What’s eye surgery like?
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I had the cataract removed from my left eye three days ago and, while my vision in that eye is still changing as the swelling inside my eyeball goes down, I can’t get over how clearly I can see.
Since removing the cataract means removing the lens itself, the first step in the procedure is to use an ultrasound machine to measure the size and shape of the inside of my eye and select an artificial lens that’s appropriate. This is implanted in place of my original lens.
The only word I can think of to describe the operation is weird. The patient remains awake for the procedure and the eye and the area surrounding it are made numb after being given a series of eye drops to dilate the eye. This is interesting because then they tell you to close your eyes so they don’t dry out while you wait for the doctor and you discover that you CAN’T close that eye. Then the nurse pushes the eyelid down with her finger and it gradually springs back open so she can push it closed again.
When the doctor shows up he puts a clamp in place to hold your eye open and suddenly one is very glad to be numb. Your joy at being numb is increased because the nurse is now keeping your eye moist by occasionally pouring a stream of water into it and you are required to watch this.
Because of the dilation, your vision is now so fuzzy that you can’t see a thing and don’t notice a difference in vision when the old lens is removed and the new one is installed a few minutes later. There is no pain involved, you just feel some pressure, as though the doctor is pushing on your eyelid.
Once the whole thing is done, they tape a plastic patch over that eye and tell you to go see your regular eye doctor the next day for a follow-up.
When you do go in for thr follow-up and he removes the patch, the first thing you notice is that everything that eye sees has an almost blood-red tint to it. The second thing you notice is that, while the vision in that eye is still horrible, you can at least read the top line of the eye chart. The other eye doesn’t see anything but a fuzzy white square, but the “new” eye can actually see a large ‘E’ in the square.
Over the last few days, as the swelling has gone down, the vision in my “new” eye has improved to the point where I can look out the window and see individual blades of grass and I can ride in a car and read street signs. I still can’t drive yet, because the vision in my other eye is atrocious and I can’t wear my glasses at this point.
As strange and uncomfortable as the actual procedure is, I’m really anxious to get the other eye done. I haven’t seen this clearly in decades!
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Although You had to go through slightly uncomfortable procedure, thank God your vision is clear. Better operate the other eye also as soon as possible.