A few days ago I shared that I was scheduled for cataract surgery on my right eye on Monday December 12th. It’s been 3 days and things are “looking” good.

Surgery can be worrisome. Worrisome because the mind can shuffle through a lot of “what ifs.” For me, there wasn’t much of that. My eyesight had been quickly deteriorating so there was no other option. Hopefully surgery would turn out well. From what I had read, cataract surgery is common and success rates are 99% with complications being rare.

The Consultation

I went through some testing a couple weeks before the surgery  and then a consultation to determine what kind of surgery I wanted. I opted for the more expensive laser surgery.

One thing the doctor shared with me is my eyesight had deteriorated to 20/70 in both eyes. What this means, and I had to look it up, is that what I can see at 20 feet away from an eye chart a person with normal vision can see at a distance of 70 feet.

The Surgery

In addition to a topical anesthesia, I was given a mild sedative medication through an IV. Apparently I fell asleep during the procedure, so I can’t tell you exactly what the doctor did. I woke up with an eye patch taped to my forehead and the staff told Joyce I had to leave it on for 24 hours. We had an appointment the following day, almost exactly 24 hours after the surgery.

The Outcome

During the follow-up my eyesight was tested using the common eye chart. Great news — the vision in my right eye is now 20/20. The technician seemed somewhat surprised it was this good so soon after surgery.

The vision in my right eye is now nothing short of spectacular. Everything is now bright and clear. Colors are vibrant. If there is one word to describe what I can now see, it would be — clarity.

There are three different kinds of prescription eyedrops I have to administer three times a day for three weeks.

Another follow up visit scheduled for Monday December 19th.

More than likely, at a minimum, I will need eyeglasses for reading. My eyesight isn’t sharp when reading, although this might change when I can use both improved eyes to read. Time will tell.

Next Steps

Surgery on the left eye is scheduled for January 20th.