Cataract Surgery Part 2 [View all]
About a month ago, I wrote about my first cataract surgery. Here's the link.
As I read my recount of the first surgery, I noticed something that was not quite correct: I said that I was not knocked out. However, since I have sketchy memory of it, that may not be the case. It seemed to go much quicker than the second one and I have more memory of the second.
I was a bit more relaxed this time, at least at first. Of course, the patient is sedated and I did not dread this one as much. Nurses asked me 4 or 5 times if I was claustrophobic, which I thought was strange. I assured them that I'm not claustrophobic. This time, I found out why they were concerned: the patient's face is covered with a stiff white paper with a piece cut out for the eye. The rest was taped to my face. Ah! Now I get it - and I'm definitely not claustrophobic. After all, it was just a sheet of white parchment paper (that's the closest description I can think of). I had no trouble breathing.
If you are squeamish, then don't read the quoted section.
The operation began. First a gel was put in my eye to keep it moist and some kind of apparatus was placed over it. There were a few flashes and I was instructed to stare at a certain dot. Then I felt the slice on my pupil and it reminded me of the first surgery - I had forgotten that part and most of the rest of the ordeal. I concentrated on staring the heck out of that dot and not moving any muscle except my diaphragm.
It took about 10 ~ 12 minutes. I was aware of the slice and the insertion of the disk placed over the pupil. I had a death grip on the chair's armrests like before. Like I said in the other post, I am weird about my eyeballs. I've never considered contacts because of it.
Once it was over, the nurses pulled the paper off my face. As they pulled it off, I started laughing because the tape felt like it was pulling my eyebrows off. Considering what I just went through, that was the easiest part of the whole thing.
QUOTE *******
I went into post-op for a while to let the anaesthetic to wear off, about half an hour or so. Then they got me a wheelchair to take me to the surgery exit for my ride home. They helped me stand and made sure that I could keep my balance when I stood up and got in the car.
Everyone at the doctor's office was wonderfully nice and professional. They made the whole process easy and as stress-free as possible. If you live in southern Nevada, PM me and I will recommend the doctor, office, and staff.
Now the fun part: I have been wearing glasses for myopia since I was 15. I am now far-sighted. All my old corrective lenses are useless. And I am enjoying the heck out of it! I can now stand at the entrance to a grocery store aisle and read the signs 30 ~ 40 feet away. What I can't do is read expiration dates on items so I do the sweet old lady routine and ask the nearest person for help. I just tell them that I didn't bring my reading glasses with me and ask them to tell me the date. Everyone is happy to help.
And guess what else - I don't need glasses to drive. My right eye is now 20/25, left is 20/40 because my left retina got messed up about 15 years ago (I've learned to live with it and adjust). I got reading glasses and polarized nonprescription sunglasses.
I hope my experiences help someone or even just let you know if you're curious.
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