I Can See Clearly Now!

December 4, 2015

Fourteen months ago I started noticing strange technicolor floaters in my right eye. These were rainbow monsters with four serrated edges, like a saw, not like of those little translucent islands that most of us have bumping around in our eyes. They usually didn't linger more than a few minutes, but even that was enough for motivate a quick visit to my optometrist. After a careful examination, she made an urgent call to an ophthalmologist (surgeon) to get me an appointment ASAP.

It took a couple of weeks to get a opening in the schedule, and that led to other appointments with optical specialists located on opposite sides of the Atlanta metroplex. But, in a mere two months (sarcasm), I was scheduled for surgical procedure to repair a macular hole in my right eye. Thus the rainbow saws, I guess.

A normal healthy macula

Holey macula Batman! (Mine) 

Before I sound like one of those tedious prayer meeting medical report/requests, suffice it to say I had the surgery (which was nothing compared to the recovery: 24/7 face down to allow the gas bubble they injected to float up, holding the macula secure so it could heal.) and all went well.    

The Thrill of Macular Healing

Never mind asking how that recovery went. It was as awful as you can imagine. Maybe worse. But I did it, and in six weeks at least one of the holes in my head healed perfectly. Good as new, right? (That process only took 6 months too!) Not really. For months I had one good eye and one very blurry eye. so, to compensate for reading, driving and watching TV, I donned a pirate patch and impatiently awaiting the next shoe to drop. Which it did. 

Months of choosing between scary or blind

About three months after the surgery, as the macular specialist warned, my mostly dormant cataract began growing.  You see, the gas bubble that healed the macular hole fertilized the cataract. So, all the good healing juices left behind by the gas bubble, turned my sleepy cataract into a school bully who caused trouble for three more months while I waiting for all the presurgical appointments  to be scheduled and completed. (Sounds like our vaunted new European style healthcare system is working as planned?) 

  

                                                              

                                                                            My Post Cataract Surgical Puss

Happily, the surgery was both routine and successful, and the six weeks since have been occupied by tedious eye drop routines, and more waiting for my final post surgical exam, with new prescription. Then, after another week of waiting for my new lense, viola!! I can see again.

Contemplating the bloggable lessons of a year with bad sight - with new glasses

To be continued...

Jack