That sounds like good advice to me. I’m doing the best I can to follow it.
I had an appointment with the eye doctor yesterday because I’ve been having more trouble than usual reading. I figured it was just my cataract getting worse, but I wanted to make sure it wasn’t some residual problem from the shingles I had four months ago. Nope. It’s the cataract, and it’s a lot worse than it was when I had my annual eye exam in March. Cataracts were one of the potential side effects of all the eye drops I took, so I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s why it has worsened so fast.
Anyway, the doctor said I could phone their Santa Fe office and start scheduling the surgery any time I wanted. So I phoned to start gathering information about what will be involved, about the choice of doctors, etc. I also phoned a friend who goes there regularly for any information/suggestions she might have.
I went to the the doctors’ web site and tried to take their cataract self-test and thought the questions were reasonable. The only problem was when I tried to submit it to them, I received this error.
I tried several times and got the same answer. Why does that not inspire confidence? [Update: I just took the test again and it agreed that 8 + 7 is 15, so it accepted my test answers. Someone is supposed to call me.]
Anyway, I’m getting curious/gathering more information, keeping my sense of humor, and doing the best I can with what I have left. That’s about as good as it gets, I’m afraid!
July 28, 2015
I hope it all goes well.
The last time I went to get my eyes checked, I was told that I had a cataract, but that’s been a couple of years. I need to make an appointment to see if anything has changed, I guess.
If it has changed a lot you would notice it. The only reason to have one removed is if it’s interfering with your life. There are risks connected with any kind of surgery, even this simple procedure.
It is a very simple procedure and you will be better off for undergoing that at the earliest. All the best.
Ramana, sorry to dispel the myth. It’s NOT always a “simple” procedure. Correction, you are right. It is a SIMPLE procedure (for the surgeon). Except that, statistically, the outcome (worst case scenario, say, for instance, retinal detachment, going blind) varies tremendously from patient to patient. I was due to be operated on last December. Surgeon refused to go ahead. Too complicated, he said, I am not doing it. Sorry.
Brilliant. You can’t beat it for inspiring confidence. Have since seen Mr Big (the guy in charge of one of the best eye clinics in the country). Thankfully he didn’t bullshit me with “it’s a simple procedure”. He explained the statistical likelihood of it going all pear shaped (!) in my case. Whatever. Once more I am on the operation waiting list. In the meantime I am wondering whether to learn Braille whilst still able to see (relatively) well. If you believe in Karma (and considering how shit scared I am of going blind) what sort of vile person must I have been in a previous life to “deserve” this? Luckily I don’t believe in Karma.
Jean, by way of scant comfort, if you (as per one of your previous posts) are still legally allowed to drive you can’t be too bad. Not that that bears on the outcome of surgery. And, by the way, impairment of senses is not necessarily age related.
Other than that, LSF (longest standing friend) who paints by night to catch the “light” tells me to not be a ninny. Ok.
U
Rummuser,
I agree that for people with low risk of complications, the earlier the better. But Ursula is right, retinal detachment is one possible side effect for people with high myopia.
I went for several years with retinal problems, high risk for retinal detachment. I had three surgeries for retinal tears and three retinal hemorrhages (very scary to see black streaks because of bleeding in the eye, but the eye doctor didn’t think it was a big deal). I also saw a lot of flashing lights in my eyes, one potential warning sign of a possible retina detachment. It was a relief when that period was over because if I had a detachment they said at first I would have to drive to Santa Fe immediately, time was of the essence. Then later they decided not to do the surgery on weekends and said it was no big deal (except for maybe the patient who risked permanent damage by waiting?) Anyway, the past few years have been great, but there’s always the chance cataract surgery would put me back in that mode. Sigh!
Ursula,
What are your risk factors? Myopia? Could you tell me more about what your doctor said? Thanks.
i’m due for that as well.
i have just been putting it off.
after my icu stay last year and all the shenanigans related to any surgery i ever have… i guess i’ve just dreaded it.
but i certainly don’t want to go blind either! so i’ll be very interested in your findings and progress.
my friend celia had it many years ago and is fine! the new laser way is scary to me. but they say it’s very safe.
I think in your case it makes sense to be cautious. I’ve had two laser surgeries on my eyes to correct retinal tears, and I didn’t particularly like it, but it was quick and apparently safe and effective. For the other retinal surgery I had I had to go to Albuquerque so they could go in behind the eyeball. It was strange and a bit more complicated, but the fellow was very friendly, so the experience was better than with the grumpy laser surgeon. 🙂
The many people I’ve talked to who have had the cataract surgery says it’s no big deal. I’m mainly worried about complications because of my myopia.
Ursula, thanks for teaching me something that I did not know enough about. I will be more careful commenting about such matters in future and I wish you too well and speedy surgery and recovery.