I've been having "eye issues" for a few years. I had lasik surgery 16 years ago and my vision was corrected one eye for close and one for far (mono-vision). I swore for years it was the best thing I'd ever done for myself. But even that came with a bit of frustration -- in low light conditions (nighttime, dark-ish days, inside stores sometimes), my "close up" eye became dominant and my vision blurred. I had to wear glasses in certain situations. A couple of years ago I noticed I couldn't do computer work for any length of time before my vision blurred, so I got "mid-range" glasses for computer work. Most recently reading small print became impossible, and by small I mean anything I couldn't enlarge on my Kindle, so I gave up on real books and most magazines for the most part. My eyes would water and blur otherwise.
Then, last winter I sat talking to Hub and suddenly realized one of my eyes seemed to be seeing as if through a gray veil. The other seemed fine. We got so concerned that I called the clinic and got in that day. Was I having a stroke????
Nope, I was having a cataract. I knew there was one brewing, but had been told at my last eye exam that it was small and not at all needing attention. But at this exam, the doc said, "Yikes" (or maybe she was less startled; it might have been me saying "Yikes!") It had grown fast and right on top of my pupil. She recommended surgery as soon as I wanted to do it. I wanted it that day, but her recitation of post-op restrictions including no bending at the waist or weight lifting or strenuous activity for a time gave me pause. I had just started my Yoga Teacher Training. I'd be doing a lot of bending at the waist, weight-bearing, and moving about. She told me to wait. So I did -- for six months to complete the training and another two to get on the surgery schedule.
During those 8 months, my vision deteriorated and the little cataract on the other eye started to grow over that pupil. I stopped driving at night. I fought with my various pairs of glasses trying to see up close, far away, mid-range...none of it was crystal clear.
Last week I went in for the left eye cataract removal surgery. I had anticipated the surgery taking away the gray film, but that I'd need glasses to see. Au Contraire! My surgeon told me she could insert a corrected lens directly into my eye that would allow me to have my old mono-vision OR both eyes corrected for distance. I opted for that. I was tired of having two different fields of vision.
I came out of surgery with a bionic lens that is allowing me to see more clearly than I have in years. It's a miracle! Well, it's actually science, technology, and a skilled surgeon and I am deeply grateful for all of it. Next month I'll get the other eye fixed up. I cannot wait! I have not worn my distance or mid-range glasses since surgery. I bought some drug store readers for up close (and they work well with the computer) and I can focus with ease.
I see that trees are not just green blobs, but have individual leaves! Street signs are legible! Car lights at night don't look like bright blinding stars aiming right for me! Colors are brilliant!
But, as with everything, there is a downside. No eye make-up for a week post-op. My eyes disappear into oblivion if I don't wear at least a bit of mascara. Still, I was diligent and threw vanity to the wind and went without. But every time I looked in the mirror, I was a bit shocked. I realized my face looked entirely different....more exposed, more wrinkly. I thought, "Wow, that eye make-up really makes a big difference!" So the first day I could use it again, I was eager. Yet after applying it I didn't notice that much difference in my face. The wrinkles were still there! Exactly where they'd always been as it turns out. I just couldn't see them clearly before. I was looking at my face through my cataract as if in a soft-focus photograph, all imperfections sort of blurred away.
I find this turn of events rather startling and I think someone maybe should have told me how much I've aged. I had no idea!!! There is, however, a remedy that Hub suggested. I can discourage everyone else from getting cataract surgery and I will then maintain my youthful--ish appearance in their eyes, at least. Great idea!
At least that's the (clear) view from here...©
Photo Credit: www.pixabay.com
I wish my eye doctor would finally pronounce my eyes cataracts bad enough for surgery. I hate having compromised sight. So glad yours went well and I appreciate the tip on getting both eyes the same for distance and using glasses for close up.
ReplyDeleteMany people have told me they have to wait for their doctor to give the "it's bad" OK. I guess I got that but it wasn't explicitly stated. I just thought they recommended it and I said OK. Ha It's a pain to have to go back to keeping the readers always at the ready, but I love seeing so well for distance. It's been years of squinting and struggling. Good luck!
DeleteI consider my cataract surgery the best surgery I've ever had. I always had terrible vision, wore contacts until I had the stroke and could no longer do contacts with one hand, so I had to go back to glasses. Because my astigmatism was so bad, I got the Toric lens which corrects the astigmatism, but I still need reading glasses. If you don't have astigmatism, you can get lenses that correct near and far, so it's like you can see up close and far away very clearly, but that wasn't an option for me. So what?! My vision after the surgery is better than it has ever been, and I am delighted.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing, isn't it? Glad you had such a great outcome!
DeleteMy eye doctor says I am still a few years away. At 71, I use 1.25 reading glasses.
ReplyDelete