The Eye Appointment

So, off I went this morning to manage the complexities of the hospital parking garage, I allowed plenty of time for finding a parking place and, of course, I found one almost immediately!  I noted it was on the blue level and on row I. The mnemonic for that was easy,,, "I am blue!" So many people forget which level they are parked on that as you go through the door to the elevators, there is a little square of blue and a notice to take one to remind yourself of the level ywhere ou are parked !

I made my way to the appropriate floor for ophthalmology and got there 30 minutes early. Incidentally, this department is waaaay back and quite a distance from the elevators. The last time I was there, I requested a wheel chair to get there so I was pleased with myself when I got to the correct place by walking  with no problems at all.

Even though I was so early, a very nice tech named Bob came out and got me and took me to be tested on the peripheral vision tester. Now, last time I had an annoying female who spoke to me as if I was either slightly slow or a young child. She annoyed me so much that if I had had her this time, I was all prepared to say something to her, but fortunately, I had Bob who went briefly through the instructions and then said nothing except "You are halfway through this at this point!" That annoying woman said things like, "Oh, you are doing sooo well!" in a sing-songy voice! I mean, for goodness sake! I am pressing a buzzer when I see a light! it isn’t rocket science, y’know!

After all that was over, I got the drops squirted in my eyes and had the various tests with and without glasses. This is where I realized that my right eye can see almost nothing. And it is not much better with my glasses. Anyway, the final verdict from the doctor who came in and did some of the tests over again was that I needed laser treatment on my right eye to zap away the cells that were trying to form a new cataract. Now, since I had this done on my left eye a few months ago and since at that time the doctor mentioned that there seemed to be cells that would have to be zapped on the right eye eventually, I wasn’t totally surprised!

So, it was done right there and then. It was painless and and on my part only involved keeping my head totally still. Then I had to wait and hour and a half so they could check it after lunch. I went to the little cafeteria on the second floor and had a tuna sandwich. The only annoying thing about this waiting was that I couldn’t read because my eyes were still dilated. At this point, I called Fred and asked him to call the physical therapy place and cancel my appointment for this afternoon.

After lunch, I went back and all was well. I did not see the huge and dramatic improvement I noticed immediately when the left eye was done, but then  the right eye has always been noticeable weaker that the other one. However, since I have come home and the dilation drops and the numbing drops and the drops to defend against infection have worn off, I really do see a difference. I will, I think, be more aware of it tomorrow when all the gunk from the various drops is out of my eyes.

I go back next Friday afternoon to get checked again. There is, the doctor said, a clump of cells hanging by a thin thread. If they have not detached themselves by Friday, he will zap them again but he told me to shake my head a lot and they would become a little floaty and be reabsorbed!

QUOTATIONS:

"Step by step. I can’t think of any other way of accomplishing anything."

Michael Jordan

None will improve your lot If you yourself do not.

Bertolt Brecht, 1933