered sunglasses that cover the sides also so I can drive. ☹️☹️☹️

I’m like Earl. I didn’t like doctor showing me an eyeball and what he was going to do. Yuk!

When I had Lasik done (2001), I thought I would no longer need glasses, but the opposite was true instead. I had been able to read without glasses before, but being near-sighted, I could not watch TV or drive without glasses. After Lasik, I needed glasses to read and needed them to drive but could watch TV without glasses. Many years later (2022) I have had cataract surgery in both eyes and I see well to drive, watch TV, and when I walk, I can see where I am going all without glasses. I still need them to read, but that’s OK by me. I feel lucky to see as much as I do.

During my LASIK procedure, my doctor warned me that the laser was about to start. When it fired its 219 pulses over a little more than a second, I watched the ring of LEDs surrounding the laser go from an oval to a circle (mostly correcting astigmatism). I’d never actually “seen” a circle until that moment. All the more entertaining with the dose of Valium circulating through me.

I’m not sure about Wavefront LASIK, but standard LASIK uses a microtome to create a small flap of cornea, about as big around as the iris. I practiced not touching (rubbing) my eyes for about six weeks before my procedure. You definitely don’t want a wrinkle on your cornea. Anticipation of the microtome was the cause for the Valium, in my case. The whole thing was worth every penny! No glasses for fifteen years, but I am starting to use readers now.

I haven’t had Lazik, but I have had cataracts replaced in both eyes. I still need glasses to read and do my needlework, but it’s certainly an improvement over the vision I had before.

I am a little squeamish too. Cataracts lead to lens replacement. First one eye, the other 3 months later. Unqualified success (need reading glasses, as expected). DMV removed glasses requirement after ~40 years. Still squeamish, but it was worth it.

The laser doesn’t cut the flap in your cornea. They do that with a blade of some sort, so the laser can do its work behind it.

I have friends who’ve had this laser surgery. It worked for them to some degree but over time they still needed glasses. I’m not a big fan of having someone laser my eyeballs, so I’ll keep my glasses for now. Besides, they have protected my eyes from work related shrapnel injuries in the past.

Well….. I’m glad you’re talking to Rosco…… otherwise, we would never KNOW.

I loved the results of lasik but when it came time for cataract surgery, they didn’t have a lens that would give me clear distance vision.

Earl, you just have to SEE it to believe it.

Me too, Earl. Contacts? No F’ing Way!

I remember before getting the procedure done over 20 years ago a nervous couple was siting in the reception area with me. I alleviated one of their worries – what if my eye moves? – I told them what the Dr told me when I asked the same question – the laser guided laser moves at the speed of light – eye muscles move slower than that, so when the laser guided laser detects movement, it shuts off.

Also learned a valuable lesson – never pre-pay for a cab ride home. After the procedure I had a 16 year old high-school kid with a new drivers license who didn’t know the area trying to take me home – my eyes were taped, I’m groggy and I couldn’t see – almost didn’t survive the ride home.

She needs one of the lasers they shine on the moon.

I had Lasik surgery about 20 years ago, and it was miraculous in giving me perfect vision after being almost legally blind for most of my life. But it freaked me out during the process when I detected an odor similar to hair burning and realized that it was coming from my EYES.

And here is my advice for anyone planning to have it done. Have someone drive you home and expect to stay in bed in a darkened room for at least one day and ideally two before undertaking ANY activity requiring focusing your eyes.

So far I have been lucky. Only needing reading glasses with a strength of +1.50 for the last 10 years. Last test showed both at 20/15. The Mrs on the other hand has needed prescription lenses for as long as I have known her. And she can sometimes be quite forgetful with her glasses. Over the years we collected spares. We have extras in her car, my car and another pair in her studio and our bedroom and the kitchen. And extra sunnies in each car and I think two or three of those in her dressing area. And those eyeglass chains for each pair. Haven’t lost any since the year she lost them all. (That was a long weekend from Heck) She tried contacts, but after the first cleaning she developed punctate keratitis because she is allergic to an ingredient in the lens washing solution. The solution may have been improved by now, but she does not want to try it again. So far the girls continue to have good vision. I think if she could she would get a pair of glasses to match every outfit.

I am so sorry to hear that, Ratkin! My cataracts are now gone and I have gone from 20-900 to 20-25. I hope you can get this all settled.

If Opal couldn’t wear glasses, that would ruin the comic. Love the white eyes of those two.

so am eye

Earl really passed out, thinking of the cost he’ll have to pay for that procedure, I don’t blame him…

Himself had to have cataract surgery on both eyes as he developed a rareish form of cataracts which develop extremely quickly, and he would have gone blind in less than a year. He was thrilled with the results. We have always supported Orbis (the flying eye hospital) but after his free NHS treatment we have supported them even more. Most blindness is completely preventable.

And if Earl is squeamish at the thought of eyes being sliced, try seeing a kid with a metal coat hanger stuck in their eye.

Poor Earl, surprised not him. For me younger then my husband, I am facing cataract surgery in August. In my weak eye my left, dread when they do my better right eye and that is starting on cataract.

I can remember when people who had cataracts removed had to wear glasses with very thick lenses that made their eyeballs look huge.

I’m with Earl on this.