Wednesday, February 12, 2014

If you were an eyeball you'd be irritated, too

My first cataract surgery, last week, was both better and worse than I expected.

Happily, the "worse" elements amount to nothing more than temporary discomforts. I was surprised that this minor surgery left me needing extra sleep for several days. I was surprised when my eye clouded up for three days, and again when the doctor told me it wouldn't be fully healed for two weeks or more. Note to self: The fact that you don't even change out of your clothes for this surgery does not mean you won't need to heal from it. 

Meanwhile the "better" element--improved sight--delights me every day. As Peter drove us home after the surgery I noticed immediately that I could read street and highway signs better than I had in years. I can read the newspaper again, something I stopped doing a few weeks ago because it was just too much trouble. I can clearly see the birds at the feeder farthest from the window. Yesterday I noticed, again, that I was easily reading the instructions on my medicated eye drops.

Oh, and there's this: I had assumed that my new glasses would be wildly wrong for my left eye with its newly implanted lens, and that I'd have great difficulty functioning until getting new ones. But the glasses seem near-perfect.

Periodically I play "right eye, left eye," covering one and then the other. I marvel at how poorly I was seeing, and I wonder how awesome things will be when the right eye is done. (And then of course I remind myself that the result could be less than perfect.)

Imagine someone's head in the middle of this picture...
On Saturday night, life played the right eye, left eye game and the result was pretty amusing. Attending a ballet in a poorly designed auditorium, I found my view of the stage bisected by the head of the woman in front of me. To the left of her head, everything was amazingly, wonderfully clear. But because of the angle, action just to the right of her head was visible only to my right eye, and it was blurry. Very blurry. Dancers swirled in and out of focus, crisp one moment and hazy the next. It made me laugh, but best of all it reminded me what a gift clear sight can be, even when you can't quite see center stage. I look forward to getting my right eye done next week.  

...to see ballet as I saw it last weekend.


19 comments:

joeh said...

I did the left eye right eye thing too. How about colors!!

Grandmother Mary said...

It must be so amazing when the deterioration was so gradual- congrats!

Grandmother Mary said...

It must be so amazing when the deterioration was so gradual- congrats!

Terra said...

Your surgery sounds like a great success. I had lunch with my friend today who had cataract surgery on both eyes and loves the results. She said each eye surgery cost $10,000 and insurance paid all but $100.

Jeanie said...

I know several people who have had cataract surgery lately and they have all been surprised about how well they could see. I'm glad your first eye was successful and hope things go well with the other eye. Just think, next time you will get to see the whole ballet....unless you have another head in the way.

Far Side of Fifty said...

I knew you would be delighted with clearer vision! Good to hear the surgery went well. I had to have a patch over the surgery eye for 24 hours...sound like maybe they have done away with that part.
I think just the apprehension and stress tires a person out sometimes...onward and forward to the next eye.
I had to take the lens out of my glasses in order to see until the second surgery was done:)

troutbirder said...

All in all it sounds like good news though. Hoping number 2 goes as well....:)

DJan said...

I've got cataract surgery in my future, too. On the 18th I see the eye doctor to find out if it will need to be this year or not. Without glasses I cannot see much at all out of my left eye. Glad to hear yours when so well after a few hiccups. :-)

Jeanie said...

I'm really glad to hear this both for you and a little selfishly because I know I'll be due for this. Not soon, the doc said, but soon enough. In fact, periodically my one eye seems a little fuzzier than it did at my last visit, so I wonder when.

I'm so glad you could enjoy the ballet as you always wanted and who can argue with a little extra sleep! Welcome to the world of seeing clearly now!

Lisa @ Grandmas Briefs said...

The success of the first surgery makes it clear (har, har) that your vision will be amazing once the second is done. I'm so happy for you.

(The initial clouding would have really scared me.)

Do you have a continual earworm of "I can see clearly now..."? I'm pretty sure I would. :-D

Unknown said...

My husband just had his first cataract done 4 days ago and like you he can't get over how improved his site is and he is counting the days until his right eye is done. He wears contacts but is now only wearing one for the eye that hasn't been fixed -- when they are both done he likely won't need glasses except to read. He is beyond thrilled! Hope your healing continues!

Sally Wessely said...

You have prepared the rest of us for the inevitable. Thanks. Note to self: this surgery requires healing time, but will make one's view of life clear. I'm glad this procedure has improved your vision so much.

Indigo Roth said...

Hey Nancy! My folks were similarly amazed, and my mum ever got to toss her long glasses away. Glad it went well! Indigo x

Indigo Roth said...

Hey Nancy! My folks were similarly amazed, and my mum ever got to toss her long glasses away. Glad it went well! Indigo x

Deb Shucka said...

What a wonderful gift - the return of sight. It is pretty funny that we forget we need to heal if nothing really shows. A delightful post - so happy sounding!

Green Monkey said...

ahhhh the return of sight! I had laser correction a few years back (one eye only) and its wonderful not to need glasses.

Jayne Martin said...

I have two pairs of glasses and contact lens. What a pain in the butt. This surgery sounds great. So glad it's worked out for you.

Marie Loerzel said...

Hoping everything comes into focus for you soon!

Midlife Roadtripper said...

I'm glad the movement didn't make you dizzy. Also, you have reminded me to make that eye doctor appointment. I don't know what it is - for some stupid reason I think if I avoid the fact that my eyesight is deteriorating, I can strain more and prove ----what?

So glad you see better. And, I want to go to the ballet with you. Way too long since I've been there.

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