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Le Saint Philippe 1693 after Jean-Claude Lemineur (Ancre) in scale 1:48

dockattner said:
On a more personal note...

Onward we go!
Click to expand...
I get notices from everyone I follow but you??? So, I Missed this update on your retina issues.

I had a retina detach in my 30s, during my postgraduate studies. Scary scary stuff! Mine slowly reattached over six months and all became clear again. I'm sorry yours seems to be more serious. I have friends who lost sight in one eye, from combat injuries, and they continue to do amazing things, including representing their state in the US Senate. It is amazing how the body/mind overcome and adapt.

My prayers and thoughts are going your way for improvements in your eyesight and/or your ability to overcome and adapt to whatever comes your way. Stay as positive as possible and should this impact your positive outlook or close relationships, seeking counseling is a sign of strength, not weakness!!

Growing old is not for sissies, as I'm sure most on this forum can attest to!

PS: your build puts anything I cobble together to shame, and both my eyes are fine!
 
dockattner said:
On a more personal note...

Those who have been following my work for a while may recall that about two years ago I had an issue with my left eye (the simplest way to describe it is to say that I had a retinal bleed caused by the vitreous body inside my eye pulling away from the retina). When I asked the retina specialist how this could have happened (or avoided) he said: die before you turn 60 ROTF.

Anyway, right after the incident my vision was really bad and over the next 6 months or so it slowly improved but never got all the way back to normal. Basically, looking through my left eye feels like I am looking through wax paper. Over the past several months my vision has deteriorated so I returned to the retina specialist for another check and during that appointment he diagnosed a significant tear in the retinal wall and insisted I have emergency laser surgery that day (it only took five minutes, but it was the longest five minutes of my life :(). He also diagnosed two other issues that are less treatable unless I want to be entering into more risky surgical territory.

All this to say that looking through my left eye no longer produces the desired result if the goal is to see something clearly. The combo-platter of issues apparently cannot be corrected with eyeglasses though my internet research suggests my vision could be improved with corrective lenses. Strangely, I must be able to see well enough that I have not lost any of my depth perception. The brain is a wonderous thing!

I'm sure this is all affecting my modeling but the good news is I can't see my work with my former visual acuity, so I remain happy and content :). My wife assures me everything still looks good to her though she can't see that great either. We make a fine pair...she thinks I still have hair, and I think she's still skinny ROTF.

I'm not trolling for sympathy notes. This has been going on for a while now and I have hardly mentioned it. But the recent turn of events seemed like something I could share as long as you don't tell any of my patients Speechless.

Onward we go!
Click to expand...
I understand you better than anyone... I've always had perfect vision, and that's something I was proud of... and after Covid and constantly sitting at home in front of my phone, my vision improved. Age and the inability to constantly look into the distance exacerbate this, and the war has made it even worse. Now I work in dentistry and on ships, I only use binoculars, and by the end of the day, my vision becomes blurry. So I understand what it's like to have trouble with deteriorating vision. But you have to keep going, no matter what. And there's one plus... the quality of your work hasn't suffered one bit! So at least it hasn't affected your hobby. Happy holidays, and most importantly, good health to you, take care!
 
Sorry to hear about your eye problem Paul, one could not tell your vision was at all impaired by your results. In fact one would think you have Ex Ray eyes with the spectacular results you are achieving. Nice work on the rudder !
 
dockattner said:
On a more personal note...

Those who have been following my work for a while may recall that about two years ago I had an issue with my left eye (the simplest way to describe it is to say that I had a retinal bleed caused by the vitreous body inside my eye pulling away from the retina). When I asked the retina specialist how this could have happened (or avoided) he said: die before you turn 60 ROTF.

Anyway, right after the incident my vision was really bad and over the next 6 months or so it slowly improved but never got all the way back to normal. Basically, looking through my left eye feels like I am looking through wax paper. Over the past several months my vision has deteriorated so I returned to the retina specialist for another check and during that appointment he diagnosed a significant tear in the retinal wall and insisted I have emergency laser surgery that day (it only took five minutes, but it was the longest five minutes of my life :(). He also diagnosed two other issues that are less treatable unless I want to be entering into more risky surgical territory.

All this to say that looking through my left eye no longer produces the desired result if the goal is to see something clearly. The combo-platter of issues apparently cannot be corrected with eyeglasses though my internet research suggests my vision could be improved with corrective lenses. Strangely, I must be able to see well enough that I have not lost any of my depth perception. The brain is a wonderous thing!

I'm sure this is all affecting my modeling but the good news is I can't see my work with my former visual acuity, so I remain happy and content :). My wife assures me everything still looks good to her though she can't see that great either. We make a fine pair...she thinks I still have hair, and I think she's still skinny ROTF.

I'm not trolling for sympathy notes. This has been going on for a while now and I have hardly mentioned it. But the recent turn of events seemed like something I could share as long as you don't tell any of my patients Speechless.

Onward we go!
Click to expand...
Hello Paul
I can only wish you health in upcoming years. I pretty much agree with everyone else, no need to repeat, just keep up you magnificent work.
Perfect or not your builds always manage to pin attention on forum, so whatever you build I'm sure it will be special. All The Best in New Year My Friend:)Bottle
 
BradNSW said:
I get notices from everyone I follow but you??? So, I Missed this update on your retina issues.

I had a retina detach in my 30s, during my postgraduate studies. Scary scary stuff! Mine slowly reattached over six months and all became clear again. I'm sorry yours seems to be more serious. I have friends who lost sight in one eye, from combat injuries, and they continue to do amazing things, including representing their state in the US Senate. It is amazing how the body/mind overcome and adapt.

My prayers and thoughts are going your way for improvements in your eyesight and/or your ability to overcome and adapt to whatever comes your way. Stay as positive as possible and should this impact your positive outlook or close relationships, seeking counseling is a sign of strength, not weakness!!

Growing old is not for sissies, as I'm sure most on this forum can attest to!

PS: your build puts anything I cobble together to shame, and both my eyes are fine!
Click to expand...
Thanks for this nice post, Brad. The original inciting event two years ago was indeed scary - and the emergency surgery the day before Christmas this year has created a bit of PTSD (it was no fun). I think the PTSD was why I even posted about it (which I ordinarily would not have done - after all, my vision has been lousy for two years now). But the response from so many forum friends has been very encouraging - if not a bit embarrassing - so I'm glad I shared...
 
serikoff said:
I understand you better than anyone... I've always had perfect vision, and that's something I was proud of... and after Covid and constantly sitting at home in front of my phone, my vision improved. Age and the inability to constantly look into the distance exacerbate this, and the war has made it even worse. Now I work in dentistry and on ships, I only use binoculars, and by the end of the day, my vision becomes blurry. So I understand what it's like to have trouble with deteriorating vision. But you have to keep going, no matter what. And there's one plus... the quality of your work hasn't suffered one bit! So at least it hasn't affected your hobby. Happy holidays, and most importantly, good health to you, take care!
Click to expand...
Thanks for this, Sergey. Working on a ship model is easier than working on a patient. In order to see into the left side of a patient's mouth I now need to shift my body over so I can look through my right eye. After about 80 patients daily that takes its toll on both my eyes and my body. Maybe I need to take up ship modelling full time :) and get rid of the professional stressors...

I have loupes but have only used them for carving. Though I did almost need to get them out to put the bolts in the rudder hinges...
 
WojtasS said:
Hello Paul
I can only wish you health in upcoming years. I pretty much agree with everyone else, no need to repeat, just keep up you magnificent work.
Perfect or not your builds always manage to pin attention on forum, so whatever you build I'm sure it will be special. All The Best in New Year My Friend:)Bottle
Click to expand...
Thank you, my friend. As long as my right eye doesn't go the way of my left eye, I should be able to continue building model ships. This is a wonderful hobby that checks a lot of boxes for me. My best wishes to you as well for a great 2026!
 
My dear Paul. Throughout our lives, the Lord presents us with challenges which HE thought fit at the time. Think back to your studies, the stress of your first job, finding the right life partner and getting married, your children (and possible issues they might have encountered - health or otherwise), reaching financial security and so forth. With the benefit of hindsight of time all those challenges are now viewed in their correct perspective, even though at the time, they may have seemed insurmountable. Of course, the situation with your eye is serious; the importance of which can never be minimized or played down through assurances from others. Ultimately, only you have to learn how to deal with it - but - now for the good news. It is all part of HIS plan, and HE will never bring a challenge across your path, without giving you the resilience to deal with it. Stay strong my friend - you are in my prayers.
 
Heinrich said:
My dear Paul. Throughout our lives, the Lord presents us with challenges which HE thought fit at the time. Think back to your studies, the stress of your first job, finding the right life partner and getting married, your children (and possible issues they might have encountered - health or otherwise), reaching financial security and so forth. With the benefit of hindsight of time all those challenges are now viewed in their correct perspective, even though at the time, they may have seemed insurmountable. Of course, the situation with your eye is serious; the importance of which can never be minimized or played down through assurances from others. Ultimately, only you have to learn how to deal with it - but - now for the good news. It is all part of HIS plan, and HE will never bring a challenge across your path, without giving you the resilience to deal with it. Stay strong my friend - you are in my prayers.
Click to expand...
Wisdom from a life well-lived, my friend. Thanks for posting - we miss you around here. Oh, and I share your worldview regarding sovereignty and provision.
 
dockattner said:
Thanks for this, Sergey. Working on a ship model is easier than working on a patient. In order to see into the left side of a patient's mouth I now need to shift my body over so I can look through my right eye. After about 80 patients daily that takes its toll on both my eyes and my body. Maybe I need to take up ship modelling full time :) and get rid of the professional stressors...

I have loupes but have only used them for carving. Though I did almost need to get them out to put the bolts in the rudder hinges...
Click to expand...
If I had the opportunity, I wouldn't work at all))) And I was always busy with ships and after the war I still traveled... for now, only ships... and workCautiousROTFROTFROTF
 
dockattner said:
Wisdom from a life well-lived, my friend. Thanks for posting - we miss you around here. Oh, and I share your worldview regarding sovereignty and provision.
Click to expand...
Over the Christmas period (spent alone with my 3 cats) I have spent most of the time on SOS as a means of catching up with all of the wonderful builds. There is nothing more I would rather do than start a new build （I have actually put a feeler out to the Admiral in that regard earlier today） but I still need to justify it to myself and to her. Her immediate response was a vehement, "No!"
 
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