• sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 days ago

    I was getting my pupils dilated for the optometrist to properly measure the extent of my astigmatism.

    Had never had that procedure done before.

    …As I am leaving, with eyes blurry as fuck from being dilated…

    Receptionist tells me if I leave now, I might be able to dodge rush hour.

    … I wish I could have actually seen the expression on her face when she said that, but I couldn’t.

    Due to being temporarily legally blind.

    From the procedure that she had just-

    sigh

    So yeah I made it about two blocks in my car, said NOPE, and just fucking sat in a parking lot for something like an hour, till I could fucking see again.

    American health care just literally is a sadistic joke.

    • starchylemming@lemmy.world
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      8 hours ago

      the fuck. here the doc tells you beforehand that you are not allowed to drive after the procedure and asks you to bring someone to drive you if possible

    • MystikIncarnate@lemmy.ca
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      12 hours ago

      I was prepared for this when I went to see an optometrist. I went to a local one, just a couple blocks away from me on purpose because I knew I wouldn’t be able to drive home.

      Even though I walked I also had someone with me who could help guide me home, because I was worried that the summer, midday sun would be too bright for me to bear, even with sunglasses, and I would not be able to see well enough to follow the path home. Everything turned out fine, but I’m glad I took the extra care anyways. It just wasn’t nearly as bad as I had planned for it to be.

      • sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        9 hours ago

        I was unfortunately super busy with work, did not live within walking distance of any optometrist…

        … and despite telling multiple friends and family who had had this procedure done before, none of them mentioned anything about it to me, oh and no medical staff anywhere in the entire process between telling me I should have this procedure done, to scheduling that procedure…

        …none of them told me that the procedure makes you legally blind for ~1-2 hours either.

        I am glad that you knew this was a procedure that required planning for.

    • entwine@programming.dev
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      1 day ago

      Lol I had the same procedure and sat in my car after calling someone to come pick me up, but they took too long and I decided to just drive myself anyways. I couldn’t read signs, but traffic lights and other cars were visible enough. I bet there are a lot of old people on the road driving around regularly with eyesight that bad or worse.

      • sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        1 day ago

        To your last point:

        Oh yeah, I am of the strong opinion that everyone should need to fully redo their drivers test, written and practical, every 5 years, hit 60, every 3 years, hit 72, every single year.

        There are way too many idiots who don’t know how to drive, and driving is such a … multi faceted skill that requires so many of your body processes to be working well… and basically all of those start to nose dive after a certain age.

    • LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Receptionist isn’t an opthalmologist, and she probably had no idea that you’d just been rendered temporarily legally blind.