Eye Surgery Completed

I had my second cataract surgery this past Tuesday, this time on my left eye.  The operation went well, but I spent a very bad night following the surgery.  My cornea swelled and my eye pressure increased a lot.  This caused a lot of pain, and I was unable to sleep, except for a few minutes here and there.

The next morning I went to the eye doctor for a post-surgery exam.  Unlike the first operation, this recovery was not going so well.  I threw up twice on the way, having my wife stop along the road.

The nurse took off the eye patch and everything was milky white.  I couldn't even read the largest letter on the eye chart.  The doctor said it was because my cornea was swollen, and he gave me a pill and some drops to unswell it.  This caused the pain to decrease quickly and significantly.  I went home and slept for something like 16 hours straight.

Today the sight in my left eye has improved considerably, but is still a bit blurry.  The milkiness has mostly disappeared.  The doc said the vision will improve over the next few days and weeks; I hope so.  I go back on Monday for a second evaluation.

UPDATE:  A second evaluation showed that the eye has improved to 20-25 from its initial 20-40.  I hope it will continue improving over the next few weeks until it reaches 20-20.  However, the eye sees a lot better than it did before the surgery, and my overall vision is now quite good.

More Eyeball Surgery

Next Tuesday I will have my second cataract surgery, this time on my left eye.  I am looking forward to it.   Last January, I had the surgery on my right eye and have been very pleased with the result.  My eyesight in the right eye is phenomenal.

Seeing Stars: My New Surgically Enhanced Vision

On Thursday evening, I returned from band practice.  The sky was black with night, and as I exited the car, I looked upward and saw stars.  With my blurry, cataract-burdened eyesight, I hadn't seen stars in a night sky for some time.  They were lovely.

I had a checkup yesterday to see how my cataract surgery is healing.  The doctor said it looks great, and my visual acuity is greater than expected - 20-15?  The doctor said "Wow" when he measured it.  Not bad for an eye that I previously considered to be nearly useless.

The surgery on my left eye is scheduled for April 28.  Now I need to make a decision.  Should the left eye be fitted with a lens that will leave it somewhat nearsighted?  The doctor recommends this, as I will then be able to read without reading glasses.  My left eye would be for reading and close-up viewing, my right eye for driving and distance viewing.

Right now, I am leaning towards making the left eye like the right, so I can see distance with added clarity.  I will happily wear reading glasses for close-up viewing.

I don't have to decide right away.  I will wait until my right eye is completely healed from the surgery, and see how it does with close-up viewing.