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My personal experience with eye surgery
For the past few weeks I have been preoccupied with cataract surgery and the subsequent post-surgery care that is required.
Most days I have had to put drops in my eyes at least six times a day. I’m now an expert at it. Today, Monday, June 12 is the last day for six drops and for the next 30 days it will be three times a day in the right eye and less than a week for the left eye.
This all began about 10 years ago when my optometrist told me that within five years it would be necessary to have cataract surgery. As it turned out it was eight years before he referred me to the Ophthalmologist. At that time, it was determined that the cataracts had to be removed however because I have odd shaped eyes it was recommended that the surgery be delayed until Health Canada approve the new Symphony Toric lens which would correct the cataracts and the stigmatism at the same time.
I was all for that, after 50 plus years of wearing glasses, being able to not wear glasses was a bonus worth waiting for. Unfortunately, Health Canada took a year longer than expected to approve the lens.
Finally, after this very long wait the day arrived when I had to show up at the hospital at 6:45 a.m. to be prepared for surgery. Not having any idea what was going to happen and having never watched the U-tube video, I was a bit nervous.
After about an hour and a half I was wheeled into the operating room, the Ophthalmologist and I had a running conversation about a number of topics totally unrelated to eye surgery and 15 or 20 minutes later I was on my way. He calls it oral surgery, keep the patients mind off the procedure with a running conversation about whatever comes into your head.
By dinner time that evening my eyesight in the left eye was just about 20-20 by the next day it was even better. I had not had that kind of vision for years and in fact it had gotten so bad that I was basically functioning with one eye. Three weeks later the right eye was done and with similar results. For someone who has never been a patient of a hospital before and never had surgery of any kind this has been whole new experience.
What I found very interesting wasn’t so much that now I have 20-20 vision, for which I am very grateful, I can envision many productive and enjoyable years as a result, but that unwittingly I had been withdrawing from society simple because I had been having difficulty seeing over the past few years. I know I wasn’t much fun to have along on the golf course as if I did hit the ball I had no idea where it went and relied on my playing partner to tell me.
One of the hazards of aging is the loss of some of the faculties but the good news is that technology can fix it and am I ever glad that is the case. I cannot foresee the future but by golly whatever comes up will be clear and easy to recognize. I am looking forward to every day with both eyes wide open, and no glasses.
– Colin J. Campbell CLU, Ch.F.C. is the managing partner of Guidance Planning Strategies Ltd, an independent wealth management firm serving businesses and families in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia. www.gpsbc.ca