It is my understanding that it affects about 1% of the population
making it relatively rare.  My eye doctor who sees people with eye
problems says he sees 1 or 2 cases a month.  It may be difficult to
miss if you are paying attention, but in my case it took 3 doctors
before I found one who was paying attention.  I have corresponded with
people who took 6 or more before the problem was found.

The OP Jerry said "Now, when I try to read, it is like looking through
glasses that are smeered with vasaline."  which is a common complaint
among Fuchs's sufferers.  I was just pointing out that Fuchs's is a
relatively rare, easy to diagnose condition that is frequently
overlooked even by skilled medical practitioners.

thanks, mike, for the clarifications of a number of points that irked
me when I read this thread from the start.

Fuch's is quite easy to diagnose in a simple slit-lamp evaluation.
And its possible but not likely that the original poster really has
this condition anyway so its mention takes the thread off a little off
topic.  I think the most likely conditions that need to be ruled out
are simple refractive changes, cataracts, and potential retinal
problems (diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, etc.)  And such
an examination is directly in line with the skills and scope of
practice of optometrists, as well as ophthalmologists, both groups who
have "medical" training regarding the eye.

Fuch's makes the back side of the cornea look a little like frosted glass,
the texture of an orange peel.

There is no blood, and no "blob" to form any image.

The central cornea is usually worst, and the hazy vision isn't usually
concentrated in any particular field or direction.

Fuch's is not rare, and it's difficult to miss if you're paying attention.

-MT, OD

Does Fuchs's appear to be similar to a mass of blood (or similar material)
in that when the eye is not very active it spreads across the vision to
simulate a very thin covering and when the eye is active it coalesces into a
blob that may cover 50 percent of the field of view (sitting in the center)?

It is a long shot but some of the symptoms you are describing are
Fuchs's Corneal Dystrophy.  Many doctors don't find it because it is
rare, but it is easy to diagnose if they are looking for it.  I found
that I have it about 2 months ago.  It only took 3 different doctors
to find it, some have gone to 6 or more before they got a proper
diagnosis.

Did they check you for cataract?  Your desription sounds like it, but of
course it could be something else.  Only a physical examination by a
professional can determine your condition.

I am 65 and my vison in the last two or so years has been getting
worse for reading. I have been buying magnafying reading glass.

Now, when I try to read, it is like looking through glasses that are
smeered with vasaline.  I had my vision checked and got perscription
reading glasses. There is absolutely no difference and I still cannot
focus to read.  My distance vison is failing too.

Reading through various web sites and Usenet Groups, I have concluded
that there so may different possible vision problems that I could
never determine what my problem is over the Internet.

My problem is complicated by my living in Panama. I went to who I
thought was an opthomologist but he was an optometrist. ( There is a
language barrier since my Spanish is not perfect.)  I told him that I
did not think prescription glasses would solve my problem but I went
ahead and had them made anyway.

I am going to see an eye surgeon next week who maybe can help me.