I Can See Clearly Now

A few weeks ago, I posted on Facebook, asking friends to tell me their experience with cataract surgery and which doctor had done their surgery and the results.  I got many responses and recommendations

This photo has nothing whatsoever to do with this post.  I just like it.

In 1999, I had a hemorrhage in my right eye which took my central vision.  Most of you will recognize it as "wet macular degeneration."  That was quite a blow to me, but I carried on.  It was obvious that I could still see well with my left eye and had good peripheral vision in the right eye.  Doctors did tell me that when I developed cataracts, they would be very hesitant to do surgery on them, for fear of something going wrong.  Listening to the folks who posted on Facebook, there were some who did experience difficulties.

I had consulted with a doctor about six months ago, asking about cataract surgery, and he assured me that if I had the surgery, I should not expect great results because of my problems.  I drove to Virginia in August, and when I got on the road, I realized I was not seeing nearly as well as I should.  When I got home, I began pursuing surgery.

To make a long story short, I had both eyes done.  The doctor assured me that in my good eye, where the cataract had really taken over, he could bring the vision back to 98% of what it should be.  I had that eye done first, and, oh my, the difference the next day was just incredible.  I had heard people talk about the brightness of colors.  They were right.  I found myself just looking and looking and soaking in the wonderful colors and sharpness of vision.  My right eye was done the next week, and while the central vision was not improved, the peripheral vision is good.

I just read a post on Facebook from Humans of New York.  He interviewed a young woman who is losing her eyesight due to retinosa pigmentosa.  That is a condition where the peripheral vision narrows until the vision is totally diminished.  She said that she is looking at everything...the clouds, the sky, the green grass, knowing that one day she will not be seeing them at all.

That's a bit how I feel.  I'm loving every day of seeing well.  And if the day comes, or when the day comes that my vision is diminished because of dry macular degeneration, I will have had this gift for this time.

Don and I used to sing a song in church that had the words "Heav'n above is softer blue, earth below is sweeter green."  It's true.

And I guess the moral of the story is...if you are 50 or over, have a thorough eye exam by an ophthalmologist, not an optometrist.  An optometrist is great for prescribing glasses and should be able to catch problems, but they don't always.  Mine didn't.  I am thankful, however, for the technology and knowledge that is available today at our disposal!