I was in the US Army from 1979-85, in the Field Artillery (13B). I got to play with the big toys that go BOOM! I was also quite a rifle marksman, earning the coveted Sharpshooter Rifle badge, and winning a number of open sight competitions (no red dots back then). Unfortunately all of the fun had an impact on my hearing. The only ear protection we had back then was the tiny yellow sponge type (today they’re rated 29 NR).
We had plenty of field exercises with Howitzers (M101 105mm, M109 155mm, and M110 8”), M16 5.56 rifles (three-round burst capable), M60 7.62 machine gun (continuous fire), and M26 hand grenades. Wow that was all so much fun!
Fast forward 40+ years, and I am four and a half years from retiring. I finally decided to get hearing aids. An old buddy recommended getting a pair of the Jabra Enhance Pro 20s from Costco.
Great advice, I never knew Costco was in the hearing aid business. They performed an in depth hearing test, and I was fitted for a pair. A week later they came in and I went in for initial calibration. The following week I went in again and they fine tuned them. Wow what a difference! My hearing is as good as it was before I enlisted!
Fun fact, Apple iPhone fully supports many brands of hearing aids, including Jabra. Full control using built in iPhone hearing aids controls. I really wish I did this sooner.
Use Made for iPhone hearing devices
List of Made for iPhone hearing devices
If you have hearing issues, keep Costco in mind. Their hearing center is quite capable and they sell excellent well known brands. #JabberFTW
But wait, I’m not done yet!
My eyesight somehow degraded significantly over the past few years. Strange since I’ve always worn glasses to protect my eyes. It was pretty bad. Imagine looking through a layer of yellowed, scratched, and aged plastic material. My left eye so bad that it seemed I was looking through two layers of the material.
I decided to get a thorough eye exam. The first place I went to employed remote optometrists. What a sketchy, horrible experience. The remote optometrist diagnosed my condition as glaucoma (which is not curable). I requested an escalation with our medical insurer, to get a second opinion.
My insurer was quite empathetic. The next day they recommended a very reputable optometrist. I had an appointment with the new optometrist for the next week. I could tell she was extremely competent and capable. She performed a thorough exam.
She explained that no, I don’t have glaucoma. I actually have cataracts, which is easily cured (99%+ surgery success rate). She went over the exam images. My left eye apparently was pretty bad, the right eye was getting worse. I was so relieved! I was also pretty pissed at the previous optometrist, but I’ll address that in the near future with our insurer.
We scheduled two operations, two weeks apart. I got the left eye repaired a couple weeks ago. The operation take 10 minutes per eye. In a few days my left eye healed and I have had incredible vision out of that eye. I just had my right eye operated on a few days ago. As of today both eyes are healed. My left eye is 20/15 and my right eye is 20/20 but is expected to be 20/15 in a week or two.
Without glasses I can see leaves on a tree a block away, and the crisp edges of buildings a mile away. Wow, I haven’t cried in years.
The surgeon recommended I buy reading glasses since I’ll need them for up to 14” away. A buddy recommended buying a pack of them from Amazon. I went to CVS first and tried the different diopter ratings from +1.0 through +3.25. I found a +1.5 pair to be perfect so I bought it and ordered the pack of +1.5s from Amazon.
https://www.readingglasses.com/blogs/knowledge-center/how-magnification-works
Once I go back for my regular eye exam, after I hug the optometrist who properly diagnosed me, I plan to order replacement lenses for my Flack 2.0 XLs, that’ll be progressive (no line bifocals) and transition (to darken outside). This way I can see the instrument cluster while driving, which TBH is only slightly fuzzy now.
Having perfect eyesight and hearing, I may need to unpack my large TV and start binge watching some shows that I’ve been putting off.
If you or anyone else has cloudy vision and get diagnosed with cataracts, and you live in the DFW area, I strongly recommend Dr. Jason D. Bullajian MD FACS at Texas Vision and Laser Center. He is a very highly regarded expert, is extremely easy and comforting to talk to, and has an incredible team supporting him.
When I retire in four and a half years. I will have the vision and hearing of a teenager. 🙂
Overlander at large 