Cataract Surgery

November 1, 2011

Being awake, but not moving, was a weird sensation.  What was to take only a half hour to forty five minutes took about an hour to remove my cataract.  A blast of air was shot into my eye at the tail end of the surgery. I heard the doctor say "that's never happened before."  He asked for an instrument to remove the air bubble before putting the fluid into my eye.  I hope I don't have any more eye problems for a long, long time! 

Year of the bad EYE

September 1, 2011

My appointment with Dr. Lewis confirmed what Dr. Winword diagnosed.  My right eye, which I had surgery in, changed.  A cataract has developed that is still causing blurriness and slight double vision.  My vision is 20/100 without my glasses, and 20/50 with them on.  Either way, I need the cataract removed.  My appointment has been scheduled for the middle of October.  I am not looking forward to it, but if it corrects the problem, it will be worth it.  I was also told I am border line of having Glaucoma (a degenerative eye disease of the optic nerve).  So, now I have to have the pressure of my eyes tested twice yearly for the rest of my life.  Glaucoma cannot be reversed once it starts.  It causes blindness.  I have a lot to look forward to.... bummer!

On a lighter note, Jarrett celebrated his 6th birthday today!  

Four week check-up

Can you tell which eye I had surgery on?

If you said the the one on the left, you are right! It's my right eye on me. I went to my doctor appointment today. Good news! My eye pressure is normal and when the doctor looked inside it he said it was in excellent condition. The retina attached very nicely and I am healing right along. My vision is even doing well considering I had surgery just one month ago. He said I will be blurry for another month and should see "my normal" at about that time. I see him the end of July for my final post-op visit. I am so glad to have had Dr. Winward as my doctor. He is one of the top 10% Retina Specialists in the nation.

I bumped into an elderly couple, the Kelly's, that I know from the Bountiful Farmers Market. They are faithful customers. It was so fun to see them. They were heading into Dr. Winward's office, as well. I am a young client..... getting a detached retina is usually reserved for the older folks.

Pirate Patch

I wear this eye patch once in awhile when I want my eye to rest. When I first had my eye surgery and had a soft patch on it, I made the mistake of going over to Audrey's. Alia was very upset and wouldn't even look at me. It was a terrifying site to see Grandma as a Pirate.

I am still experiencing pain in the back of my eyeball, around my temple, and in my head directly over my eye. I take ibuprofen about ever 12 hours still. The gas bubble continues to break up, however, I still see a large black circle in the lower portion of my eye that blocks my vision. I can't wait for my vision to be clear again and for my pain to go away. It can't come soon enough!

Day 8: Eye Surgery

Dave is showing Jay, our home builder, his collection of guns from Afghanistan. Two very happy guys! We took him on a tour of the house, and he loved my decorating sense and asked if they could come in and take more pictures. Of course, I agreed.

The gas bubble in my eye is moving around and I can see somewhat out of the upper 1/3 of my eye. Eventhough what I see is blurry and has wavy, fluid-like movements, I am happy to see the slighest improvement. After calling the doctor's office yesterday and explaining the pain and discomfort in my eye, I was told it was due to dryness, most likely. My eyelid is catching on my eye ball. I bought some artificial tear drops to keep my eye moist. Hopefully, I will soon feel the improvement.

Day 7: Eye Surgery

I've been resting my eye while Dave has been busy pruning cherry trees, blackberries, and grapes. He has also gathered up the tree branches, with trusty Old Blue, into a large pile. Later on in the week we will have a huge bon fire!

Day 6: Eye Surgery

Blaine, our Network guy, came up and spent the day with us going over the system, working out bugs, updating, etc. Blaine has become a good friend and will come at a moment's notice if we need him. I fixed tuna fish and pickle sandwiches for lunch. I'm glad he feels at home with us.

My eye has been hurting since last night. Maybe I strained it too much yesterday. We bought a Pirate eye patch last night and I've been wearing it all day. My eye seems to be resting better today.

Day 5: Eye Surgery

I heard thunder and lightning this morning while still in bed. Then came the hail! I love Spring storms!

Day 4: Eye Surgery

Sunday, March 27, 2011

I layed down for most of the day. Dave unpacked the boxes he has been sending home from Afghanistan. This rug is handmade. It is 100% lamb's wool, including the fringe. Pomegranite and red onion were used to dye it red. It is soft and looks beautiful in the loft.

Day 3: Eye Surgery

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Another day out for breakfast. This time, the Golden Corral in Odgen. It sure is nice to be taken care of. Dave puts the eye drops in my eye every 4 hours, and the R.S. is bringing 3 meals in. It allows me to concentrate on following the doctor's orders.

Day 2: Eye Surgery

Friday, March 25, 2011

I can smile this morning because my eye and head are still numb (still can't feel anything), and Dave is home! Audrey and Mike picked him up from the airport last night and here we are, just leaving the house to go eat breakfast and pick up the medicine for my eye.

Doctor's orders: 1st week - keep head elevated or upright and avoid lying flat and looking up



We walked back in the house and were greeted by beautiful pink bloomin' tulips!

Day of Eye Surgery

Thursday, March 24, 2011

My retina's put back in place and is held there with a gas bubble. My eyesight, in my right eye, won't return for 2 to 4 weeks. A patch over the eye keeps it protected. Everything seems out of focus to me, even in the good eye. I was thankful to have Kelsey with me.

I was so worried about "watching" my eye surgery. I had to get reassurance from the nurses, the doctor, and the anesthesiologist that I wouldn't wig out. The nurse walked me through the procedure from start to finish, which put me a little more at ease. She said I would be awake for the procedure but wouldn't care. I was knocked out completely for the doctor to numb my eye and prepare it for surgery. I did wake up afterwards, but not sure when. I heard the conversation around the table.... Walmart stuff, and then the doctor asked me how I was doing. I said "fine". I saw the surgery tube in my eye and some of the procedure. Then I saw the bright short zaps of laser hit my eye to repair the smaller tares. It was so interesting. And, the nurse was right; I didn't care at all!

Waiting

I got treated to breakfast in bed this morning. Gravity is working against my eye right now while I wait for surgery tomorrow morning. For the most part, I need to remain in a lying position, on my left side, my bad eye facing up, and no pillow. I'm thankful for sweet and caring daughters that look after me. And I love my little companion, Alia. We're watching cartoons together!

detached retina

I don't know why I'm smiling. Maybe to hide my histeria. I have a detatched retina. I developed this large black dot, about 4 or 5 days ago, in my right eye that is blocking my vision. I thought it was associated with my sinus infection. But, today I found out it's not even related to it. I decided to call my family doctor and he immediately referred me to an eye doctor. Upon examination the eye doctor immediately referred me to a retina specialist in Salt Lake. I'm losing my retina and am scheduled for surgery Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. at St. Marks Hospital in Salt Lake City. If I don't get it repaired, I will lose my vision completely. I found out that it is something I was born with.... thin retina's. It's in both eyes. I am really bummed.