It all started two years ago when I failed my D MV vision test to renew my driver's license. I went to my eye dr. and he said I'd be ready for cataract surgery the following year. He prescribed new glasses, I went back to DMV and passed the vision test, got my license renewed, with the disclosure that I should also get a DMV ID card IN CASE I LOST MY LICENSE TO DRIVE. That shook my tree a little.
What an eye-opener. When I returned for my eye exam in October, I was diagnosed with a retinal tear in my right eye. I have no idea why. I had been suffering from allergies and watering eyes from all the fires around here had no idea how it was affecting my sight. To complicate issues, I began having serious respiratory issues and a lingering bad cough. Diagnoses were the Valley Fever, pneumonia, asthma and COPD. This sent me off to some extensive physical exams, chest X-rays, EKGs and several visits to a pulmonologist. The upshot: I have asthma and chest congestion which I can manage with an inhaler, Flonase, Ricola and Clear Lungs (Chinese herbal blend you can order online with Puritan Pride for half of what you pay in Whole Foods). This condition delayed my retinal surgery because they won't allow you to have breathing/coughing issues while they need to anesthetize you while the procedure is performed.
Long and short: I had my retinal surgery on March 6. Then the first cataract on my right eye March 19. I'm going in next week for the left eye cataract removal. My vision is now 20/30. I will get new readers, but won't have to have glasses to drive. It's amazing, the results far exceeded my expectations. The drops before and after surgery are very expensive. I had the best surgeons on the planet performing the surgeries, and a very short recovery time both times. I'm so happy I decided to do this. A lot of people opt not to do it and just quit driving if they don't really need to. Mobility and freedom of movement are key to my life's ventures. I'm pretty sure my parents and grandparents had cataracts but never had them removed, and they all lived to late 80s. All of them smoked. A lot of eye issues are exacerbated by smoking.
It's great to see all the beautiful colors of nature again. Reading is now a pleasure. I don't fall asleep after a couple of paragraphs. Today's eye surgeries are so effortless and the results are so amazing. I had laser and implants. I don't believe I'll ever have eye issues in the future.
For anyone contemplating cataract surgery, it's a piece of cake. Glad I did it. The results are incredible. |
