Cataracts!!
I found out yesterday I have to have cataract surgery–it’s good and bad news. I see the ophthalmologist next week. This is both good and bad news. The good news: my crappy, crappy vision that I’ve had since birth will get waaayyyy better post-surgery. The bad news: the surgery itself and my total squeamishness about anything to do with eyes.With the wait times in this Province, and cutbacks on the number of cataract surgeries, I’m told it could be 2 years before I get surgery. My mother in law had cataract surgery last year and they did the eyes about 6-8 mos. apart or so. I’m informed, however, that if one is still of working age, there is a possibility of “fast-tracking” the surgery — but my worry is that may not reduce the wait time significantly. The cataract in the R. eye is quite advanced, and in both eyes my distance vision is quite affected, so of course I am concerned about how much my vision will be compromised by the continued growth of the cataracts.
I have known about these cataracts but my last appt. in Nov. 2007 they were not advanced enough to warrant an operation. I’m alarmed at the rapid progression in just over two years.
Also according to the optometrist, there is the possibility that I will be referred to another specialist [a retinal specialist?] because of my myopia (nearsightedness), something in the eye is already stretched and fragile and the cataract surgery may be a little trickier b/c of that. The ophthalmologist will make that call when I see him.
GOOD TIMES I tell ya GOOD TIMES.
PS – Update January 21, 2009 – the opthalmologist saw me January 19. There is a weak spot on my retina, so I will be seeing a retinal specialist before the cataract surgery. If the retinal specialist deems it necessary, there may be a surgery to correct the weak spot. I’m told this is similar surgery to a laser surgery. The opthalmologist has informed me that it will be 10-12 months for the cataract surgery. It may be less. The government hands down quotas to the cataract surgeons in April of each year and there may have been some changes.
