Around 18 years ago I started to wear my glasses full time. Multi-focals were prescribed for me and they can be tricky to start with. You need to move your head a lot… especially walking down stairs. However, my life of specks began.
Not too long after this I noticed that my eyes were getting worse and I needed to change the lenses. This became a regular occurrence, about every 2 years. About 5 years ago I was told that I had cataracts forming on both eyes, but the left was worse than the right. The thought of eye surgery scared me a little so of course I just kept putting it off.
I was referred to an eye specialist in Penrith who recommended multi focal lenses which are quite expensive. As we were about to retire to Tropical North Queensland I decided to wait, or was it fear talking?
On arrival north of Cairns I established contact with a GP for the sake of referrals and I bit the bullet and asked for a referral to an Ophthalmologist. He recommended a local in Cairns.
My initial consultation was a little daunting and when he explained the situation I figured out that this was it and booked the surgery. The procedure was to remove the natural lens which had cataracts and replace it with an artificial lens. All of this was through a two and a half millimetre incision in the eye… Scary? Very.
The day arrived and my wife and I took off for an early morning procedure at Cairns Day Surgery. It was quick from the beginning. I stayed in my own clothes except the footwear. I was dressed in a gown, booties and that famous cap, such a good look! With a cannula in the back of the hand, I walked into the theatre. Not even a trolley ride!
The surgery took about 20 minutes was totally painless despite being a little bit daunting. I had a cover over most of my face and a very bright light in the eye being operated on. My first thought was “how will I be able to keep my eye open with such a bright light?” It was remarkably easy and no real discomfort. I became a bit chatty (fear?) until the doctor told me to keep quiet unless there was a problem. I was a little miffed but I did shut up. After all, he was holding the scalpel! Then before I knew it I was out in the recovery room with a patch over my eye and a slight sensation of grit in my eye.
The following day I had an appointment with the specialist who removed the patch and the results were instant, my long vision in that eye was already quite good and I was told it will get better over the next 3 months. I am very ready for the second eye ASAP. To just need reading glasses and to have excellent long vision will be fantastic AND I can wear sunglasses again, I love shades.
I go back for a check-up after two weeks, then another after a month, and then a final after three months. We have private health insurance so the whole procedure was not very expensive for us, though can you put a price limit on your sight?
I went for my first post op. consultation yesterday 11/11/2013. Results…I have 20/20 long vision in that eye and that could not have been a better result. I am already driving and watching TV without glasses, also supermarket without glasses though I must admit that up close I need my specs.
I have booked surgery for my other eye in three weeks and my specialist tells me that after that I can buy some “pharmacy” glasses for reading! No more full time specs and sunnies…great result!
I can truly recommend this surgery the results are nothing short of thrilling. Over sixty and considering cataract surgery…DO IT!
Have you had cataract surgery and agree that anyone needing to should “just do it!”?