I recently had my second cataract removed, the lens being replaced by a distance vision lens so I will probably only need reading glasses from now on.
Neither this operation nor the last was pleasant, but at least this time I felt heard and was treated like a human being instead of just an eye to be worked on. I had made up my mind I would transform trauma into empowerment, and tell the nurse about my experience last time. She was lovely and made sure the theatre staff knew how to treat me. I seem to be one of the minority who feels more than the standard pressure during the procedure, but I am so happy with the outcome, that I thought I might share here some of the more positive details, in case anyone who reads this is thinking of undergoing cataract surgery. So, a brief post for now, with a few bullet points for anyone who might be approaching this stage in their life:
- You might be in the facility for up to three hours, but the operation itself takes only ten minutes max.
- You are given eye drops to anaesthetise. You should then feel only pressure during the procedure.
- Once you are lying on the table, they put a face protector over your face, so that they can see the eye and work on it without your skin causing any cross-infection.
- You get to look like Long John Silver for a day, with an eye patch – though mine was see-through, sort of.
- Be prepared for everything to look very bright afterwards!
- You will feel as if you have grit in your eye for about a day and a half – then, it’s absolutely fine once you start using your eye drops. They are magic (steroids).
- Here’s the best bit: I can see everything so clearly!!!! Colours are amazing, and the trees are now in 3D (I hadn’t realised they’d gone flat). The glare from car headlights at night is far less, and I can see the side of the road (ahem!). Plus, I can see way into the distance. Oh, and the dry ice everyone kept releasing into every room I entered has gone 🙂
- You will have to wait a few weeks (4?) before they re-examine your eyes after each one has been done, and only after the second is done can you get a new prescription and new glasses. This can be a pain, but you might want to get some decent readers from a store in the meantime – YOU ARE LIKELY ONLY TO NEED READING GLASSES.
And that’s it. I am loving my walks right now. I keep stopping to look at the moss on trees, and then I have to feel it. And I look all around me, far into the distance, seeing the definition of things, the shapes, and colours. It’s given me a sense of renewal.
Talking of which, I am seeing 2024 as my Year of Renewal. Off to get my right hip replaced on February 19th, so I will let you all know how that goes, once I am in a fit state to do so.
Does anyone reading this have an operation coming up? How are you feeling about it? Is there any way you can turn any fears into an expectation of renewal? Or is anyone in the process of renewal in a different way? I’d love to hear.
ramblings 