It was done under local anesthetic, with a sedative also administered. I was fully conscious and did not feel anything except, right at the end, a sharp pain, as if something was being pulled out from my eye. That only lasted a minute or so.
The following day, at the doctor's surgery, I met with a couple of the other patients who had the same operation done. One of them said he went out like a light upon administration of the sedative. The other said that while he was awake during the procedure, he fell asleep on reaching home and did not wake till the next morning.
Nothing like that happened to me; perhaps I was a bit under-sedated!
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| Home from the hospital |
At the time of her first surgery, intraocular lenses were relatively new, and her surgeon was reluctant to implant one in her eye as he thought that she was very young and that the long-term reliability of such lenses had yet to be tested.
At her second operation, he favoured the technique of shaping a donated cornea into a lens and grafting it onto hers, in what is called a keratoplasty.
We have since found out that this is not done much anymore, and the use of the intraocular lens is universal. Unfortunately for Grandma C, her surgeon backed the wrong horse.
The morning after my surgery, the vision in my operated eye (the left one) was very good.
When I compared it to the vision in my right eye, it quickly became apparent how bad my eyesight was.
The new eye saw things brighter and sharper, while my right eye was seeing with a slight yellow colour cast.
I thought that the best way to show the difference in vision between my eyes is to do this illustration.
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| The right eye is fuzzier and slightly yellow |
I guess I'll just have to enjoy my vision while I can, and hope to expire before my eyes do.
How's that for positive thinking?
Hope all's fine with you Arthur. Perhaps, we are getting old and there isn't much of a choice
ReplyDeletebut to have failing eyesight. Take care and enjoy life while you can.
Hi Luke, Yes, we have to be thankful for what we still have. All the best to you.
DeleteOh, so sweet to share your personal experiences with us. I like your positive attitude and your sense of humour too. You know, lately I've been feeling pain in my eyes (each time I read in the evening I start to cry) So, at the moment I haven’t been reading much. But I guess I feel just tired. Let's see how it goes (Oh, forgot to mention I wear glasses to read).
ReplyDeleteHave a great week Arthur ;)
Thank you, Reader's Tales. Might be a good idea to get your eyes checked out; there are so mnay things that can go wrong with them. Take care.
DeleteThanks for sharing, a good chance we will all go through similar procedures. My hope is all my body parts will fall apart at the same time, hopefully sometime in the long future.
ReplyDeleteThis procedure is really minor these these days in the grand scheme of things. Just got back on my bike yesterday, trying (vainly?) to keep decrepitude at bay.
DeleteOh dear! Take care, I guess all is well - these cataract surgeries are very common these days. I hear of people going for it all the time. I am really blessed, coming to 64 and I do not need glasses, never did.
ReplyDeleteYes, all is well by now. Wow - 64 and no glasses! Not many people achieve that.
DeleteWelcome to the Cataract Club, Arthur. I had it done on both eyes, about 9 years ago, within 6 months of one another. Even at that time, it was a routine day-surgery operation. I wore sun-glasses for a few weeks to get used to the sudden brightness and clarity of vision. I had almost perfect vision for a few years, but astigmatisim is gradually creeping. I dont wear glasses during the day, but do so when driving at night. I dont need reading glasses any more. Opthamological advances are amazing. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThanks Prof. I'm glad you had such good results from your surgery. I remember an uncle in the late 1950s having to lie completely still in bed for a few days after his cataract surgery. Good thing we don't have to undergo that.
DeleteMy first cataract operation was done on the left eye in Sept 2007, that on the right eye 3 months later, in Dec. The first one was very well done. Though the second was successful, it was not as perfect as the first. I was asked to carry with me lens implant identification cards, which will be useful information in case I needed emergency medical treatment. Are you issued with such cards?
DeleteNo, I haven't been issued with any card. Was given a report to forward to my GP, though.
DeleteHow's your new vision? Did you get it done at Perth Eye Hospital under Dr Angus Turner? I'm just curious as Dr A Turner does operate at LEI but he hasn't got a list with us for a couple of months now & the way your shield is taped looks exactly like the way he would do it.
ReplyDeleteNo, my ophthalmologist is a Dr Lai, and she did it for me as a public patient in Bentley. My new eye has very good vision, and I'm doing the second one in mid January.
DeleteThat's very nice to hear. While lenses haven't changed much in the 8 years I've been working as an ophthalmology scrub nurse, the machines & lens calculation technology has made great progress leading to more accuracy & hence improved visual outcomes in recent years. You must be looking forward to getting your other eye done.
DeleteYes, I am. Hopefully it will be as successful as the first one.
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