Cataracts

They're here:  another indication of my getting older.  Not old, just older than I was.  I'm good about going to the doctor, the dentist, the ophthalmologist, etc.  I actually enjoy knowing that I am about as healthy as I can be.  But, some things just come naturally with age: osteopenia, graying (or, as I refer to it, silvering) of the hair, wrinkles in the skin, and...cataracts.  The good news is that there is a fix for this, and, apparently, it is quick and painless (so I've been told).  One of my friends even said that his cataract surgery was the best thing that had happened to him in years; he was able to get along without glasses.  Lucky!  

 I doubt I will be able to toss my glasses out the window.  I was born with crossed eyes that became worse with each year.  When I was about 5 years old, my parents took me to the hospital to have my eyes corrected.  I don't remember that, but I have vivid memories of the aftermath.  There I was in kindergarten, with glasses that had a patch over my good eye to make my bad, recently crossed eye, work harder.  Kindergarten can be rough, believe it or not; even at that young age, kids can be brutal.  My eyes did get better, and I was able to thrive without glasses for years.  I am grateful that my parents had the knowledge and the funds to get my eyes uncrossed; many people are not as fortunate as I.

 Meanwhile, I have an appointment with the eye surgeon in a few weeks for my evaluation prior to the surgery.  This guy is VERY busy!  I imagine our aging population lining up with our Medicare cards to get the fix, and I'm OK with that.  Again, I am very aware of the good fortune that allows my eyesight to be evaluated and, I hope, fixed.  If I am not a good candidate for the surgery, that is alright, too.  I have enjoyed these eyes, uncrossed and focused, for many years.  Life is good. 

Comments

  1. BillJuly 28, 2019 at 12:05 PM

    Somehow, I seem to have missed this post in your blog. It is a good one, like all the others. We have both been told by our general practitioner that cataract surgery is the most popular operation of all. Most people have the experience of your friend. Short time and excellent results. I have worn glasses since I was 3 years old and still do after the surgery. They said my brain, head, eyes and such will always feel more comfortable with glasses on. I didn't get back to normal for a couple of weeks after the operation and during that time, I benefited very much from using reading glasses. They come in different strengths and are very inexpensive. Our local Goodwill sells new ones at the lowest price but Wal-Mart is low priced, too.

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