The Day I Dreaded For Ten Years Has Arrived.

Ten years ago or so a eye doc told me I had cataracts and could expect to need cataract surgery in about ten years. This last January I went to another eye doc because I was having trouble reading the fine print on microwave meals. Why they use yellow font on a white background is beyond my understanding. After the exam he told me my cataracts were ready to be removed. He also said I shouldn't drive at night.  I was shocked. I had no idea my eyes were that bad. I had just returned from a cross country trip where I was driving at night some of the time. He said eyes worsen gradually. Not to drive at night is super inconvenient. How can you go to concerts or plays if you can't drive at night? I followed his advice except for that one time I needed to drive a rental car from Key West to the car rental place near the Miami airport. I had to drive at night or I would have missed my Greyhound bus. Other than that I have not been driving after dark. Today Offspring #2 drove me to an eye surgery center in Minnetonka. I had written an argument on my phone to read whenever my anxiety crept up on my eyeball being punctured. I was checked in and given instructions. My surgeon came in to talk to me. He said I would be so happy with the results and then he came back with one of those white blankets that has been heated. I love those hot white blankets. An X was written above my right eye ball. I had an IV put in. I was given Versed and Ketamine and some other drug. We were all talking, the anesthesiologist, nurses and I. I had a hair net on. Clear tape was put on my forehead I guess to keep my head from moving. When I felt a metal retractor fitted onto my eye ball I decided it was time to stop talking. I felt cool fluid on my eye. Then I saw the most amazing pinks and yellows and green. My vision was like a beautiful abstract painting. I felt no pain.. Then the tape was removed and a clear plastic shield taped over my eye. I asked what the cataract looked like. I asked if it looked like yellow jello. The anesthesiologist said from what he could see it looked like muddy river jello. Then they were all discussing what muddy river jello would look like. I was wheeled out of the surgery suite. Only one hour elapsed between getting out of Offspring #2's car and getting back in. The surgery went about how I expected. I can already see better than before. I have to instill 12 eye drops per day in my right eye. When I have my left eye done I will be putting 12 drops in the right eye and 12 drops in the left eye. I am grateful that although I had a medical problem, it was one that could be solved.