Cataract Eye, After the First Surgery, Life

On October 15, two weeks after the left eye surgery, right eye surgery will be done.

Here is what I have been doing the past 2 weeks

Eye Drops

These three small eye drop bottles surprised Hiroko.  With many things Hiroko was surprised during the Cataract Eye Surgery.  The cost of these small 3 eye drop bottles was $400.00 without insurance.  Thanks so much for Dan-san’s good insurance and 10% discount coupon from the doctor, Hiroko paid $97.00 for the 3 bottles.

Not only the price of these eye drops, but also it is so complicated to use this eye drops.  Total 7 drops, 3 times a day for 1 bottle, 2 times a day for another 2 bottles of eye drop into left eye every day for 4 weeks.  It started the day before the surgery day.  Hiroko made a schedule diagram, but it made her very nervous if she forgets the schedule.

The day of the surgery, we left home around 5:15, because we had to be at the hospital 6:00 am for 7:30 am surgery.  Many people were already working. 

Registration at the first floor and after that Dan-san and Hiroko would be taken to the surgery room, Hiroko thought.  However, the room on the 2^nd floor made Hiroko surprised for a 2^nd time.

This is the room for the preparation for any surgery.  “Excuse me, Hiroko has only the Cataract eye surgery.” ”Yes, we know.  This is the rule for any surgery.  Please take all the clothes off and put them in the locker and put on the hospital gown.” “WOW, take all clothes off, even the pants?” “Yes.  Everything!”  Hiroko was surprised, and almost said something, but since it's the rule, Hiroko had to say “yes” and obeyed the rules. 

Dan-san was waiting at the waiting room by the surgery unit.

This is Operation assisting nurses’ station.

After changing clothes Hiroko went back to the preparation room, where Dan-san was waiting.

Ten different eye drops were dropped 5 minutes apart.  One of them made Hiroko’s eye very, very burning feeling.  Another one was an I.V.（Intravenous）.  Many nurses, Ophthalmologist, Anesthesia doctor came in to make Hiroko comfortable.  Hiroko became very anxious about the surgery for all these preparations that Hiroko had never imagined.  Closer to the time for surgery, Hiroko was anesthetized, and taken to the surgery room on the same bed.  Cataract surgery is one of the no blood surgery, so the same bed at preparation room is used.

Ophthalmologist, Anesthesia doctor, nurses were saying, “It would be O.K.!”

・・・・・・・・・・

“The surgery was success,” said Ophthalmologist, “Nurses will take you to the waiting room after the surgery.”   Before changing clothes, Ophthalmologist came to see Hiroko and gave comfort, and warning matters; such as following day’s appointment and no carrying heavy stuff, no putting head down, no putting water in the eye.  It will be fine to do walking, using computer, etc.  It was amazing, there was no pain, or any sensation in the left eye.  After changing clothes, one of the attendants asked Hiroko to sit on a wheel chair, and pushed it to the exit of the Hospital to meet Dan-san for the drive home.

It was done.  From 4:30 am to 10:00 am, Hiroko’s surgery was finished.

Ophthalmologist performed six surgeries that day from 7 o’clock, and he called Hiroko around 9 o’clock that night and asked how Hiroko was doing.  It was a very comforting surprise. 

The following morning, Dan-san and Hiroko woke up as usual at 8 o’clock, and went out for a walking for 40 minutes.  Nothing happened.  After breakfast, Hiroko started to do the devotion as usual, reading Bible and Bible commentary called “Clay” for one and half hour.  After finishing the devotion, Hiroko noticed and was surprised that there was no need to be using the magnifying glass to read Japanese Kanji, Chinese character which has many, many strokes in those books.  No magnifying glass!  Great!  Wonderful!

At the afternoon’s appointment, the doctor checked Hiroko’s eye and said no problem at all with the results of the surgery.  In the morning, Hiroko saw bright shinny rings around the eye, but the doctor said it was typical for a couple of days.  The shinny rings were gone within a couple of days, and was able to see very well.  There are a couple of problems, one is glasses.  Looking for the old glasses and Hiroko is very comfortable using glasses made around 30 years ago.  Another one is very funny thing that Hiroko used to hold the books or paper away (about 15 inches) from the eye, but it is better to hold them close (6 or 7 inches) form the eyes.  After the right eye surgery is finished what will be happening.  It is a wonderful question.

The doctor friend in our church said, “If you can see so well, you don’t have to do the right eye surgery.”  Hiroko agreed and thought to herself not to do the surgery, and said “Hiroko doesn’t want to do unnecessary surgery, and change the natural lens to artificial lens.”  The doctor was surprised and said, “I will check your eyes ability to see.”  He put the card on Hiroko’s right eye and asked “Can you see?” “I can see very well,” said Hiroko, and then, changed the card on Hiroko’s left eye, “No, I can’t see with the right eye.”  “Well, now you know.  You have to do the surgery.”  Well, Hiroko can’t escape this 2^nd right eye surgery.

At the one week appointment, Hiroko was told her left eye has close to 20/20 vision without glasses.  After the right eye surgery you will have perfect eyes, said the Ophthalmologist.

Tomorrow, it will be Hiroko’s right eye surgery.  Please continue to pray for Hiroko and give thanks to the Lord for His loving caring hands.