Cataracts!

One vivid memory that I have of my mother, is the ridiculously big sunglasses that she wore after she had cataract surgery. She continued to wear them long after her surgery and it was a common sight to see her in the passenger seat of the car with her humongous sunglasses covering her regular glasses and most of her face. It is a recollection I remember fondly. However, fast forward twenty years and it is not so cute when I am the one wearing these gigantic sunglasses. 

About three years ago, I started to realize that even with an updated prescription my vision was deteriorating. I went back to my eye doctor several times, complaining that I couldn't see clearly. He tried to readjust my prescription but eventually said that he could do nothing else because I had cataracts. At first, I was in denial. In my mind, only old people got cataracts! When did I get so old? Eventually, I came to terms with it and decided that it would be better to see again than to continue to refuse to believe that I had cataracts. I went to the specialist that my eye doctor recommended and he scheduled me for cataract surgery.

I had surgery on my right eye on January 29 and surgery on my left eye yesterday. Everything went really well and I am so pleased to be able to see clearly again. It is absolutely amazing! The only downside was the sunglasses. As Steve drove me home from my first surgery, he looked over at me in the passenger seat and laughingly said, "how's it going, Edith?" Fortunately, I really didn't have to wear them very long. I kept them on for most of the day after surgery because it felt good not to be exposed to light, but by the following day I was fine in the house. When I am outside or in the car, I wear "normal" sunglasses and not the ones given to me by the doctor.

Yesterday, after my second surgery, I was camped in the basement with my wonderful sunglasses on and Megan came for a visit. We chatted about some stuff and finally she blurted out, "Mom, it's really hard to take anything you say seriously when you are wearing those crazy glasses!" We had a good laugh and I decided the glasses had to go.

I had my follow-up visit for my left eye today, and the doctor says everything looks great. I am very happy and relieved to have good vision again and I am delighted to officially retire those sunglasses! Unlike my mother, who continued to enjoy her glasses for years, you will not see me wearing mine again!