Cataract Surgery Update (Not For The Squeamish)

     Monday, March 12 I had my right cataract encrusted lens removed and replaced with a brand spanking new plastic lens in my eyeball. The 10 to 15 minute procedure actually took about 2 hours from check in to check out but I must say I feel it was time well spent. The cloudiness and glare in my right eye are completely gone and my vision is so much better. Anyone contemplating the procedure I must suggest, "Do it!"

     Tuesday, Mom took me back for my follow up exam. I did much better on the visual acuity exam than before. The nurse told me that I was still dilated from the pre-op drops so my vision should only get better in the days to come. Then they gave me more drops to dilate my eye even more to get a good gander at the innards. Between doses of the drops I was looking at a wall poster about cataract surgery. The 2nd time she came back I said "I just wanted to see what the Hell y'all did to me yesterday".
     It seems the replacement has little things like arms or tentacles that open up after the replacement lens unfolds. They latch onto the the fluid sacs in front of and behind the lens to hold it in place. I couldn't see the posters well enough to study them so I had no idea about that.
     The Doctor did some chicken foot voodoo measurements and deemed I had some pressure build up that needed to be relieved.  Anyone who knows anything about me knows I have beyond a phobia of needles. Well, the good Doctor opened up a little packet and there was a wee item there. It was just a little handle to be held between the thumb and forefinger... with an about 1" needle on the end. I think the proper name for the device is a "lancet".  I stared directly into the light as told, said to myself the Bible verse "I am the LORD who heals you" and quite calmly (for me) let him insert the needle into my eyeball. I didn't even have any problems wiping the eyeball fluid off of my cheek,  but it was only a couple or three drops.

     I go back for another "how's it healing?" check Tuesday, the 20th and get set an appointment for left eye surgery. They did the eye I wanted first so it was right and the other one is left? I know, bad joke... right, left?

     Anyway, I hope I didn't give anyone second thoughts about cataract or any surgery. If I can sit still and take a lancet that I can see coming into my eyeball, I can take anything. And so can you! Put yourself in His hands. There's a Christian singer who has a song called "Fear Is A Liar". And old U.S. president F.D.R. said, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself". So man up, boys and woman up, girls. Be fearless and kick ass!

     Last note: When the anesthesia guy said, "I'm gonna give you something to relax you", I started saying to myself Psalm 23. I remember, "The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me lay down...." That was as far as I got.

     May God give you His peace.