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.