Light
“the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible”
For those of you waiting for my long awaited tales of my journey from blindness to the light, I give you my story. My deepest apologies for the length, but this tale spans 3 full weeks, 2 surgeries and days of recovery.
Despite a complex set of pre-operative instructions, I made it to my surgery date, December 21st (also my 51st birthday). My blood pressure was spiking as the nurse removed my glasses and from that point on, I just prayed my new lens would not fail me.
Once I was connected to the monitors and the IV placed, my nurse filled my eyes with a variety of dilation and numbing drops and iodine. The surgeon came in and confirmed information and drew on my eye with a small pen, marking the location of the new lens and point of astigmatism. Then I was wheeled into surgery.
Adjustments to the chair left me feeling a bit like I was hanging from a inversion therapy device. The nurse returned with more iodine scrub for around my eyes and to tape my head to the headrest. I heard the surgeon near and asked if I’d been given the relaxation drugs, I was feeling much too awake for my comfort level. I soon felt the lightness from the drugs in my head and then only heard the surgeon tell me that I would feel a bit pressure or to look for a blue light. I really did not feel or hear anything else until I awoke in the recovery room. This was apparently quite normal as the surgeon needed me awake and my eyes focused during the procedure.
As mentioned in my previous post, my journey into the light began when I first experienced sight through my newly implanted lens. I unleashed tears at the recognition of the can lights on the ceiling, clear and defined. My nurse, Tammy shared in my joy as I cried, thanked my mom for being with me and saw 20/20 out of one eye for the first time in my life.
The next 2 weeks were difficult. The healing went very well; however, the next week wearing my right contact lens left me with an uneven sight pattern. The 2 lenses did not work in tandem, so I stumbled around a bit and juggled some old readers. Week 2 was worse. I could not wear my right contact for the following 7 days, so attempted to wear my glasses without the left lens until the next surgery. This lens did not work at all with my new implanted lens. This left me at home, watching TV and holding my cell phone 3 inches from my face to check emails and social media.
Something I wasn’t expecting was the lack of mid-range vision. I was suggested, never promised, that my clear vision would exist from about computer/dashboard to 20/20 distance vision. I had resigned myself to having to use readers for anything closer, as is perfectly normal for someone in their 50’s. Following my 1st surgery, I realized that my mid-range was closer to 3-4 feet away. Sometimes better, but definitely not as discussed. I worried that my decision to select distance as my Level 1 vision of choice.
Part of the delay in surgery from summer 2022 to winter 2022 as to await the production of a Level 2 lens from the manufacturer. This would’ve enabled me to see both distance and mid-range with more certainty. As we got closer and closer to the surgery date, I worried if the office had in fact received confirmation of the lens production. My disappointment was palpable when they called to tell me the manufacturer determined they had not produced the increased power lens, and they were uncertain when or even if this would be produced in the near future.
With $2,700 in my FSA designated to pay for this surgery and the end of the year looming, I had to decide whether to wait and risk losing most of this savings or move ahead with a Level 1 selection. I had already designated another $2,800 for 2023 to use for the 2nd eye and it was unclear when this new contact would be, or if it would be produced. Dave and I elected to move forward. I started wearing glasses at the age of 7, and I suspect even before that I did not have 20/20 vision. The idea of seeing mountains, cities, crowds was too exciting a prospect to pass by.
Finally, January 4th and my second surgery arrived! I never thought I’d feel so excited to be headed into surgery. I arrived early, and in light of a bit of confusion that morning, probably a good thing. There had been some confusion about my records and billing which likely didn’t concern them as much as it did me. My confidence in the staff was such that I sent Dave back to the car to wait (we were babysitting our grandpup Nell that morning, so she and Papi went to Starbucks to wait.) Once again nurse Tammy took me back and started the familiar process.
The worst part for me is the IV placement. Rambling usually gets me through it and this time was no different. I hardly felt anything, which, as it turns out, is not a great thing. After wheeling me into surgery it was discovered that the IV had failed. After 3 more tries, the anesthesiologist was able to finally inject the relaxation drugs. The surgeon got to work right away. A little too quickly as I was witness to the rest of the prep, placing a clamp over my eye, multiple showers of numbing drugs, the drape over my face. I experienced a bit more than I wished I had, but it was over very quickly. I don’t remember the trip back to recovery.
I woke in recovery with the plastic shield over my right eye and perfectly clear vision. Much less emotional, I was allowed to sit in the waiting room for Dave to pick me up. Drugs took awhile to leave my system as I napped and ate my way through the afternoon.
The next day I tested 20/20 in my left eye and 20/25 in my right eye. My perfect vision is a dream come true. That Friday I barely touched my eye and ended up back at my doctor’s office with a small scratch. I am following my surgeon’s orders strictly, with regular prescription eye drops, no makeup, no touching, no lifting and wearing my eye shield when sleeping.
I can already tell that I’m going to struggle getting back to work. My eyes get weary after a bit of time and my strength is slowly returning after having so much time off. The next 30 days will be a healing process while waiting for any inflammation to resolve itself at which point I will meet with my eye doctor for my final eye test and fitting for a few pairs of “cool girl” glasses, including a fun pair of new Maui Jim aviators with bifocal readers. I’ve got the rest of my FSA funds to blow and it’s all going to several pairs of readers.
And that’s my update. The gift of light is incredible! More than I could have ever imagined. It’s going to take time for it to really sink in, but for now, I’m going to take my eyes out for a joyride into the world. Planning on hiking with my youngest and some long drives with David and Daisy. I can’t wait to see everything in bright, clear colors.
I’ll provide some updates when the dust settles. For now, it’s getting back to work tomorrow. Getting up early, dressing for work (still sans makeup) and putting some mileage on these new lenses!
Thank you all for your continued prayers!
