Like most older folks, Scott and I have had our share of eye troubles.
I had cataract surgery in my early 50s, which is quite young for the operation. When I arrived at the Riverside, I was surrounded by people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s who thought I'd come to pick up my mother.
Cataract surgery changed my life. At the time of my operation, I was doing an event for the Canadian Fallen Firefighters and I was amazed two days later to see the entire vista of Parliament Hill, and I would see every detail and colour on the dress uniforms of the Governor-General's Guards as they marched and played in memory of the fallen. It gave me good bumps.
Best of all, I didn't have to wear distance glasses for the past ten years.
Until now. Last week, I went to Lenscrafters and purchased FOUR pairs of glasses: distance glasses and suns as well as specs to read and specs to see the computer. Thank God for COVID pricing. I was able to get all four pairs for less than one of my usual pair.
Turns out, the cataract surgery gave me an astigmatism that has made me cross-eyed.
I'm a little down about the fact that my reprieve from glasses is over but at least I can see again.
Three years ago, Scott had a serious tear in the retina of his camera-shooting eye. Apparently it's a thing with old news camera guys.
He didn't even mention it to me, but I knew there was something wrong when he went to pour a Scotch and it dribbled over a glass that was turned upside down on the table. He refused to seek help and I posted this on Facebook, and thank God for Facebook! Two days later, he was having surgery and he now has a buckle in his eye. Last year, he had a retinal tear in his other eye but thankfully it was noticed by his optometrist who sent him over to the Riverside Hospital for a quick laser treatment.
Ever since his surgery, and two cataract operations, he hasn't had to wear Coke goggles. He marvelled at this last year at the cottage because for the first time he was able to take in the beautiful sights of loons skimming the surface of Lac O'Neil. He could identify every leaf that was changing during our fall escape, and I was really happy for him.
Fast forward to yesterday when I sent him off to the eye doctor for readers, only to have him greet me with a $750 eye glass bill. (Again, thank God for COVID pricing!)
The doctor told him he will now always have to wear distance glasses to protect his buckled eye which is now shaped like a football.
It makes me consider the fact that every surgery, even the small ones, has its consequences. I also present to you the top of my right ear where I had skin cancer. The plastic surgeon sewed the skin from the back of my ear on the top of it, and now I look like Mr. Spock if his right ear had shrivelled and turned two different shades. Also the fine young surgeon sewed the back so tight its circulation is slightly altered and requires a daily treatment of apple cider vinegar to stave off an ongoing cradle cap condition. Oh yes, and I scream bloody murder every time the hair stylist washes my hair.
Oh well, I'm just grateful she gave me an ear top.
And that the eye doc gave me my sight back even for a few years.
What are ya gonna do?
I don't even want to think about what I might look like getting my fourth cataract removed at ninety!
I had cataract surgery in my early 50s, which is quite young for the operation. When I arrived at the Riverside, I was surrounded by people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s who thought I'd come to pick up my mother.
Cataract surgery changed my life. At the time of my operation, I was doing an event for the Canadian Fallen Firefighters and I was amazed two days later to see the entire vista of Parliament Hill, and I would see every detail and colour on the dress uniforms of the Governor-General's Guards as they marched and played in memory of the fallen. It gave me good bumps.
Best of all, I didn't have to wear distance glasses for the past ten years.
Until now. Last week, I went to Lenscrafters and purchased FOUR pairs of glasses: distance glasses and suns as well as specs to read and specs to see the computer. Thank God for COVID pricing. I was able to get all four pairs for less than one of my usual pair.
Turns out, the cataract surgery gave me an astigmatism that has made me cross-eyed.
I'm a little down about the fact that my reprieve from glasses is over but at least I can see again.
Three years ago, Scott had a serious tear in the retina of his camera-shooting eye. Apparently it's a thing with old news camera guys.
He didn't even mention it to me, but I knew there was something wrong when he went to pour a Scotch and it dribbled over a glass that was turned upside down on the table. He refused to seek help and I posted this on Facebook, and thank God for Facebook! Two days later, he was having surgery and he now has a buckle in his eye. Last year, he had a retinal tear in his other eye but thankfully it was noticed by his optometrist who sent him over to the Riverside Hospital for a quick laser treatment.
Ever since his surgery, and two cataract operations, he hasn't had to wear Coke goggles. He marvelled at this last year at the cottage because for the first time he was able to take in the beautiful sights of loons skimming the surface of Lac O'Neil. He could identify every leaf that was changing during our fall escape, and I was really happy for him.
Fast forward to yesterday when I sent him off to the eye doctor for readers, only to have him greet me with a $750 eye glass bill. (Again, thank God for COVID pricing!)
The doctor told him he will now always have to wear distance glasses to protect his buckled eye which is now shaped like a football.
It makes me consider the fact that every surgery, even the small ones, has its consequences. I also present to you the top of my right ear where I had skin cancer. The plastic surgeon sewed the skin from the back of my ear on the top of it, and now I look like Mr. Spock if his right ear had shrivelled and turned two different shades. Also the fine young surgeon sewed the back so tight its circulation is slightly altered and requires a daily treatment of apple cider vinegar to stave off an ongoing cradle cap condition. Oh yes, and I scream bloody murder every time the hair stylist washes my hair.
Oh well, I'm just grateful she gave me an ear top.
And that the eye doc gave me my sight back even for a few years.
What are ya gonna do?
I don't even want to think about what I might look like getting my fourth cataract removed at ninety!
Comments
Post a Comment