These old eyes

[tradslinger]

When you are young and your eyes are good, we tend to take our eyes for granted. Back in the late 90's, I had Lasik done to both eyes, it was a tremendous step forward for a blind guy without his glasses. However, I remember the doctor telling me that on my left eye, he had gotten it fairly thin. I didn't think anything about it then. Several years later my astigmatism got worse so I had to wear glasses again but just for crispness. But about ten years ago, my eyes seemed to get worse and I didn't know why, I just figured that cataracts had set in.                                                                                                                                      A visit to the VA and they agreed that I had cataracts but that they weren't the issue. Turns out that I had Macular Degeneration in both, dry in the right and wet in the left. I began the shot in the eye thing as well as the A Reds eye vitamins which seemed to help some. But there was something else going on and finally it was figured out, the cornea in my left eye was sagging from being too thin. The last year and a half involved 8 eye operations which involved two cornea transplants. And so right now, I am at 8 months on a year plus healing with also my eye lids sewn shut halfway across my eye. And so, my vision is far from good as it really messes up my depth of view and even my balance. It makes seeing the ground rather challenging and really scary at times. But, I keep working at it and get by better and better. Between all of this and other past issues, my ability to focus on tiny spots was lost but still better than it was a year ago.                             
                                                                                                                           
               Yeah, it can be pretty frustrating at times but it is still up to me to keep working to get better. The pupil in my left eye is also permanently enlarged due to an extremely large cataract that developed because of all of the eye trauma. Having said all of that, there are a lot of you that have your own eye issues to deal with. I am still shooting and I shoot a lot but it is pretty much 22 yards and under with about 12-15 being the sweet spot or limit for hunting. I just have to become the 12 yard and under master LOL. But that is still far better than not being able to shoot at all or to hunt at all. I have always been a line watcher crappie fishing and now it is a lot harder to see but I ain't quitting!   

[hawkeye n pa]

We take a lot of things for granted in life.  I'm sorry to hear of your eye problems but admire your determination to continue.  Prayers.

[stevem]

You are making the best of a poor hand dealt to you.  Best wishes for continued improvement.

[tradslinger]

No sympathy needed here, I still have vision which is a lot more than some can say. So in many ways, I am very blessed. It is more about being willing to adapt and make changes in order to keep doing something that you love to do. Sometimes we just have to bite the bullet and make changes in what and how we shoot or hunt. Tree hunting is probably over for me but that is okay, have used natural ground blinds off and on for years. I have always hunted the wind and now I just require really close shots but as a whole, I have taken a lot of very close shots. so it becomes how willing are we to make these changes as we get older or health issues force us to. Heck, if I was a horse, they would have probably taken me out years ago. I plan to make it very hard on any deer that happens to be in my shooting zone.

[GCook]

12-15 is my wheel house.  I love being close. 
It's not because of my vision but because my shooting dictates close.  Yeah, I can shoot 20.  But at 12 to 15 it's close enough that even if I miss my spot, it's usually only by an inch or so.
Keep shooting bud. You'll do well.

[tradslinger]

Yes, the object is to get good at 20 yards but keep it to the closer shots for sure. The hardest thing is to have higher expectations but reality says no and that you have to get even better at the closer ranges. To be so consistent in your shots that you see it as a gimme shot. and yes, I am a firm believer of making that first shot as good as possible. Focus focus focus plus consistent good form which requires a lot of practice of course.

[Captain*Kirk]

Sorry to hear of your eye issues. I've been dealing with some of my own as well. Seems I've developed floaters in both eyes, left one especially (lots of them). Opthamologist says they aren't going anywhere; here to stay. However, while annoying at times, I can still see and shoot so I thank the Good Lord every day for that!
Like a car, we all wear out and can't expect to stay perfect no matter how hard we try!
I commend you on your great attitude! Keep them sticks flying!

[Tradcat]

I feel for you brother but to be honest, I would venture to say that MOST of us are 12-15 yard hunters even without eye related issues. We chose this challenge of traditional bow hunting to see how close we could get to game animals and improve our hunting skills! Just my two cents brother of the bow! Hang in there and good hunting!   Tradcat

[Tim Finley]

I like the part  "but I ain't quitting". I was lucky I just had cataracts my vision went from 20-10 to what ever ,it wasnt good but after surgery back to 20-10 . I need reading glasses no big deal .
 Im sorry for your vision problems , eye sight is our most important sense.

[tradslinger]

yes, have several floaters now but have dealt with floaters for years. right after my ruptured brain aneurysm 26 years ago, I had a huge one on the right side of my right eye. It drove me nuts, it always looked like someone was standing to my right side and if I didn't turn to look, it was. But it finally went away but then I had the three smaller ones in my left eye that looked like crows flying, so I quit crow hunting. After all of the recent eye trauma to my left eye, the cataract suddenly shot up in size to where it totally blinded the eye. It was so huge that 4 or 5 eye doctors had to come see it before it was finally taken out. now the pupil is permanently enlarged or dilated. But, there is nothing that tells you that your eye problems are nothing like a blind man tapping his stick over to sit down beside you in the waiting room. suddenly you are okay with your problems. He can't see at all. God keeps me humbled. 

[Bamboozle]

Sad to hear, hope you get it worked out. My eyes aren't what they use to be and it sucks.

Does anyone know of a company that sells 'wrap around' prescription glasses? I use contacts when hunting, but it would be nice to have a set of glasses handy to shoot with that did have a divider or gap between the lenses.

[2fletch]

Tradslinger, it sounds as though your making the most of the hand you were dealt. A couple of years ago we hosted a Tuesday night shoot at the shop. It was a fun shoot with usually about 6-7 people, with a lot of talk and occasionally some good shooting. After we moved and had no place to shoot, one of the guys moved it to his place. Well, the first time I went there, I found myself driving home in the dark with some rain. At an intersection I was blinded by someone's bright lights as I turned right, and ended up in the left lane with oncoming traffic. That was enough for me. I won't go back until, or when the eyes are better. I have has one cataract removed and the other one scheduled. Like you I have some macular degeneration, so the vision will never be perfect.

Floaters can be a problem for crow or dove hunting. Even when squirrel or deer hunting you will see movement when there is none. Good luck to all you older guys. I'm only 78.

[George Tsoukalas]

I am so sorry. I pray that your eyes are healed.

[Witherstick]

Indeed, I pray for continued improvement of your eyes.  But, I also will pray and give thanks that someone such as yourself can exists as an inspiration to us all.  We can only hope that facing such setbacks that we can muster anything close to your stubborn will to not quit on the blessings of this life. Thank you for sharing and keep up the fight

[elkken]

With all your sight issues over such a long period of time I'm extremely impressed with your attitude and your passion to shoot your bow  keep it going your an inspiration  best to you going forward 

[Terry Lightle]

When I had hair and it was brown and following pointer bird dogs more often than not I would find the quails on the ground when the dogs pointed them,sure miss them days!