Monday, February 24, 2014

I love my right eye, too. Really I do.

Having a second cataract surgery is a lot like having a second child. Or at least it seems that way.

With the first eye, they told me to use drops every four hours (they said 8 a.m., noon, 4 p.m., 8 p.m.). I did that faithfully, although if I slept in on the weekend I just pushed everything a bit later.

With the second eye, I followed that schedule the first day post-op. I think. Since then I've been lucky to use drops three or four times a day, usually prompted by the fact that my eye had begun to bother me. It occurs to me that second children get fewer pictures taken and have fewer milepost entries in their baby books (if indeed they get a baby book). It's not that I don't love my right eye, it's just that the routine isn't so central to my life now.

Meanwhile the schedule for drops in the first eye changed. I couldn't just do both at the same time, because the needs were different. I should have expected that. When the second child comes along, the first always has very different needs and is on a completely different schedule. And sometimes the younger child, or eye, gets along fine while the older one acts up a little. In this case it's nothing serious and the eye drops do help.

The first eye, when I'm wearing glasses, has 20-20 vision. This amazes me. With the second eye, it's too soon for numbers but I know I'm seeing much better than before.

Right after surgery I had to wear sunglasses because my eyes were sensitive to light. Now I am enjoying seeing the clean new snow, the sky and trees and houses in sharp relief, and bright sun flooding over all of it. All the beauty catches my eye many times a day, and each time I am grateful. That's true whether I'm looking through the first-surgery eye or the second. Just as it's true with kids and grandkids.  

19 comments:

DJan said...

I was told I can schedule cataract surgery whenever I'm ready, but they can still correct my vision to 20-20 with glasses. Everyone who has done it is happy but I still am not quite ready. Soon... I totally understand the whole first and second child syndrome, too. :-)

Far Side of Fifty said...

So you are done and the world is all shiny and new again!! I am glad it is over for you! I am still sensitive to bright sunlight especially when driving, when I start to squint I know it is time to drag out the sunglasses and I keep a few cheap pairs in the cars. Make yourself a schedule for drops both right and left eye and stick to it or set an alarm or something those drop are important:)

Jeanie said...

I like your clever analogy. I'm glad you are done with both surgeries and on the mending side of things. Doc was just told today that he needs cataract surgery and he will probably do it pretty soon. I will refer him to this post when he gets to eye two.

joeh said...

I would not have believed a comparison could be made between eye surgery on eye one and eye two and child one and child two, and yet you have done it. What a wonderful brain to go with your now two good eyes.

My first eye was the right, and it is still my favorite...well it does work just a little better.

Terra said...

That's a cute comparison, second cataract surgery and second child.

Anita said...

Thank God for those much wanted first and second children and for those much needed first and second surgeries. I haven't crossed the cataract bridge, but I have crossed some other surgery bridges.

Unknown said...

Great post! My husband has eye 2 done in 7 days -- let's see how this whole drop thing goes! So glad your eyes are doing so well. He is thrilled! Next week will be fun!

Pauline Persing said...

Your posts about your cataract surgery and aftermath are really helpful to me since I will be having both my eyes done sometime in the next six months. None of my friends have been so descriptive of the process. They just say it was no big deal which isn't very helpful to the questioning mind.

Jeanie said...

Well, in this case, I think two children is enough! I'm so glad it's going well and that you are pleased with the results. I know that those are in my future -- not immediately but yes, down the road, my ophthalmologist said -- so hearing your success story takes some of the concern away! Enjoy your recovery and the new world you are seeing!

MissDazey said...

Happy that's done for you! Yes, thank-you for sharing your positive experience, so helpful for others.

I had my eyes done 2 years ago. I still ever so often see something and am amazed how clear and beautiful it is looks.

The Broad said...

Glad to hear your cataract removal has gone so well. In my case, I had lense replacement and correction, so that now I don't need glasses except for reading. It was all done last June and I still start to reach for my glasses first thing in the morning!

Linda Myers said...

One eye down and one to go for me. I wish the astigmatism could have been corrected, and the night vision! But I'm very happy with the improvement in the first eye.

WordsPoeticallyWorth said...

Good luck to you and your endeavours. Sorry about your eye.

Thank you. Love love, Andrew. Bye.

Grandmother Mary said...

What a wonderful outcome. I'm glad for you and your new appreciation of the beauty around you. The drops? Makes sense to me.

Unknown said...

Your posts about your cataract surgery and aftermath are really helpful to me since I will be having both my eyes done sometime in the next six months. None of my friends have been so descriptive of the process. They just say it was no big deal which isn't very helpful to the questioning mind.Top Ten Web Hosting Reviews

troutbirder said...

What a neat comparison. I can speak to cataracts but I surely know its true about children. On the other hand as the eldest of three boys I can speak to the fact that my childhood album is full of hundreds of black and white pictures and then when my middle brother arrive the number dropped to about a dozen all the way through high school....:)

Midlife Roadtripper said...

I totally get the second kid thing. Good thing you don't have a third eye. That poor third one of mine.

Glad the surgery went well. See on!

Sally Wessely said...

I find you analogy quite interesting, and of course, very accurate. I've not had eye surgery, but I know how it was with keeping things up for the second child. I had five children. At some point it all became a blur. We want no blur for you. Take care of that second eye. I'm so glad you are seeing so much better. It is amazing how these surgeries help.

Lisa @ Grandmas Briefs said...

With all the complaints that I've seen on social media about the never-ending snow, it's quite refreshing to read that you enjoy looking at it now. A lovely post and analogy.

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