Since I had my first disastrous cataract operation on Sept. 22 (not the doctor’s fault!), I haven’t been able to read a book on paper. I can read the computer if I close my right eye because the right and left have different middle-distance prescriptions. But not reading a real book is depressing, and I’ve basically been walking around with my right eye shut for a month.
This situation is of course intolerable, so I asked the ophthalmologist to give me a prescription for interim glasses until I get the left eye done. (Believe me, after my ocular trauma, I’m not in a rush!). Although he cautioned me that it may not work well, I was willing to take the chance rather than walk around like Popeye, unable to read anything but a can of spinach. Today I went to Costco to get those glasses, which should be ready in a week or ten days. Costco is, I’ve found, the best and most reasonable place to get specs, and the service is fantastic.
But Costco also has other great stuff, and while I was there I picked up, besides their hot dog special (footlong dog and endless fountain drink for $1.50), the Big Three items I always get there (the pie is seasonal).
From left to right: The famous Costco rotisserie chicken. Three pounds of delectable pullet, and about five bucks. This will last me at least four meals.
Extra virgin olive oil, single origin, harvested this spring. About $16. Costco’s “extra virgin” is reliable, not so with the oil you get from other places, which often fails laboratory tests for virginity.
And, since it’s the season, the 58-ounce Costco Pumpkin Pie, which will last about a week and a half kept in the fridge. I also have some vanilla ice cream to go with it–the making of a perfect breakfast. It’s huge, better than any commercial pumpkin pie I’ve had, and, for nearly four pounds of pie, it’s less than six bucks.
You can’t go into a Costco without getting a chicken and a pie at the very least. If I can’t read a book for a week, at least I can eat.
Interesting … and “Popeye” LOL!
All the best to you and your eye!
Do you still have radio to listen to?
I wanted to send you two Substack-Links about the problems in higher Education with AI (here from an physicist from Oxford)
https://thetheorygirlie.substack.com/p/ai-was-great-until-it-was-not
and suggested solutions to this problem
https://openquestionsblog.substack.com/p/ai-is-killing-higher-ed-heres-how
but maybe you should just rest your eyes and relax.
Take care, Professor Coyne!
I was going to suggest an eye patch. But of course that can look weird.
I have one that fits over my glasses but it’s easier to close my eye.
Glad to hear your experience getting glasses went OK. I was informed last month that I am am at stage 2 in terms of blurry vision due to cataracts. I am going to hold off having surgery for awhile as I just bought 2 pair of glasses.
I was surprised to see how expensive fuel was at this Costco-
430 S Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL
Regular $4.79
Hi test $6.09
So now it’s laboratory tests for virginity, is it? Why, I remember when it was enough to just wave a bloody sheet out the window! Those were the days …
Well, the Vestal Virgins in Ancient Rome had to commit to a 30-year vow of chastity—and the punishment for breaking the law was burial alive. The test was carrying water in a sieve, as it was well known that only virgins can do this.
As this was Ancient Rome, there were lots of sheep around, so lanolin was easily available. Sometimes people can use natural intelligence to cheat on tests. No need for AI, but ignorance and/or superstition on the part of the examiners is a great help.
Rotisserie chicken is a good pick-me-up! And, with four pounds of pie and ice cream for dessert what could possibly go wrong?
Hmmm. You’ll see how the interim glasses work. They may encourage you to do the other eye—which with high probability will go perfectly with no complications. I certainly understand your reticence.
Excellent choices at your Costco visit. But what about the three-pack of Kirkland heavy whipping cream? As much as I love ice cream, I’d choose whipped cream for pumpkin pie.
I start out at three but realistically end up at four. Or five.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19nbBh4L2U/
Hoping the glasses do the trick. Good news that there are no issues with the retina!
I agree. Whipped cream is great not only with pumpkin pie, but also with pecan pie.
Turns out that CostCo is also the hands down best place to get hearing aids. Mine cost a third of what they would cast at a standard audiologist. The quality and service are great. The hearing test they gave me was more thorough than the one my ENT doc did.
I had eye (both eyes) surgery last year. It was entirely successful. Hope you get better soon! In the meantime… Books on tape (Audible) isn’t bad. Actually, rather good!. You can also get book readers, that ‘read’ books and produce sound. I have not used them (much). Please comment on the situation (which may not exist) in North Korea. I (someone for me) also got glasses for using a computer. They were quite cheap.
and books on CD from the library!
You don’t even have to go to the library to get a CD. There are at least two free programs, facilitated by the library, that allow you to (temporarily) download books, movies, and audiobooks directly to your phone, computer, or Kindle.
We use Libby on our phones (and we can send borrowed books to our Kindles if it’s in that format). It’s great.
My sympathies to you, boss, for your eye problems.
Your many year love of Costco is kind of endearing. We don’t have Costco here, and there’s a lot of things we don’t have, like many big box stores and Walmart.
On the bright side, I saw a homeless guy taking a poo in the park today. I (heart) NY. 🙂
D.A.
NYC
Don’t have Costco? In NYC? Up by the bridge to Randall’s Island in Manhattan (can’t remember the name of it….), and on 3rd in Brooklyn (Gowanas? Greenwood? North of Bay Ridge) Found both when doing on-site engineering jobs.
The one in Brooklyn was a lifesaver for my crew and me doing repairs in the solid waste transfer station. Got a lot of unfriendly looks, though. The aura lingers, shall we say.
I hope I have pulled back the curtain for you. I think there is at least one in every borough, but I rarely get to the Bronx.
(as we enter the half of the year where Costco is a part of my regular routine every few weeks, as the local farms are about done, my garden is about done– still have a ton of peppers and peas on the plants, but everything else finished a week or three ago.)
I was told by my eye doctor that I will need cataract surgery soon. But after reading of Dr. Coyne’s travails I am inclined to put this off as long as possible. My vision is fine during the day; the problem is driving at night with halos around oncoming headlights. Of course if my vision gets notably worse – which the doc insists will happen – I will have to bite the bullet and get the surgery.
What happened to me is VERY rare and I would not be put out by my experience. Just get a good surgeon and look at the stats.
Thanks for the advice – will do so when it becomes necessary!
Yes – I did extensive research on adverse effects in cataract surgery and did not run across the problem you had because it is so rare. If I remember correctly your ophthalmologist had never seen this before… From what your have posted, you got prompt and effective treatment and you will eventually have a good result although it is taking longer then normal.
Have given up night driving entirely, due to those high beam lights/halos around oncoming headlights. Apparently there are no restrictions on how bright they can be!
I despise oncoming ultra bright headlamps when driving at night. Also, I walk a lot at night with my dog, on sidewalks. I am always being blinded by cars driving with brights on, that do not self-dim until they have blinded me for one hundred yards.
There are absolutely restrictions on how bright they can be and where they are aimed. (in the US, Federal DOT regulations cover all vehicles manufactured and sold for use on public roadways, and state regulations can be stricter, but I think all states require the federal be followed for licensure, at the minimum. It is a bit more subtle, but I can’t be bothered to go look up the details, as it has been several decades since I needed to worry the details)
Enforced is a different matter.
That said, as your eyes age, even compliant lighting can become distracting or downright debilitating.
I picked up a jug of Bertolli Extra Virgin olive oil a few years ago and have bought nothing else since. I like it because it is less bitter than any other olive oil I’ve tried.
Frank up above recommended audiobooks. If you haven’t already tried books on tape, this would obviously be a good time. It’s a different experience, for sure, but not necessarily a lesser one. In fact, after reading the Satanic Verses, I listened to the narrated version, and I found I appreciated the prose even more. Fwiw, an amazing number of people rave about the narrated version of Project Hail Mary.
Costco has amazing fresh salmon stuffed with shrimp and crab!
I wish you a complete recovery, and many more successful trips to Costco.
One of my hobbies is growing different varieties of pumpkins and squash, and trying them out for pumpkins pies. This year a groundhog destroyed the Pennsylvania Dutch neck pumpkin vines I was growing, so I will buy some butternut squash to use. I incorporate heavy cream into my pie mix. Way better than Costco.
Best wishes for our host’s continued eye recovery. Before my own cataract surgery of some years ago, I found that wearing yellow sunglasses helped a good deal with the oncoming headlight problem in night driving. Of course, the cataract surgery
helped even more—but now, simple old age is undermining that improvement.