Abstract
Problem: What happens when the creator of Fallout ends up in a real-life scenario involving lasers, foot pedals, and post-apocalyptic conversation?
Approach: Tim Cain recounts a recent medical experience — a retinal laser procedure — that unexpectedly turned into a Fallout fan encounter.
Findings: A routine ophthalmologist visit led to an impromptu laser eye surgery, during which Cain discovered his doctor was a former EB Games employee who sold copies of Fallout in the '90s. They discussed the game while he waited for his vision to return.
Key insight: Tim Cain's life has become "talking about games I used to work on with people doing procedures on my face" — and he wouldn't have it any other way.
1. The Setup
Tim Cain visited his optometrist for a routine eye exam and new prescription check. During the examination, the optometrist noticed "shadows" in both eyes and recommended he see an ophthalmologist for a closer look.
About a week later, Tim drove to the ophthalmologist's office — which happened to be just a few blocks from the house used for exterior shots of the Laura Palmer house in Twin Peaks. Being a self-described "super nerd," he left early to drive by and snap a photo.
1.1. A Twin Peaks Sidebar
Tim recommends watching the original Twin Peaks series from the '90s, and if you enjoy it, the 2017 revival — though he admits he had to watch the latter two or three times before he "even had an inkling of understanding it."
2. The Diagnosis
The ophthalmologist used high-tech, high-resolution retinal photography (far beyond what was available 30–40 years ago) and found:
- Left eye: Fine — just a shadow artifact from the optometrist's equipment
- Right eye: A slight tear in the retina, very small, not yet affecting vision
She explained the tear would likely grow over time — whether in a week or ten years, nobody could predict — but offered to treat it immediately with a laser to seal it. Her next appointment had cancelled, so she had time right then.
3. The Procedure
Tim asked the key question: could he drive himself home? Yes — though he'd need very dark sunglasses due to the dilation.
3.1. How It Feels
Tim, who goes by "No Pain Cain" at his dentist's office (due to extensive dental work and a preference for maximum numbing), asked about pain. The ophthalmologist said it would "probably feel like a pinch." It did — but a pinch in a place that has never been pinched before, making it more awkward than painful. Tim muses: "Why do I even have a nerve ending in there if nothing's ever going to be in my eye pinching it? But bodies are weird."
3.2. The Laser
In a very dark room, the ophthalmologist put on headgear, held a laser in one hand, steadied Tim's head with the other — and operated the device with a foot pedal. Tim saw repeated flashes of intensely bright light ("surface of the Sun bright"), occasionally felt a tiny pinch, and the whole procedure took just a few minutes.
3.3. Medical Progress
Tim notes the contrast with historical treatment: 30–40 years ago, the tear wouldn't even have been detected. A few decades ago, it would have required inpatient surgery with a scalpel. In 2024, it was an outpatient procedure he drove himself to and from.
4. The Fallout Connection
After the procedure, Tim's retina was overloaded from the bright light, and he had to sit in the dark room for several minutes while his vision returned. The ophthalmologist made small talk:
- "What do you do for a living?" — "I make video games."
- "I used to work at EB Games" — (Electronics Boutique, for younger viewers)
- "What did you make?" — "Well, back then, what you probably would have known as Fallout."
She got excited: "Oh my God, we sold so many copies of Fallout in the '90s! That was a really popular game — you worked on that?" Tim confirmed he was the project lead, and they spent the next five to ten minutes discussing Fallout while his vision slowly recovered.
5. The Punchline
Tim told the doctor at the end: "I'm going to be telling a story about how a doctor shot me in the face with a laser using her foot while we talked about Fallout."
And so he did.
His reflection: "I guess that's my life now — talking about games I used to work on with people doing procedures on my face."
6. References
- Tim Cain. YouTube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZimdoU67aPU