Most people’s social media accounts show the best parts of their lives – holidays, graduations, birthdays, children and grandchildren, achievements, pretty landscapes and so on.
Diana, thank you for writing the part most people leave off the feed. The eye really is the wrong candidate for a knife, because it is not an organ you have so much as the place the whole world comes through, and asking someone to stay calm about that is asking a great deal.
What stays with me is the doubleness you let stand: the lens is a small miracle and a small intrusion at once, and you do not force it to resolve into one or the other. And then the trees vibrating with colour. That image does the quiet work the whole piece was moving toward. Wishing the second eye an easy time of it, and the beige eye a quick catch-up to the white.
Well… it has been raised with me by my Opthamologist- but I am wavering. I am
Always freaked out about eyes. It’s a major drama if I have to put in eye drops. I had surgery on one to get rid of a terigiumm (something like that) I was awake - your two stories don’t bring me any closer to a decision. But informative.
Hi Barbara, thanks. I am noticing a much brighter world. I'll probably go ahead with the second eye without anesthetic. Am grateful for what's possible these days.
Well you certainly pushed my button with this one. I discovered my cataract surgery needs because my retina failed me. You are so right about this process as I can mirror it with my own experience. As an artist I can immediately relate to the difference in colour of light. One eye is warm but the new lens brings a bright cold bluish white light. The difference between an incandescent bulb and a new energy saver (lighting that I hate). Unfortunately I am apparently one of 10 percent who react to a double surgery (cataract and retinal victrectomy) and now my vision is not only warped, it is fuzzy and bright. I am distraught as I now have PVR which means my body's reaction was to grow a film over my retina (scar tissue). Do I repeat the surgery (2 weeks of living face down) ? (I can do that). The surgeons costs were huge and way over the insurance limits. Will surgery make it worse? I no longer feel safe to drive and I can't see to walk in my rough garden and I hate bright lights. My life is different. My eyes don't work together - like a conspiracy - a horrible science fiction movie that won't stop. Don't be surprized if I have an eye patch on the next time you see me. Thank God one eye still works, but they want me to do a cataract operation on it too, asap. I did not expect this. I have feelings.... mostly fear.
Diana I opted for the local anaesthetic both times ten or so years ago. Each time I heard and felt the removal of my birth given lens I heard and felt the insertion of the med tech one and each time I wanted to scream STOP. But managed not to. Diana you will see like a teenager once again. Colours Will shriek. Shapes will be crisp. It’s a vision reincarnation. Enjoy.
Diana, thank you for writing the part most people leave off the feed. The eye really is the wrong candidate for a knife, because it is not an organ you have so much as the place the whole world comes through, and asking someone to stay calm about that is asking a great deal.
What stays with me is the doubleness you let stand: the lens is a small miracle and a small intrusion at once, and you do not force it to resolve into one or the other. And then the trees vibrating with colour. That image does the quiet work the whole piece was moving toward. Wishing the second eye an easy time of it, and the beige eye a quick catch-up to the white.
This is a very thoughtful response - thank you for that. It is a gift when a writer feels understood.
Oh boy. My dear husband needs this surgery soon. I must steel myself for what ahead.
It's not that bad. But there is some recovery time.
Well… it has been raised with me by my Opthamologist- but I am wavering. I am
Always freaked out about eyes. It’s a major drama if I have to put in eye drops. I had surgery on one to get rid of a terigiumm (something like that) I was awake - your two stories don’t bring me any closer to a decision. But informative.
So far, I would do it again. Soon schedule the second eye.
Guess it makes sense to do both.
Hi Barbara, thanks. I am noticing a much brighter world. I'll probably go ahead with the second eye without anesthetic. Am grateful for what's possible these days.
Well you certainly pushed my button with this one. I discovered my cataract surgery needs because my retina failed me. You are so right about this process as I can mirror it with my own experience. As an artist I can immediately relate to the difference in colour of light. One eye is warm but the new lens brings a bright cold bluish white light. The difference between an incandescent bulb and a new energy saver (lighting that I hate). Unfortunately I am apparently one of 10 percent who react to a double surgery (cataract and retinal victrectomy) and now my vision is not only warped, it is fuzzy and bright. I am distraught as I now have PVR which means my body's reaction was to grow a film over my retina (scar tissue). Do I repeat the surgery (2 weeks of living face down) ? (I can do that). The surgeons costs were huge and way over the insurance limits. Will surgery make it worse? I no longer feel safe to drive and I can't see to walk in my rough garden and I hate bright lights. My life is different. My eyes don't work together - like a conspiracy - a horrible science fiction movie that won't stop. Don't be surprized if I have an eye patch on the next time you see me. Thank God one eye still works, but they want me to do a cataract operation on it too, asap. I did not expect this. I have feelings.... mostly fear.
So sorry. This must be awful and disorienting. Good luck with forthcoming procedure.
Hi Virginia, So sorry to hear about all this. Sounds very challenging for sure. I really hope the second cataract surgery is successful. Sending love.
Thanks D. Sorry to go on so long on your feed. I really related to what you wrote.
Tis fine Virginia. Feel for you, truly.
Thank you Barbara.
Diana I opted for the local anaesthetic both times ten or so years ago. Each time I heard and felt the removal of my birth given lens I heard and felt the insertion of the med tech one and each time I wanted to scream STOP. But managed not to. Diana you will see like a teenager once again. Colours Will shriek. Shapes will be crisp. It’s a vision reincarnation. Enjoy.