There comes a time when your sight is getting “foggy”. Working on a computer is a chore, and reading glasses don’t help. At my annual eye examination I was told that I had cataracts. The procedure would be that my first eye would be operated on, and one week later the second eye.
On my medical information sheet I indicated that I suffer from hyperthyroidism, Graves Disease and macular degeneration. I was told that I was an “excellent candidate” for the operation.
Following each operation my eyes were blood red. My computer wasn’t touched for weeks, and I could not drive. My distance sight was gone. For the first time in my life I was given prescription glasses which I had to cover with dark glasses because of my sensativity to light.
On my sixth visit I complained about a problem with clear vision, and I was told that my thyroid was trying to get rid of the new lens by coating them with “gunk” (my own special word). According to my doctor I was “one in a million”. After weeks of applications of special cream and a prednisone sterate, I developed “floaters”, black bits of “gunk” broken up by the sterate.
When the floaters were down to about 16, I named each one and formed soccer teams. As the “floaters” lessened I decided that the players had gone to Spain or Italy’s teams. When I laughingly told my doctor I could see that he considered me quite mad.
Now I can read almost everything and work on my computer for hours. Driving? I can see and read everything except long street signs. The warning that I might have to have my lens “zapped” with a laser about every six months to remove the “gunk” is no longer applicable.
We all want to have instant gratification when we read advertisements promising beauty in a box, glamor over night or immediate clear vision. Nothing really works out that way. Even with the best physicians, it takes patience and faith.
#1 by andiallen1 - July 27th, 2009 at 08:28
I am so happy for you that your vision finally cleared up so you can reap the benefits of your surgery. I had cataract surgery myself about a month ago. Until then I didn’t know my daughter had freckles, and I couldn’t drive at night because the halos around car headlights took up most of my field of vision. I never went to new places because I had such a hard time reading street signs and my mileage counter. My doctor also said I will mostly likely need the laser procedure on my right eye, but the before-and-after difference is so huge that I hardly care. So let me congratulate your on your newfound clarity. Have you sometimes found it overwhelming?
#2 by Editor - July 29th, 2009 at 19:07
I was terrified in the beginning with blood shot eyes and worse vision than I had previously. It’s a matter of having faith in a good doctor. When I apologized to him for my adverse reaction, he patted me on the shoulder and said that it was perfectly natural. I am just so happy that I can see to write – that was the great terror… Thanks for your comment! I appreciate it.