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Ed Garrett
01-26-2008, 9:19 PM
Hey I’ve been out for a while, out of my shop and off SMC, but I’ve got good news: I can see! I consider you as friends, so I’ll share a personal success with you now. I recently had to have some serious (vitreoretinal) eye surgery. I’m three weeks into recovery now and I’m beginning to think I’ll be able to see well enough to attempt woodworking again!!! Before the surgery became imminent a couple of months ago I was warned by two surgeons who gave me 2nd opinions that there was a reasonable chance I would lose some vision as a side effect of the surgery. My initial reaction wasn’t that I might have trouble continuing my job or that I would miss seeing beautiful sunsets, etc. No, I was most concerned about being able to keep woodworking. So far my recovery has been best case scenario. I can almost see as well as I did before (maybe 95%) and the doctor says I may have additional improvement over the next 6 months. I’m now seeing well enough to use the computer, I’m planning to return to work this week, and tomorrow I may just head out to my workshop and see what I can do…

Ed Garrett
Tallahassee

Jim Becker
01-26-2008, 9:21 PM
Congratulations, Ed. I truly hope that your full recovery is swift and that your vision is what it needs to be for you to get back in the shop!

Walt Caza
01-26-2008, 9:34 PM
Congratulations Ed!
That is terrific news, and I hope you can someday get back into the
woodshop. I have a pair of friends with cancer, and having just turned
40, I see more than ever, that the old chestnut rings true...
if you have your health---you have everything !
Wishing you a speedy and full recovery,
Walt
:)

Mitchell Andrus
01-26-2008, 11:27 PM
Hey I’ve been out for a while, out of my shop and off SMC, but I’ve got good news: I can see! I consider you as friends, so I’ll share a personal success with you now. I recently had to have some serious (vitreoretinal) eye surgery.

Tell us a bit about the root problem. Sounds familiar, I've got a vitreo detatchment in the left, but not bad enough to hurt vision yet. This is like a small piece of saran wrap that gets in the way sometimes, cause it moves a little.

You have anything like that fixed?

Ken Fitzgerald
01-26-2008, 11:29 PM
Congrats Ed! I hope things continue to go well for you during your recovery!

Glenn Clabo
01-27-2008, 6:49 AM
Great news Ed. Take it slow and be careful!

Chris Padilla
01-28-2008, 11:47 AM
Sweet!! Ya don't know whatcha got until it's gone!

Hope things keep improving for you.

Ed Garrett
01-28-2008, 8:39 PM
Thank you for your comments and encouragement.

Mitchell: Here's my brief explanation: The condition was "ERM" (epiretinal membrane), which is an accumulation of scar tissue on the retina. In some cases, notably mine, the scar tissue gets thicker and then shrinks, wrinkling the retina and causing “macular pucker” which causes distorted and dim vision and ultimately tears the retina. The eye surgeon simply went in with tools and peeled off the scar tissue, which apparently also traumatized the retina. Seeing out of that eye the first week after the surgery was quite discouraging.

In my case the ERM condition may have been an inflammatory response to surgery I had to years ago to repair a detached retina on the same eye. Mitchell, what you are describing sounds like "floaters," but it also sounds similar to the symptoms I had two years ago before I figured out I had a detached retina. My only advice is to pay close attention to any symptoms of change in your vision and if in doubt, go see the doctor.

Sincerely,
Ed Garrett
Tallahassee

Mitchell Andrus
01-28-2008, 9:59 PM
Thanks Ed. Yea, I'm more closely assoc. with floaters than retinal involvement. The fluid sac peels away and wrinkles, but then leaves the retina alone. Most times, I don't even notice. Funny tho... I saw it peel away... sparkles and flashes for about an hour. I went to two specialists that day. No problemo. I can get it removed, but it's one of those "the cure is worse than the problem" deals.

Ed Garrett
01-29-2008, 9:19 PM
Mitchell,

I couldn’t agree more. Whether the cure was worse than the symptoms was my dilemma too for over a year. The surgery I had posed a risk to my vision. I feel satisfied with myself for making the effort to research the condition, get lots of testing, and get 2nd (and 3rd) opinions. I didn’t want to regret having the surgery if it caused damage to my vision. The final decision was based on advice that without surgery I would ultimately lose the vision in that eye. My hat is off to all the doctors who helped me over the last year to save my eyesight. They make the big bucks, but in my opinion they more than earn it. You can’t put a price on your health.

Ed

Greg Muller
01-29-2008, 9:27 PM
Congrats, Ed!
God bless and many prayers for your continued improvement and return to the shop!!!

Greg