Eye exams suck!

So, went to the eye exam yesterday. Everything went well until they had to dilate my eyes. Seems Florida has a law that on initial visits for eye exams the eye doctor has to dilate. Something about how some toddlers didn't get examined thoroughly and tumors didn't get noticed & treated in time.

Getting my eyes dilated gave me a nasty headache in the office, but outside, in full sunlight, was some circle of hell I hadn't visited in some time. I had to drive home around 5-10 mph because everything was just white. Like taking a photo on the computer and pumping the highlights & brightness, save, then do it again three more times.

Got home, to my dark condo, and thought I was good. Not so fast. Panels were far too bright. Even at minimum brightness. On top of that, I had to be back about four feet before I could make out words. I was going to try gaming, then remembered the the brightness factor in some areas. Same with TV/DVD viewing. Even my ipod turned on me. Sleep did the trick.

As if the eyes being dilated was the worse part, the doctor gave me the shocking news that I have/may-have a cataract growing in one eye. I'm 40, not 70, so this doesn't make any sense. Doc reveals that I am a bit young to have a cataract, but not too unusual for someone having lived this long in South Florida. Doc further says that if I do have a cataract growing that I should have a good amount of time to go before it needs to be fixed. Just wear UV protective sunglasses outside.

Now I need to find another eye doctor and get a confirmation exam from a doctor in my vision health insurance plan. Another eye exam, another dilation session. <groan>...