I know… more eye stuff. But, I think this is the end of the news reel about my eye.

I had surgery for a detached retina on May 27. That was a serious surgery and it took me many weeks to get back on my feet again. But, my vision in that eye was restored, and I am beyond thankful for my doctor and all the other people who took such good care of me and saw me through that successful experience.

But a common side effect is a cataract in that eye. Cataracts in general are common as we get older, but the trauma of the retina surgery can cause a cataract can develop or advance quickly, which it did with me. It seems like I started to notice something near the end of August, and by the middle of September my vision was so cloudy that it was hard to see, and it seemed to get worse by the day.

Dr Bruno sent me to Dr Adriano (interesting that everyone calls the doctors by their first names). He assured me that Dr Adriano had done tons of cataract surgeries and was very good (he was right). His staff did some tests on my eye, I think to check the retina and the size so I would get the lens that would fit my eye well. I didn’t have to do any of the other extensive pre-op testing that I did with the retina surgery though, and I was put on the schedule for Oct 12.

I was told that it is a fast and easy surgery, and there is minimal recovery time needed. The doctor told me – see all those people with sunglasses in the hallway? They had their surgery yesterday! But, after my previous surgery experience I could understand this in my head, but the rest of me was still nervous.

I showed up at the appointed time and then there is the usual scene, the paperwork, the hospital gown, the surgery stretcher, the people in scrubs running around, the IV line in my hand, and a lot of waiting around in a chilly area between multiple rounds of eye drops, to dilate and numb my eye, and I’m not sure what all else, probably anti-inflammatory and antibiotic drops.

Finally I was wheeled into the OR, into the usual OR scene, yikes… but, what I was told was all TRUE! I felt nothing. NOTHING! I watched a scene of light, a couple box type things with changing colors, and then in what seemed like minutes, the doctor said LISTO. I was all done. He told me it takes about 10 minutes and it felt about that long.

I was wheeled into a recover area where my husband was waiting with my clothes. I got dressed. A couple nurses made sure I understood all my aftercare instructions, and I was wheeled out to the car. They gave me a sedative in the OR which left me a bit dizzy and queasy, but I was generally fine.

The results are amazing!! I can see so well. My vision is clear, and colors are bright and vivid. I had a choice of two lenses. One is good for distance, and the other is good for distance and intermediate. I chose the latter and I am very happy with it. Ordinary pharmacy glasses are just fine for reading, (and doctor recommended,) so I’m all set.

After the retina surgery I had double vision for quite a while, and then the cataract came on so things like the supermarket were somewhat disorienting and overwhelming. We went there today on our way home after my checkup, and I wanted to just stand in the store and look at everything! I could see all the colors, all the products, and I could see people at a distance. Before, if you were more than 10 feet from me I wasn’t sure who you were. I’m only a bit tired today but that’s because we were so excited and happy last night that we stayed up late talking.

So, that’s my story, and hopefully the last I will have to write about eye problems. What an amazing gift it is to have vision restored. I am thankful for the skill of the doctors and medical staff, and for the wonderful care I have received.

PS I’m writing this on Tuesday night, the day after surgery. But I’ll wait and put it out tomorrow, after rereading it to be sure everything looks ok.
I forgot to mention that I was one of 7 people getting cataract surgery! There was a lot of activity in the surgery center yesterday.