[DaleO]

I hope this topic fits okay in the Lobby, maybe there are other's who could benefit.

I had my yearly eye appointment a couple days ago. I've had correction since high school and normally eye checkups are just confirmation things are good and do you want new glasses? This year is quite a bit different. Now I have no intention to sound whining. My problem is NOTHING to what so many people have to deal with everyday. I was just set back with the report and have all of a sudden have to start thinking about something new to me. The tech was unable to correct my left eye in that I now am seeing two and sometimes three images of the one letter. As the tech went on with trying and asking questions the tone changed and she said excuse me and left the room. Within a minute my Dr. came in and went through the collected data as we talked. (this is besides the point but she has been my doctor for into three decades now and she of course knows my wife and has watched my kids from birth to the last one going to college now). Anyway, asked my if I had hit my head or had a concussion recently. Well yes I had, my feet slipped out from underneath me walking on ice and I fell straight backward and landed the back of my head at the base of my skull and remember the craaaack. I was alone and I don't think I was out for more than 3 seconds. I was headed to my car after visiting mom in memory and hospice care but turned around and got back to her room and sat it out for awhile in the rocking chair. So it hurt and I was kind of figuring out what to do. I'm not trying to complain, just some background here.

So she asked me that and she wasn't surprised because it confirmed what she saw. Now I'm just a mechanical engineer so I can't describe what she knows but basically the "eye fluid elasticity system" was unable to absorb the impact and thus caused an impaction in the lens which is now causing light dispersion and the multiple imagines. The retina is fine thank God. So I have a cataract in the left eye and the beginning of one in my right eye. There came an "onslaught" of data and information which was kind of a blur so I was to adjust and wife and I will come in later for further consultation. One piece of the info was it is illegal for me to drive at night and I don't remember if it was because of one eye or both. Anyway, I qualify for insurance coverage for left but the right eye not yet. I don't want to be perceived as complaining, my problem is NOTHING compared to others.

Basically I have three options: 1) don't do a thing, 2) get a new lens for left eye, 3) when getting left eye done just do the right at the same time. Other people do not have this opportunity to have their eyesight corrected or restored so I am very lucky.

The tech started talking about the procedure and honestly it freaked me out to no end. I've had other other operations such as appendix and prostate cancer surgery and that body cutting thing is okay but when she talked about making incisions across the top of the eye to remove and replace the lens made me nauseous. She said too much at the time, it's not like we're replacing a cam here.

So in one way it is kind of exciting to think about waking up in elk camp and not having to deal with glasses or contacts in wall tent accommodations but I'm freaked out a bit. I'm very lucky to have the option.

I'm sorry for the long background but this gets to my question. I'm sure there are some of you who have had this experience. Is there anything you might share of your thoughts and experience in this surgery?

thank you guys,
-dale