I Can See Clearly Now

I downplay that I am getting older, but I cannot deny that my aging process is happening. Like many people my age, I recently underwent cataract surgery. In preparing for this inevitable procedure, my contemporaries had advice for me and indicated how happy I would be when it was over.

Most cataracts develop because of aging. My optometrist warned me two years ago that I was beginning to develop cataracts and I should continue to be vigilant about wearing sunglasses. During the past year, things were sometimes cloudy even when I wore glasses. It was time to remove the original lens and replace it with a clear artificial lens.

The surgery was painless and lasted for a short time with flashes of light and dark. I had to wear a patch for a few hours and my eye felt scratchy. Eyedrops and Tylenol seemed to help. For my first eye, I felt good by that evening. My second eye required almost 24 hours for minimal recovery. I mostly noticed how bright the sun was and welcomed wearing sunglasses.

The surgery interrupted my active volunteer schedule for a bit. I slowed down with no heavy lifting or playing my trumpet for several days. I returned to normal activities after a week. Although the changes had been gradual and I didn’t think my visual acuity was that bad or that I was not seeing colors as brightly as I could, the surgery resulted in a clearer world. My eyes opened to greater sharpness.

Eight weeks have passes since my eyes were “done.”  I am back to the 20/20 vision I had for the first two-thirds of my life. I now only use reading glasses. I am placing drugstore readers throughout my house.

I am grateful for the technology that has allowed me to see better. I am glad my eyesight was correctable and that I could go through this “once in a lifetime” experience. Now I can strive to make greater sense of my visual world.