Let's Talk Eyeball to Eyeball

   You're looking at a pair of old eyes. My eyes to be specific. Today they are working a whole lot better than then they did two weeks ago and better than they did a few years ago. Poor vision creeps up with age. Slowly. At first you don't notice the subtle change. I didn't need glasses until my early thirties when I noticed the strain from reading schematic drawings and chasing tiny wires behind dimly lit telephone equipment bays. After a few years of regular glasses I was fitted for bifocals, and finally trifocals. 

   Now bifocals and trifocals are a real pain in the derriere, not to mention they are big and unglamorous... as if I should worry about my "beauty". But try hiking or bicycle riding while wearing trifocals! Because of astigmatism I was not a candidate for LASIK eye surgery so I was stuck with those big "seal beams". 

   Then about five years ago I noticed things looked a bit darker in one eye so went to my friendly primary care physician who confirmed I not only had a cataract growing in my right eye, but to a lesser extent in my left eye. But they weren't bad enough to take action so sit and wait. Three years ago he sent me to an ophthalmologist who said come back next year. And then come back again next year. Finally, this year it was time to have cataract surgery. I was ready! But even more so when I discovered that for some out-of-pocket money I could get prescription eye lenses instead of the plain lens implants. My ophthalmologist said he would fix the the old eyeballs to give me the best distance vision and I would only need reading glasses.

   On February 9th I had my right eye done during a short outpatient visit to our local hospital. A few hours later I walked out with great distance vision. This past Monday my left eye was done with similar results. Now I'm continuing a regimen of eye drops and next month will return to see if I can get by with "store bought" reading glasses like I'm using now (I swiped a pair from Susan) or if I will need prescription reading glasses.

  Now everything seems so clear and bright. Wow, the things that I have been missing all these years!

                                                     GOOD BY TRIFOCALS!