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I'm about 60 years old.
Later today, I'm having laser repair of a "tiny tuft" (opthamologist's term) of the retina which tore loose in my right eye. It's been described to me as welding a containment circle around the tear to prevent the spread of damage.
I went to get it checked out after the sudden onset of some new floaters, cloudiness in that eye's vision (still 20/20 corrected but foggy-looking), and little streaks of light visible in the periphery if I move my head suddenly in a dark room. Doc says I experienced an event called a PVD, and there's blood in the ocular fluid which will dissipate over several weeks, resolving the cloudiness.
I can pretty much trace the start of symptoms to a night when, in frustration over flu-plugged sinuses, I blew my nose too hard. But a video at the doc's says shrinking of the gel in the eyeball, which can tear loose small sections of the retina, is a normal part of aging.
So...could this recur as I continue to age?
Of lesser importance, have I passed my last third-class FAA medical? Should I be shopping for an LSA?
I've always had good vision in low light, and love flying at night. Obviously, I've grounded myself since this issue developed, but if I recover with the help of the laser repair, and am able to maintain my medical, should I worry about flying at night in the future?
I had hoped up till now to prepare for CFI and offer flight instruction as a part-time income in retirement a few years from now. Is it time to find a new goal?
Dr. Bruce, I appreciate your comments, especially if there's any guidance I can give the medical team that's about to work on my right eye. Thanks!
Later today, I'm having laser repair of a "tiny tuft" (opthamologist's term) of the retina which tore loose in my right eye. It's been described to me as welding a containment circle around the tear to prevent the spread of damage.
I went to get it checked out after the sudden onset of some new floaters, cloudiness in that eye's vision (still 20/20 corrected but foggy-looking), and little streaks of light visible in the periphery if I move my head suddenly in a dark room. Doc says I experienced an event called a PVD, and there's blood in the ocular fluid which will dissipate over several weeks, resolving the cloudiness.
I can pretty much trace the start of symptoms to a night when, in frustration over flu-plugged sinuses, I blew my nose too hard. But a video at the doc's says shrinking of the gel in the eyeball, which can tear loose small sections of the retina, is a normal part of aging.
So...could this recur as I continue to age?
Of lesser importance, have I passed my last third-class FAA medical? Should I be shopping for an LSA?
I've always had good vision in low light, and love flying at night. Obviously, I've grounded myself since this issue developed, but if I recover with the help of the laser repair, and am able to maintain my medical, should I worry about flying at night in the future?
I had hoped up till now to prepare for CFI and offer flight instruction as a part-time income in retirement a few years from now. Is it time to find a new goal?
Dr. Bruce, I appreciate your comments, especially if there's any guidance I can give the medical team that's about to work on my right eye. Thanks!