My, how time flies. I can’t believe that five weeks have gone by since I had cataract surgery performed on my right eye. Since then I’ve been wearing a contact lens in my left eye (underpowered, shows you how intense my near-sightedness is) This morning I went to see my eye doctor for a check-up before surgery on my left eye this coming July 29th. I was told prior to this that I should not wear my contact lens, so it was with some trepidation that I got behind the wheel of my car and started driving off to the hospital, half-blind.
OK, it wasn’t too bad just trying to see with my right eye. I managed pretty well, being very careful on the road and driving at a slightly slower speed than I normally do. I reach the hospital, and in a short while, I’m ushered into the eye doc’s office. The good news is that my right eye’s fully recovered—no need for the special eye drops, no need for the pirate eye patch, I can sleep on my right side, but still no swimming allowed. Three out of four ain’t bad.
Then he drops the clunker—“I’ll have to dilate your left eye for a final check,” he says. Oops, I have to drive home, doc. Anyway, he’s got to do what he’s got to do, right? I have to spend another 45 minutes waiting for my pupil to dilate, and then I’m ushered back in again. The doc makes a final check, and gives the thumbs up for the surgery next week. Well here we go again, except this time it’s for my left eye—I’m so glad we humans don’t have more eyes, I don’t think I could go through this more than twice. I’m not scared or whatever about the surgery; I’ll be completely knocked out anyway. But (and this is going to make someone laugh—you know who you are) I am not keen about that disgusting gown they make you wear prior to surgery. Ugh, makes me feel so—uncovered. Yikes.
All I can say is, I will be glad when all this is over, and then it’ll be like having a pair of new eyes. Granted I will have to make some prescription glasses for reading, but the power will be very minimal. And speaking of reading, I’d like to get back to it—I haven’t been reading much like I used to in the past. And thank goodness those thick glasses and contact lenses will be history.
Tags: cataracts, eye, hospital, surgery
Good luck for your surgery, Philip. Great news to hear your rightie is completely healed. How long left before you can swim again? I’m glad you’ll be knocked out for your surgery but do they really do this kind of surgery without being knocked out?!
Funny to hear they use the ‘butt gowns’ globally too. Niceeeee!
Won’t be long and you’ll be 100%+. Good for you Philip! I’m glad things are coming along nicely. You’ll be back to swimming in no time. Glad things are going so well for you!
Lisa, thanks for your comment. I think the earliest that I can swim would be October or so. They are using general anesthetic on me because of a few complications in my eye, otherwise a local anesthetic would be administered (you’d be awake and know that the doc’s poking in your eye, yuck) And yes, those “butt gowns” are globally pervasive!
Doris, thank you for the support. I’ll have to make do with the morning walks for now, but will learn to be p-a-t-i-e-n-t.
Someone is laughing her tush off about the gown but is still seriously unhappy that you drove home with your eye dilated! BTW, check the Tucson weather — it’s storming here.
Ha Ha, I should have a bumper sticker that reads “Caution! This driver has dilated eyes!” I checked the Tucson weather and it says 92F Fair…??
I pray you’ll have a successful surgery. Get well soon and enjoy the things you love to do.
Thanks, Poh Lin!