What’s that sign say??

On the drive up to Indi-tucky, I noticed that I was having trouble focusing on the exit signs.  At first I thought this was due to “gunk” in my eyes due to allergies, which seem to worsen the closer I get to the state line.  Ha – talk about denial!  After a couple weeks, the blurriness was not going away, in spite of my efforts with drops, rinses, etc.  I gave in and made an appointment with an opthamologist. 

Now, my vision has always been pretty good, but two years ago, during a routine eye check my optometrist told me that I was “starting to develop cataracts”.  I sorta blew that off thinking I wouldn’t have to worry about that for another 10 years.  Wrong!  Apparently, my vision took a slide only eight months after my last visit.  More unusual was hearing the doctor ask if I was diabetic since my close-up vision in one eye was worse.  Apparently, with cataracts, the distance vision is affected.   Whaaa???  Moi???  No way.  Just bad stigmatism, I’m hoping. 

Well, apparently my vision isn’t too bad yet since the doctor wasn’t rolling out the surgical cart readying me for “going bionic”.  Instead, I’m going to get new lenses popped into my frames.  The doctor also thought I might need the surgery before September 2012, which could mean a “time out” from diving.  I swear I will stretch this until next autumn if I can!! 

I keep thinking of Mr. Limpet’s underwater adventures.  Poor guy was turned down by the Navy for his near-sightedness, but became a hero when he became a fish and warned the Navy about U-boats.  So, I’m hoping that I can still spot the small stuff underwater in 2012, even though large sharks or turtles in the distance might be mistaken as other divers or submarines!!  “Squints” might be a suitable nickname but remembering my mantra of “things could be worse”….at least it’s not “Squirts”.   Yeah, THAT would suck!