The Gift of Sight

About a year ago I had my first cataract surgery.  My “bad” eye had a fast-growing cataract that needed to be removed soon, according to the doctor.  I have lazy eye so the vision in this eye is not correctable but the glare caused by the cataract was affecting my other eye.  The surgery went well and the glare was gone.

By fall the cataract in my good eye began to seriously affect my vision.  It was the worst at night while dealing with the glare of oncoming headlights while driving.  However, I also noticed a difference while reading.  Words were often blurry.  I’d clean my glasses and realize that they were not the problem.  This is the only eye with which I can read.  I struggled for a while before returning to my eye doctor.  He confirmed that the cataract had grown and that my vision had deteriorated.

The doctor offered a new eyeglass prescription if I wanted to hold off a while or he could do cataract surgery.  He stated that the success rate is 98-99% and I replied that this was my good eye—he nodded.  I was rather nervous since this is really the only eye I use.  What if there was a problem?  However, I was struggling enough with my vision that I didn't want to wait.  Surgery was scheduled.

Early on a December morning my husband drove me to the surgery clinic.  I was led back to a line of beds with curtains in between.  I received a warm blanket and my friendly nurse began administering drops to dilate and numb my eye.  The people in the beds on either side of me were experiencing the same thing.  My doctor came in to check on me and then later returned to get me, pushing the bed to the surgery room himself.  A nurse anesthesiologist put the happy drug into my IV and soon I was feeling no pain.  Within 10 minutes the surgery was over and I was sitting in a small room with another patient.  Our husbands were ushered in.  The nurse gave us juice and a snack while we listened to our post-op instructions.

Before long I was walking out the door hanging on to my husband because I was a bit wobbly and couldn't see well.  A clear piece of plastic was taped over my eye.  I was instructed to wear it for several hours and also every night at bedtime for one week.  Once home I headed for the recliner and spent most of the day there.  For me, relaxing involves reading so this was a bit of a challenge.  My eye stayed dilated for a couple days so reading was impossible.  The TV was blurry.  The only discomfort I experienced was from one of eye drops which I needed to apply four times a day.

By the next day I was able to do a little housecleaning, some baking, and host an evening Christmas party for my women’s group.  I had one day and one week post-op appointments.  Everything looks good.  I graduated to drops twice a day.

The fog and glare are gone.  The amazing thing is that they can put your prescription into your new lens.  (Cataract surgery involves removing your lens with the cataract and implanting an artificial one.)  I no longer need prescription glasses.  Once my eye is totally healed and the inflammation is gone—which takes about a month—the vision in my eye will be about 20/20.  I can use the computer without glasses.  All I need are drug store reading glasses.  I’m learning to deal with that now.  I began with dollar store reading glasses since my vision is still adjusting—they broke within a couple of weeks.  I’m on pair #2 which has a rather fun design on the frames.  Where do I keep them?  On my head?  In my purse?  Multiples everywhere?  I’m working on this.

I marvel at what I can see again even though my eyes are still healing.  I had a couple days of very poor vision and an inability to read.  I depend on my sight for nearly everything I do.  I am grateful for the gift of sight I received when I was born and now my renewed vision from my very skilled doctor.  What a gift!