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Anne, et al..... (loooong message follows) Anne, YOUR eye problems gave ME a jolt of reality just now! It appears to me I've gone thru the motions of getting my vision regularly attended to with an eye exam at Kaiser every two years. One CAN have more frequent eye exams at Kaiser, but not as a general service. IF one has ongoing vision-threatening problems, treatment IS covered completely by the HMO, but one MUST be seen by ones primary care MD first for a referral. <grumble> (like I'm not totally sick of doctors already?) I've worn glasses my entire life (from age two on!), and it appears I've begun to look at "less than average vision" as being NORMAL the past coupla-three years. I've accommodated, excused and "lived with it," mostly blaming general aging (and that IS also a factor, but not the only one since I've had PD for 24 years...). (ATTENTION: REALITY CHECK IN PROGRESS! OK... ok..... so make that eye problems the past 5 or 6 years) <GAWD, it's tough being honest with oneself sometimes> I have floaters, "eye-jumps," eye-fuzzy's, and dry eyes, in addition acute convex astigmatism (corneas pointy-shaped like a football instead of being rounded), and I've started keeping a hand-held magnifying glass right next to me whenever I read,, which is a royal pain in the derrière - pick up, put down, pick up, ad infinitum (@$#%@^#&) I have a "routine" checkup with my Kaiser neurologist (Dr.. Know Nothing) on May 10th, and after thinking 'bout what I've said in this message, I think it's time to push for a referral for a prism specialist (didn't even know there WAS such a specialty), and/or a neuro-opthamologist - whatever Kaiser has to offer to aid someone with deteriorating vision. It's time to get the BEST service that Kaiser provides (and they DO have better-than-decent physicians if one searches for 'em and sticks to their guns (read THAT as DEMANDING the best instead of "settling.") I'm gonna do it - I AM going to DO it! Now a moment dedicated to special thanks: Thank goodness is right! Barb P.... thanks for recognizing the need for a international PD information exchange and support group, and turning that recognition into reality by starting the PD List. So many have benefited over the years in so many different ways. Thanks also to Camilla, John C., Janet P. and the many others who've been SUCH help to Barb P. and the rest of us by enhancing the basic List with additional services, I.e., the archives, etc.. YOU are the frosting on our Cyber-cake! <smile> Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Anne Rutherford <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Saturday, May 01, 1999 8:04 AM Subject: Re: VISION PROBLEMS FROM ???????? >Thanks to Barb Patterson for starting the PIE List. It is a fantastic >resource. >I have been round the doctors >offices with vision problems getting more confused and depressed with >every visit. > >Then today there were 10 messages on the list talking about MY PROBLEMS. > >I see double sometimes and my eye jumps on and off the line I am reading. >I have floaters and fuzzy vision and I have used >glasses for distance from the age of 25, I also have dry eyes. > >And I have a supposedly rare condition called surface wrinkling > retinopathy or epi-retinal membrane. I have it in both >eyes which they say is unusual. Opinions are tied 2/2 for and against >surgery. > >I have seen a prism technologist recently, and being a PWP my eyes were >doing everything right. I will go again with pills OFF to >find if that makes any difference. > >This list is such a comfort to us. > >Anne Rutherford >