Second Eye

So I was pretty sure I'd feel like this:

But I didn't. The second procedure went very smooth with a nice low blood pressure to start things out. This time I listened as the doctor talked during surgery and he was actually explaining what he was doing for me. I assume he did it first time, but I couldn't pay attention. 

It was easy peasy and I was tired all day and went to bed at 8PM and slept until 5AM! I woke up without any itchy scratchy eye and when daylight rolls around, I'll discover what I can see with my weaker eye. 
Mother Nature also cooperated by sending the nasty weather to the south of us and we had no rain or snow. 

I actually stayed Off Line all day Thursday other than to send a thumbs up to a couple of friends. 

I'm looking forward to what the day brings.

The day[s] after eye surgery

 Well Friday morning was a huge surprise after seeing the moon so clearly.

At 9AM the Tech, Josh, called me to follow up with how things were going. 

He had his basic questions that he had to ask. Date of Birth, name, and so forth. Was the eye swollen, red, dripping, fuzzy,...it was a list of things he had to go through. 

Nope, nope, nope, all good.

The sun just broke over the trees when he asked how things were going. I gasped like a little girl and told him that the pine trees outside my house had texture in the bark along with beautiful colors. I said the snow was incredible with all the contrasts of white, blues, and shadows.

Really. I was floored at how incredible things looked. Stunned would be a good word. The world had depth to it.

Josh asked me to look at the chart that I'd been given and stand 10 feet away from it.

What could I see?

Dang, I could read line 8 and sort of stumbled through line 9. He chuckled and then said, "Wow, we are happy when our patients can read the big E at the top of the chart!"

Yep, I was giddy and not from the meds they gave me during surgery. I was giddy at the visual explosions of color, light, and clarity. 

Josh signed off and said he'd talk to me next Friday after the Right Eye Surgery. He said he'd tell Dr. Whitford the good news I relayed to him.

I knew ahead of time that my close up vision couldn't be corrected. So I prepared myself to deal with great distance vision and crappy close vision.
I had purchased a pair of cheap readers. I am totally annoyed at having to wear them on the end of my nose. Maybe I'll get those half glasses. 

Now here is the funny part.

Cons of getting your eyes fixed.

You can see your face without glasses and at my age it looks just weird to me. I can see all the Crow's Feet at the edges of my eyes that my glasses hid. Oh crap, where did all those wrinkles come from??

As I looked in the bathroom mirror, I was aghast at the spots, dust and smears that were on the mirror! OMG. I immediately stopped what I was doing and cleaned it. The clean mirror did not make me look younger. Perhaps I should have left it smeary....

Huh. 

I'm working out a way to use my cheaters for computer work, but it is a pain taking them on and off. I have to peer over them and I don't like that much.

BUT, I can wear regular sunglasses outside and I don't have to wear the Granny Over the Glasses Sunglasses!

Saturday was the first day I ventured out without glasses and took a nice long walk with Mr. Charlie. He was so happy to be out and about with me. 

I took my infrared camera out with a filter that only allows IR in Black and White. I know, odd choice after being able to see colors. But I could see such wonderful contrasts through the view finder.

For now, I spent a very limited time using my computer. But as time goes on I imagine I'll get back into the swing of things.

Charlie walking with me on the road:

Charlie saying he will not enter deep snow with his vest on:

Beautiful contrasts:

Surgical Fun

 A nurse came out to the waiting room and asked a few questions and talked to Olive and I. She wanted to confirm that I had a driver.

Back in the little pre surgical room she asked more questions.
Did I take two showers, sleep in clean sheets, no lotions, no pets in bed?...and so forth.

Then came all the wires and hook ups and a blood pressure reading which made their eyes pop. I heard one nurse look at my chart and say "white coat syndrome". Indeed, the quickest way to increase my blood pressure is to put me in a room and put the cuff on me. They dug a bit deeper into my chart which showed my normal readings to be well, very normal. 

The nurse put dilator goo that also was a local anesthetic in my eye. So, I was hyper and anxious and now couldn't see much through the Vaselined Eye.

In 20 minutes they checked the pressure again and I'd done some deep breathing and mental calming. My pressure was good.
The guy across the hall actually helped immensely. He was in for his second cataract/lens surgery.

The nurse asked him how he was getting along with the new lens, he said good but it was blurry once in a while. She replied, "Give it a couple of weeks so your brain can adjust to the new view."

He laughed such a wonderful laugh and replied to her, "Oh darlin', I am a Norwegian! We better give my brain a whole lot longer!"

The handsome eye doctor came in and fiddled with something and then discussed a 14 degree something and some techno wizard words. Then he initialed my left eyebrow. He told me to look straight at the hall way and then came in and touched my eye with something. I couldn't feel it.

He turned to the assistant and said something about that's the mark for the lens.
I asked him if he just put marks on my eyeball! 
"I did! See you soon!"

I got some really nasty tasting grape flavored goo to put under my tongue. [The day will be filled with goo references] It was Versed which is worse tasting than the grape flavored cough syrup kids of my generation had to have.
That med is supposed to sedate you. I didn't feel sedated. 

So when they came to get me I steeled myself for the surgery.

They put a mask like thing over my face and then pulled off an opening over my left eye. I was a bit surprised and then I felt more drops and a sudden pressure. Ahhh, they clamped the eye open! 

[And I didn't care! I was diggin' the pretty white light with all the green blobby stuff moving around, it was like a pretty kaleidoscope of green and white with dark shadows.]
Obviously, the Versed worked.

I heard the doctor's voice as he was saying what he was doing, it didn't make any sense to me. But at least he had a nice voice.

I don't remember them pulling the mask thing off my face, but I was wheeled down the corridor and that was it.

They wheeled me out to the entrance and off I went with Olive as my wheel woman. We did a KwiK Trip breakfast of croissants and coffee as we drove home.

All the rest of the day, I wore sunglasses in the house. Light bothered me, everything in the good eye was drippy with tears and fuzzy. It felt like I had an eyeful of hay chaff and I couldn't read. My weak eye went on strike and I went to bed with headphone and Chill Out Music from Pandora.

I was so frustrated. The big surprise of the day was that Rich asked if I needed some water to drink, could he make popcorn, could he get me some fresh Kleenex's for my drippy gooey eye? Could he feed Charlie for me?

I went to bed early and somewhere in the middle of the night, my eye stopped being drippy and weepy. It stopped itching and feeling gooey.

I woke up and stepped outside at 3AM to look up at the moon with no glasses on. I covered my weaker eye.

Can you imagine seeing the moon clearly for the first time in ages? Can you imagine seeing the moon with my own eyes for the first time ever without a halo around it?

I could have cried.

Thanks to everyone who commented yesterday. I couldn't see to read the comments until this morning. 

What next?

Well, February 2nd is my first Cataract Surgery. From what I understand it will take longer for prep and recovery from the mild sedative than it will for the entire surgery.

I've been told that colors will be more vibrant and white won't look beige any more. That is interesting as my brain is seeing snow as white, right?

Then I had this terrible thought. If my colors are all off, how has my photography in the past year or so been affected? I guess I will find out.

It has been nearly 60 years since I had eye surgery to help correct my vision. I am eternally grateful to my parents who made sure I had this eye surgery when I was little. By the time I reached 6th grade, I only had to wear glasses to read if my eyes were tired. I lived a childhood without being teased for crooked eyes. 

So I won't be posting or writing on Thursday.
My vision is supposed to be a bit blurry
and of course I'll be goofy from the sedation which could
last for about 24 hours.
😏

I'm writing this on Wednesday afternoon while waiting on a text for the time I'm to show up for my 'thing'.

So I will give you one more Lego indoor fun photo project to enjoy.

Items used. Blocks from our house remodel that I painted and put in a large tote for when children came over to play at my house. The little ol' fella from my Lego collection. I call him Rich...Oh and of course, his chicken.

And this is how it turned out.

Home Sweet Home

Have a great Thursday. I know I will.

Update: I have to leave the house at 5:30AM! Yikes!

The Eye Surgeon visit

On Tuesday I took my hubby in to see the regular eye doctor. The tech and everyone took their time with him and were so laid back and chilled out. My hubby actually enjoyed meeting the doctor I use.

Wednesday was my appointment to meet the eye cataract surgeon and see if I qualify for the upscale lens replacement.

I checked in and immediately noticed a different atmosphere in the waiting room. I figured out pretty quickly that it was 'Meet the Surgeon Day' for eye surgeries.

I was about the only person there that didn't use a cane or have white hair. The hustle and bustle seemed much more intense than it was the day before.

Olive drove me there and dropped me off so she could go to the Wonderstate Coffee shop and do her remote work and enjoy a nice break from her basement office. Talk about things working out!

One lady called my name and took me to a room where she started to 'measure' my eyes. She explained a few things to me and seemed to push the regular surgery. I inquired about a special lens option, she noted that and whisked me to another room. 

I met a young man who was the Tech for the Surgeon. He tested my vision and went through my medical chart and then put some nasty stinging dilation drops in my eyes. He was nice and worked swiftly.

In about 10 minutes another young man walked in. He introduced himself as Steve and began to ask more questions. 

He...was the Surgeon. He went through my chart and asked about my 'good' eye and what I was hoping to get out of the cataract surgery. I responded by asking him if inter ocular lenses would improve my vision and possibly get me out of glasses. 

I'll stop here and explain that I was born with an eye issue. My right eye was nearly turned in all of the way. I had Strabismus surgery when I was in second grade. That made my eyes look fairly normal and I didn't get teased for having crooked eyes.

Having my eye turned in caused a condition called Amblyopia. For all the years I had a crooked eye, my brain stopped developing good vision in that eye.  I wore an eye patch on my glasses and did eye exercises -- PT for the eyes.

Dr. Steve explained that he could place an IOL [inter ocular lens] in the 'Good' eye and that would give me incredible distance vision, and I'd probably need just dime store cheaters for close up work.

I was all for that. 

There was a whirlwind of things after that and I was whisked to the surgical scheduler. She gave me 3 dates to go to LaCrosse. Crap. I'd need a driver fro the surgeries. The first date was to measure my left eye for a new lens to improve my vision. The next two were dates for the surgery.

I hadn't planned on going to LaCrosse at all. But with the 'new' high tech surgery, it had to be done at the larger facility. I almost said forget it...

I texted Olive with the surgical dates and asked her IF she'd be interested. I'd have to be in LaCrosse between 6-8AM on those days. Mind you, she has a toddler and she works remotely. Hubby is a stay at home dad and works part time.

As the scheduler and I looked at dates, the text back was: Absolutely! I can do that!

Wham bam, thank you ma'am. I was handed instructions and off I went.

Now. Here is my comparison for the two visits.

With the regular eye doctor: Calm, easy going, extra caring.

A pre surgical visit: Whirlwind. Almost like a production line in a factory.

Olive had picked me up a frothy Moca something or another coffee and I tried to explain what I was going to go through.

When I got home, I signed into MyChart and looked up the notes and details from the visit. I was able to re-read what the surgeon had said and it all made perfect sense. Being able to read the doctor's notes I think, is one of the best things ever invented.

I have what is considered Monocular Vision because of my issue as a kid. 

Of course, with one eye that the brain likes to ignore, making a miracle.... isn't feasible. 
I keep forgetting that I see the world in a different manner than those with two working eyes.

From early childhood on, I've learned to judge distances without depth perception. To me, the world is flat when I look out at it. 

I've gone nearly 67 years seeing the world this way and have gotten along fine. 

I'll be thrilled to see clearly again in any case. 

Weather, Birds, and the Bionic Eyes

 

The big storm is hitting our area. We are experiencing a slew of rain and sleet mixed in together. The winds on the ridge according to my neighbor sounds like heavy machinery sitting outside their house.

Yesterday we had a regular feeding Frenzy at the bird feeders. It was nuts!
I made a short 20 second video with a program called ClipChamp, but since I am not experienced at these things, it isn't very great. I also hate that Windows Movie Maker is no longer free and requires a subscription.

However, you can see the birds as they came and basically chased each other around.

The Downy or Hairy Woodpecker was NOT fazed by the intimidating female blackbird that swooped in and landed on the feeder!

The Titmouse flew in and ran off the Nuthatch...

While I was waiting for my 4th eye appointment this year...due to changes in vision, I took a lot of shots out the window. I use the ProCapture mode which cycles photos in the memory but won't save them until you press the button down. Then it takes up to 10 shots pre push and up to 10 shots when you push the shutter.

That is how I got these action shots. I am not quick enough otherwise to get them.

The Eye Appointment.

The tech tested my vision. She asked me: What brings you in today?
My answer in a bullet list form:
Cannot see anything in the distance beyond 10 feet unless it is blurry.
Up close is okay.
Light causes me to squint.
Halos around lights.
Headaches from eyestrain.
No Medication List.
No Change in Health.
Need sunglasses on dark days to dim the snow.

She did the vision test and kept asking...1 or 2? 3 or 4? 

I said none of the above.
She finished her exam and set me in a little waiting room.

Pretty soon the young and handsome Dr. Williamson came to get me [Yeah, he is young, handsome, and married. Gosh, give an old lady a break, right?]

Damn! He asked how my KVR Trail Challenge went! How could he recall that? We did some small talk about photography and after about 10 minutes we got down to it. [Guys! I must live in a very doctor friendly area. The doctors here actually take an interest in YOU!]

My vision has deteriorated in my right eye a lot [I had Strabismus surgery in 1961 -- that surgery will cause cataracts to develop more rapidly. And that eye always sucked anyway]. Doc said he couldn't fix it with a new prescription.

He also said he could only improve it slightly in the left eye...so... it was time to consider the next step.

Surgery. Cataract Surgery. It is a rather Routine Surgery, however with any surgery, things can go sideways.

He explained in detail how they do the surgery. Replacing the cloudy lens -- much like a cloudy lens on an old headlight. He said I should see colors much better.

Then he talked about new technology. Did you know that there is an option for an intra ocular lens replacement that can 'fix' astigmatism? 

I could be a candidate for a Multifocal/Extended Depth of Focus Lens placement in each eye.

Could be.
That means for a pretty hefty price, I could essentially toss my glasses for most of the rest of my life.

It would be like them surgically putting my glasses as replacement to the clouded cataract lenses.

Yeah. I asked him for bionic eyes and he laughed. "We are not quite there yet!"

I talked this over with Rich regarding the expense. Rich and I checked our finances and if I qualify, I am going for the lenses.

I am the CareGiver and the driver and the everything doer here on the farm. 

Basically I want to see, I am a very visual person as you may have guessed.

Here is another surprise. I will see the surgeon in 4 weeks and they  can do the procedure in our little town at the local hospital.