The optician agrees that it looks like I do have PCO developing but he wants me to go back on Thursday - without the car - so he can dilate my pupils to have a better look.

Had the cataract surgery done a few years ago and then had the laser treatment a year later to clear up the growth on the replacement lenses - nothing since then, so well worth doing. 

The odd experience with the laser procedure was that (it being during the Covid period) I got called after it had been done with a survey asking if I could have had it done "remotely".  I responded that unless they were prepared to send me a slit lamp and a YAG laser, and spend the time to train my wife to do the deed, I really could not think of a way to do it "remotely".

Maybe they expected you to just pop an eye out and send it to them to be corrected

Quote from: Newportnobby on August 05, 2025, 09:41:33 PMMaybe they expected you to just pop an eye out and send it to them to be corrected

But god knows what you'd get back from Royal Fail 

Some say "An eye for an eye" but, knowing Royal Fail, you'd get a tooth in return

I recommend using Tract 48 for this

Grrr... Rant time!

The "Shop" system that some suppliers are starting to use for automating their sales process and receiving payments is incredibly annoying.

As I think many know I am a Brit living in Japan. Thing is that I keep a Pounds Sterling (GBP) denominated bank account and payment cards which I generally use for UK transactions. Especially my N Gauge purchases. This because, for what I hope is the obvious reason, that I don't want to get hit by double exchange rate losses going GBP-JPY-GBP

Now, despite having a UK address most systems can handle a GBP payment for an overseas shipment. But not ``**!! Shop. It identifies where you live (from the IP address maybe?) and then creates its own rounded up price in JPY using an expensive exchange rate (presumably ripping off the supplier on that as well as me ).

One cooperative supplier that uses Shop has previously helped me sort this issue, however I am sure that the developer could build in flexibility to allow currency selection rather than forcing me to pay extra in a currency I do not wish to use..... (its a bit like when shops overseas try to give you a price in your home currency at a rip off rate when in fact your card company will give you a much better rate...)

Rant over... for now.

If it is using the IP address then using a VPN would solve that issue - if you are allowed to use them there I know some countries it isn't possible (legally)?

Quote from: Fardap on August 06, 2025, 05:50:19 PMIf it is using the IP address then using a VPN would solve that issue - if you are allowed to use them there I know some countries it isn't possible (legally)?

@Fardap

Unfortunately VPN is not the solution. I can get it to run in GBP mode and it still rolls over to JPY when I enter my delivery address - I guess the wet behind the ears teenage (perhaps pre-teen?) programming wizards who put these apps together cannot conceive that someone from another country can have a debit or credit card denominated in a currency other than that of that country (with a billing address of that other country). BTW - I suspect these programmers are generationally aligned with those in the banking and other sectors who seem to expect my elderly mother to move to a smartphone app and away from chequebooks. And do not get me on to the appallingly bad designs of the GUIs on some of those apps.... I am not looking forward to the stress levels that will be generated on myself and my brothers as we retrain Mum, as she enters her 90th year, to use whatever badly coded software they hand over rather than providing a branch of Barcloydshsbcnawtwestwidefax she can visit (they are all at one on moving this way and equally useless in understanding of the effects of these branch closures seems....).

I guess I am back to having things delivered to a relative in the UK and picking up on my next trip...

Cheers,

Colin.

It's called progress, Colin. I fear I'm losing the battle to keep up with all this two stage and verification crap that seems to be demanded just so I am allowed to breathe. I'm all for security against scammers/scummers but do wonder how people with limited/nil technolledge get by

Quote from: Newportnobby on August 07, 2025, 04:52:40 AMIt's called progress, Colin. I fear I'm losing the battle to keep up with all this two stage and verification crap that seems to be demanded just so I am allowed to breathe. I'm all for security against scammers/scummers but do wonder how people with limited/nil technolledge get by

Hi

It's pointless anyway as the scammers have already hacked it.

Cheers

Paul

It's confirmed, I do have PCO developing so I'm being referred for the YAG laser treatment on my peepers.

I was getting a bit concerned that I hadn't heard from SpaMedica with regards to my laser treatment by yesterday - since last time, for the original cataracts, they were on the phone less than 2 working days after the optometrist saw me - so I called in to the opticians to ask about it.

They said that there was a new referral system now and the optometrist who saw me wasn't able to send the referral direct and had to send it to my GPs surgery to be done.

Last Monday, the opticians asked the surgery about it to be told that the email attachment hadn't come through - so the lass from the opticians printed it out and took it to the surgery in person. She said that it was in their hands now so the best thing I could do would be to ask there.

Off I toddled to the GPs and the best the receptionist could offer was an appointment to see a doctor (which isn't required) on September 3rd, almost 4 weeks after the referral was sent to them!!!

Back home now, I phoned the opticians - who were as unimpressed as me at this delay.
They said that they'll get another optometrist, who apparently can send a referral to SpaMedica directly, to send it  - although they aren't supposed to, it's only really meant to be sent by the one who actually diagnosed me, they'll give it a try.

My breath is bated.

Quote from: chrism on August 19, 2025, 05:47:02 AMMy breath is bated.

You mad, impetuous fool. Never, ever hold your breath where medical things are concerned or you won't require them at all

Very true. You'll be blue in the face and at the very least dizzy