EXCITING!

20 Million Americans

Over the age of 40

have cataracts

6 Million have had 

corrective surgery.

This is my story

My husband and I go to the same eye center. The modern office is about 45 minutes away from our home, so we try to schedule our annual appointments for the same time each year so we can drive together. (Fun romantic date for us seniors!!) For the past few years,  our doctors had been telling us that we should consider cataract surgery. This time they told us:

“Cataract surgery is a procedure to remove the lens of your eye and, in most cases, replace it with an artificial lens. Normally, the lens of your eye is clear. A cataract causes the lens to become cloudy, which eventually affects your vision.

Cataract surgery can be done traditionally using ultrasound energy to remove the cloudy lens or it can be removed with laser-assisted technology. Cataract surgery is very common and is generally a safe procedure.”

Our doctors then had us a watch a short video about the procedure. We saw that the difference between old, cataract eyes and new repaired eyes was like the change to technicolor in “The Wizard of Oz”. Yes! We wanted youthful eyes. We watched more and learned that the traditional way to remove cataracts with old-fashioned ultrasound looked like someone was using pumpkin carving utensils to hack the eyes. The laser surgery was precise and fast. Laser for us!

With that settled, we talked with the doctor about our expectations. I wanted to be able to continue to read without reading glasses. My husband wanted to be able to see the golf ball more clearly. So noted!

Our eyes were checked and measured with quick and  absolutely painless machines and then we filled out forms and more forms and scheduled our appointments. Our doctor has performed over 30,000 ‼️ cataract procedures and all surgeries are performed at the on-site ambulatory care center.

My surgery was first. 

According to our pre-surgery info, we would be called several days prior with our surgery time, which could start as early as 6 am. I was delighted when I was notified that my time was a decent and civilized 9 am. I had to do two things prior to the surgery. The first, was to start using eye drops in my eye (my left eye was to be done first). I also had to come to my surgery wearing a short sleeve button shirt. I owned no such shirt so I went to Goodwill and bought one for a $1. I’m not really sure why they specified this shirt; my guess is that afterwards when you get home, you don’t have to yank a top over your lasered eye. (“Hello, Eye Center, I just ripped the new lens out of my eye with my tee shirt.”)

Of course, on the big day we left early and arrived at the Eye Center at 8:30 am. We chatted in the car, but the waiting was making me nervous, so I just marched in. My husband headed to the designated driver’s waiting area. I went to the surgery side and checked in and then found a seat in a small room with about fifteen people sitting quietly with their eyes closed. Were we meditating before our procedures? No, everyone is administered eye drops and told to keep their eye shut, and it’s easier to just shut both eyes. Soon my eye drop regimen started- many, many eye drops.

After an hour, I was walked to the more serious side, where the rolling beds were. I didn’t have to change my clothes so I sat on the bed, had my vitals taken, listened to explanations, answered questions and then the coolest part of the whole day happened.

A nurse marked my eyeball with a magic marker and made dots ON MY EYEBALL to guide the laser!

And then…I lay down and was wheeled in to the Oz room. Things happened fast. I was told not to move, my eyelids were squeezed open, and the laser descended. I was reminded NOT TO MOVE! Gotcha!

After two minutes of seeing weird patterns and hearing the laser- that part was complete. (My understanding is that the laser makes teeny incisions and also pounds the eye lens to smithereens.)  My bed was then swiftly rolled to the next area. This part of the procedure, where the particles of lens are removed and the new lens inserted seemed to go really fast. I have since learned that the twilight-sleep anesthesia I was given made it seem like no time had passed.

I Did It!

I was given more drops and clear tape was used to shut my eye. I was given my choice of beverage and a few minutes later, my husband picked me up! The whole experience was less than two hours. On our drive home I recounted every moment to my spouse- so he would have plenty of time to mull it over!

I floated on the endorphins of joyous relief. After four hours, I removed the tape from my eye and everything was blurry. My eye also started to feel itchy and burny and I felt cranky. I finally decided to put myself to bed, and after a nice nap I was fine! I didn’t have to wear any eye protection. My eye slowly unblurred, although it was red for about a week. I continued the drop regimen- four drops a day for the first week, and then fewer drops for the next two weeks.

My right eye was zapped 10 days later. Everything was about the same except this appoint was at 6:15 am!! Yikes! But this was cool-

During the laser part of the procedure I could hear the Sirius XM channel in the background and the song was “Day Dream Believer” (Jean is my IRL name)

I was done!! For some reason, I had no ill-effects at all after the second eye. I started the eye drops for the second eye and waited for my youthful eyes to dazzle me. I’m still waiting. I can read just fine but everything seems about the same. My spouse sailed through his procedures. Due to the weather, he hasn’t golfed as much, but I think he is happy with his golf vision. We have enjoyed many romantic moments discussing our procedures and experiences. And reminding each other to use our eye drops.

All in all, I am thankful for our health and our vision. I appreciate the kindness and skill of everyone at the Eye Center. In mid-October our eye doctor and some of the staff went to Jamaica to donate cataract surgeries to the people there. I commend them for their giving spirits.

Have you had Cataract Surgery? I hope you are doing well!