In some ways, clear lensectomy is like turning back the clock (or calendar). Unlike most people my age (including those who have had LASIK), I don't need to use reading glasses. It's as if I'm getting away with something! I also love the fact that I will never need to have cataract surgery. Been there, done that--albeit a few years early.
I went to Billings Photography on Saturday to get an updated business photo sans glasses. I will post it as soon as I have the JPG.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
A New "Normal"
I'm amazed at how quickly it has become "normal" for me to be independent of glasses or contact lenses. I have almost--but not quite--begun to take my new freedom for granted.
Another source of amazement is how "invisible" the change has been when it comes to people outside my immediate family. No one has said, "Hey! How come you're not wearing glasses anymore?" But when you think about it, I probably wouldn't notice the same kind of change in anyone outside MY immediate family. I haven't become a raving beauty overnight. I look like myself, only better (in my opinion!).
My biggest worry is retinal detachment. I've had vitreous floaters for most of my life, but now they seem more ominous. Being a defensive pessimist, I need to have something to fixate on!
Janet
Another source of amazement is how "invisible" the change has been when it comes to people outside my immediate family. No one has said, "Hey! How come you're not wearing glasses anymore?" But when you think about it, I probably wouldn't notice the same kind of change in anyone outside MY immediate family. I haven't become a raving beauty overnight. I look like myself, only better (in my opinion!).
My biggest worry is retinal detachment. I've had vitreous floaters for most of my life, but now they seem more ominous. Being a defensive pessimist, I need to have something to fixate on!
Janet
Monday, May 07, 2007
Zones and Focal Points
My new bionic lenses operate differently from natural lenses. Each lens has five different focusing zones, and the lenses in the two eyes are different. My brain is adjusting to this new way of focusing. Distance vision is easy; I don't have to do anything special to see faraway objects with crystal clear sharpness. The lens in my right eye seems to be especially good with distance vision. If I'm driving and I close first one eye and then the other, I can see a difference between the two. I'm certain that my distance vision with the right eye is better than 20/20. It reminds me of when I got my first pair of contact lenses at age 18, except that these lenses are a lot more comfortable and require no maintenance except for eye drops 4X daily as my eyes are healing from the surgery. I'll be done putting drops in my left eye on May 17 and my right eye on May 31.
For near vision, the two eyes have different focal points. The lens in the right eye was implanted only four days ago, and the two eyes haven't yet figured out how to work as a team with maximum efficiency. If I close one eye and then the other, and if I hold a page of text at varying distances from my face, small type will be sharp and clear with the left eye at one distance (about 10 inches) and with the right eye at a different distance (say, 12 inches). I also notice that I have to wait a bit for the text to come into focus. It's blurry at first and then clear if I'm holding the text at the right distance. For intermediate-range work (looking at my computer monitor), the left eye is a little better because it's had more practice over the past couple of weeks. The right eye is still a rookie!
For near vision, the two eyes have different focal points. The lens in the right eye was implanted only four days ago, and the two eyes haven't yet figured out how to work as a team with maximum efficiency. If I close one eye and then the other, and if I hold a page of text at varying distances from my face, small type will be sharp and clear with the left eye at one distance (about 10 inches) and with the right eye at a different distance (say, 12 inches). I also notice that I have to wait a bit for the text to come into focus. It's blurry at first and then clear if I'm holding the text at the right distance. For intermediate-range work (looking at my computer monitor), the left eye is a little better because it's had more practice over the past couple of weeks. The right eye is still a rookie!
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Self-indulgent? You decide...
Is it self-indulgent of me to opt for multifocal lens implants so I can stop wearing glasses? It IS a major purchase, but it's also a once-in-a-lifetime expense that will actually improve the quality of my life every waking hour for the rest of my life! I feel very lucky.
Self-indulgent? Maybe. Do I feel guilty about the expense? A little, but not too much.
Is this type of vision correction "artificial"? Any type of vision correction is artificial, when you think about it. You can wear your corrective lenses in metal or plastic frames perched on the bridge of your nose, or as little discs floating on a layer of tears on top of your cornea, or as implants inside the lens capsules in your eyes. No matter where you put them, they're still corrective lenses. Lens implants are certainly a lot more comfortable and convenient than anything else I've tried!
Self-indulgent? Maybe. Do I feel guilty about the expense? A little, but not too much.
Is this type of vision correction "artificial"? Any type of vision correction is artificial, when you think about it. You can wear your corrective lenses in metal or plastic frames perched on the bridge of your nose, or as little discs floating on a layer of tears on top of your cornea, or as implants inside the lens capsules in your eyes. No matter where you put them, they're still corrective lenses. Lens implants are certainly a lot more comfortable and convenient than anything else I've tried!
Friday, May 04, 2007
May 4, 2007 Balanced Vision
Over the past two weeks I have enjoyed being free of glasses, but my right eye was still uncorrected so my vision was a mixture of clear and blurry. The effect is a little hard to describe, but it was like having a haze around everything. Also, if I would reach up to scratch my forehead and accidentally cover my left eye, everything was blurry.
Yesterday morning I went to Omaha Eye and Laser to get the new lens implanted in my right eye. I was still nervous, but not nearly as nervous as I was on April 19th. I thought I knew what to expect this time, and that was true for the most part. A few things were different this time, however.
First, I did not go directly from the waiting room to the surgery area. Instead, I was taken to an examining room to have both eyes checked before the surgery. Dr. James Liu wanted to get a final refraction to make sure the new lens would be appropriate for my right eye. Dr. Bergman (an optometrist on staff) did the refraction. I also saw an intern who was working with Dr. Bergman.
Second difference: when I was being prepared for surgery, I was able to admire the view through the big plate-glass windows on one side of the room. Prior to getting the left lens implanted, I couldn't see much of anything without my glasses.
Third difference: I wasn't entirely "out" at any time during yesterday's procedure. I didn't feel any pain or anxiety, but I was definitely aware of seeing a bright light and hearing background sounds such as a radio playing. Lou was my anesthesiologist again, and he said he would give me the same amount of sedation as the first time. I'm not sure what would account for the difference--possibly shifting hormone levels (yesterday was the first day of my period) or a reduced level of anxiety. I remember the nurse putting the oxygen "thingie" into my nostrils. I asked her if I'd had oxygen before, and she said I had. I don't remember breathing in the oxygen the first time, but I do remember someone talking about oxygen. Shortly before the procedure yesterday, I remember Dr. Liu asking me to move up about an inch. Then he put something over my forehead to immobilize my head. This time I remember answering the nurse when she asked me what I wanted for my post-op snack. However, Tom said I made an identical comment to him twice yesterday (asking him about his errands) but I only remember asking him once. So I was more "with it" than before, but still a little vague. I was definitely groggy when I got out of bed and walked to the recliner in the recovery area.
I went back to Omaha Eye and Laser for my one-day followup on the right eye today, and both eyes are doing well. Dr. Liu asked how I liked having balanced vision, and I said it was an improvement although my right eye is still settling down. Yesterday Dr. Bergman said the left lens was "stable" and today Dr. Liu told the nurse that my eyes were "quiet" (a good thing--you don't want your eyes to have a lot of activity going on inside them!). He noticed a few stray cells (floaters) but nothing abnormal. I'm hoping for an uneventful recovery.
This morning I took the dogs out in the backyard and just stood there for a few minutes admiring the view. Every day with my new vision is a gift for which I am grateful--a miracle of modern medical technology. I love the freedom of having clear vision without wearing glasses or contacts.
Yesterday morning I went to Omaha Eye and Laser to get the new lens implanted in my right eye. I was still nervous, but not nearly as nervous as I was on April 19th. I thought I knew what to expect this time, and that was true for the most part. A few things were different this time, however.
First, I did not go directly from the waiting room to the surgery area. Instead, I was taken to an examining room to have both eyes checked before the surgery. Dr. James Liu wanted to get a final refraction to make sure the new lens would be appropriate for my right eye. Dr. Bergman (an optometrist on staff) did the refraction. I also saw an intern who was working with Dr. Bergman.
Second difference: when I was being prepared for surgery, I was able to admire the view through the big plate-glass windows on one side of the room. Prior to getting the left lens implanted, I couldn't see much of anything without my glasses.
Third difference: I wasn't entirely "out" at any time during yesterday's procedure. I didn't feel any pain or anxiety, but I was definitely aware of seeing a bright light and hearing background sounds such as a radio playing. Lou was my anesthesiologist again, and he said he would give me the same amount of sedation as the first time. I'm not sure what would account for the difference--possibly shifting hormone levels (yesterday was the first day of my period) or a reduced level of anxiety. I remember the nurse putting the oxygen "thingie" into my nostrils. I asked her if I'd had oxygen before, and she said I had. I don't remember breathing in the oxygen the first time, but I do remember someone talking about oxygen. Shortly before the procedure yesterday, I remember Dr. Liu asking me to move up about an inch. Then he put something over my forehead to immobilize my head. This time I remember answering the nurse when she asked me what I wanted for my post-op snack. However, Tom said I made an identical comment to him twice yesterday (asking him about his errands) but I only remember asking him once. So I was more "with it" than before, but still a little vague. I was definitely groggy when I got out of bed and walked to the recliner in the recovery area.
I went back to Omaha Eye and Laser for my one-day followup on the right eye today, and both eyes are doing well. Dr. Liu asked how I liked having balanced vision, and I said it was an improvement although my right eye is still settling down. Yesterday Dr. Bergman said the left lens was "stable" and today Dr. Liu told the nurse that my eyes were "quiet" (a good thing--you don't want your eyes to have a lot of activity going on inside them!). He noticed a few stray cells (floaters) but nothing abnormal. I'm hoping for an uneventful recovery.
This morning I took the dogs out in the backyard and just stood there for a few minutes admiring the view. Every day with my new vision is a gift for which I am grateful--a miracle of modern medical technology. I love the freedom of having clear vision without wearing glasses or contacts.
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