Eye eye! Not for the squeamish

swyverWed 03/09/08 19:33

Had my cataract surgery this morning.

I was not looking forward to it - and the details can be toe curdling - but it was amazing.

The nurses were all lovely. I spent about 1 hour having various drops put in every 15 minutes - to make sure my pupil was fully dilated - and to reduce the risk of infection. I then chatted to the surgeon who again explained the procedure and outined the risks - 98% successful, 2% risk of bleeding/ infection but even then they can usually sort that out. They had previously measured my eyeball with a computer to calculate the exact lens I needed which in theory will correct some of my previous longstanding long sightedness.

After sitting reading my book (with my good eye!), I was escorted into the prep room where yet more drops - anaesthetic & antiseptic were put in. I was then taken into the operating theatre where I was sat on what looked like a top of the range dental chair, covered with a clean white sheet. The chair was raised and I was gently dropped back into a horizontal position, asked if I was comfortable? Yes, very. Would I like a pillow for my back or legs? No thanks, I'm fine. And wired up to a pulse oximeter (a finger clip wich checks your pulse rate & blood oxygen levels).

The theatre nurse placed yet more anaesthetic drops in and then carefully cleaned all around my eye and surrounding area. Everyone was really friendly and we were chatting about our journeys to work, the weather etc. Next the surgeon materialised at my side and stuck a sterile cover over my head - leaving a hole around my R eye. Then the fun began!

I was asked to keep looking at a bright light whilst they clamped my eye open preventing me from blinking - by this time my eye was being irrigated with sterile fluid keeping it well lubricated. It was impossible to visualise anything - I suppose the nearest I can describe it would be a bit like looking down a very bright totally unfocussed kaleidoscope. I tried to keep myself very relaxed by slowly counting up and down to 100 using my beeping pulse as the count time! They do all the "cutting" with a laser - a bit like satellite navigation, I kept hearing a female American voice saying "Cut 1 completed; cut 2 completed; continuous irrigation on" etc!

Interestingly as the new plastic lens was anchored into place (I was dimly aware of what I presume was some sewing going on), the blurs became much sharper lines.

The whole thing was about 20 minutes from start to finish and immediately I already noted my vision was much sharper in that eye. I was taken back to the waiting area where I was instantly offered a hot drink and biscuits. After about 20 minutes, the nurse had got all my drops up from the pharmacy and carefully explained what I had to do over these next 4 weeks. And before long quickfind:aviano had arrived to chauffeur me home.

I have to wear a plastic eye guard just for today - and only at night for the next week. And I have to go back tomorrow for a check at the clinic - they think I should be able to drive myself, but I have a friend on standby just in case.

I have booked till Friday off to recover and will be back at work Monday and looking forward to dinner at quickfind:rickymart's on Friday & quickfind:fenwanderer's soiree on Saturday.

So - with the prospect of greatly restored/ improved vision - if any of you - or older relatives are scheduled to undergo similar surgery - tell them not to be afraid - just be good at counting!

Working within the NHS I can't claim total impartiality - but I was deeply impressed with every aspect of my care today - and I'd only been waiting for 2-3 months.