ROARING CATARACTS!

Well, not quite… and this post isn’t about waterfalls, but about my eyes – and my bladder.

Eye test

Last year I had my regular two-yearly eye test and check-up, and much to my disappointment, they told me that my cataracts were not ready to be dealt with. I was already struggling noticeably with them and was sure they would agree to referring me to have them done, but no. They did say they would call me back in a year’s time, instead of the regular two years, and assess me again, and that appointment was for today.

My eyesight has definitely deteriorated since last year, and they told me that while the right eye still wasn’t ready, the left eye could definitely be dealt with, and they would arrange for me to be referred.

The optometrist informed me that the NHS waiting list was pretty short these days for cataract extractions, and I could be looking at 3 months. I thought that was far too long to wait, and said I would be prepared to go private if this would speed things up. She said that there didn’t seem to be much difference time-wise so there wouldn’t be much point going private. She did tell me that things were moving much more speedily in Plymouth, and it could be done in the next 6-8 weeks, and I readily agreed to this.

The operation would not take place at Derriford, the main NHS hospital, but at a private clinic which undertakes NHS work.

We discussed my astigmatism, and she said that under the NHS, they would only insert spherical lens implants, but privately, there was the option to have astigmatic correction built in. Since I would need to continue to wear glasses, there seemed little point in this; for many years I have worn glasses all the time, with varifocal lenses with astigmatic correction, so that I could do all things without having to remove them or replace them with dedicated reading glasses etc. I would need a new prescription after the operation, though.

I asked about how my vision would be affected if I had only one eye done, and the optometrist said that the brain adjusts and the better eye takes over. Thinking about this subsequently, I hope this doesn’t interfere too much with binocular vision, but I assume it does not, because I have never heard anyone who has had one eye done complain about that. She told me that once I was in the system and had had one eye done, the operation for the second one would normally be expedited, so I may not have to wait too long for the right eye to be done, even if it wasn’t as ripe as the left one.

Art, eyesight, and professionalism

I told the optometrist who did my initial examination that I was an artist and was finding things quite difficult now. He asked if I was a professional artist, and I said no. He said that the NHS would be prepared to expedite the surgery for professional artists if the cataracts were affecting their ability to work and earn a living, even if they were not officially “ripe,” but if it was just a hobby, they would not! Fair enough, except that I don’t really consider my being an artist a “hobby” as such – it is so much part of who I am, and not just something I dabble in; I have an inbuilt need to be creative which goes beyond a mere pastime, but they don’t make that distinction, unfortunately!

On this subject, I mentioned Vincent van Gogh – not that I consider myself to be anything like in his league – but I believe the poor chap only managed to sell one painting during his lifetime. If the definition of “professional” means that you get paid for what you do, then Vincent was a mere amateur! It seems grossly unfair on him that it was only after his death that his paintings began to fetch millions at auction. We joked about this and I wondered if my paltry offerings (compared with his) would fetch millions after my death… I’d certainly prefer to be around in the land of the living to reap the benefits, though.

Preparation for surgery

At the end of the consultation I was told that I had some blepharitis, which is inflammation of the eyelids caused by the oil glands at the base of the eyelashes becoming clogged. In my case it is so mild that I haven’t noticed any symptoms, but apparently it’s common as you get older. (I saw a T-shirt recently which said “It’s weird being the same age as old people” haha!! – how I suddenly got to be 70 is beyond me…)

Anyway, they said that this condition, even in its very mild form, can cause the build-up of bacteria which could cause complications with the cataract surgery. They recommended some eyelid cleansing gel, and also a special heat mask to use before applying the gel, to clear this up and keep my eyelids nice and clean. The mask has to be put in the microwave to heat it up, and it contains granules which absorb moisture from the atmosphere, so the mask acts as a hot compress which opens up the pores. After 10 minutes’ use, the eye cleansing gel then does a better job. I bought these two products before leaving, and on reading the information later, I was pleased to see that it is preservative, parabin and alcohol free, and enriched with tea tree oil, a natural antiseptic. I always have tea tree oil in the house and it’s brilliant stuff.

Looking forward to a brighter (and more in focus) future

So now I sit and wait for a letter calling me in. I can’t wait to get this done as my vision is quite problematic these days. Around every light there is a scattering halo like a thousand sparklers going off. Things are worse in the evenings and it’s hard to thread needles and read small print or do close work. My new clip-on magnifying lamp really helps, as does the small pocket one that goes to church with me to enable me to read my compact Bible. If I was still driving, I know I would not be safe to drive, even during the day. I was always able to read road signs from further away than my hubby could, but now I’m struggling to read them at all!

UTI

I recently had another UTI which was pretty unpleasant. It really got going on the Friday – why do these things always happen at the weekend? My hubby was out all day but my neighbour very kindly gave me a specimen bottle and took my pee sample down to the surgery and they arranged for the antibiotics to be at the pharmacy ready for my hubby to collect on his way home.

As always, the effect was immediate, even after taking a single tablet. Those antibiotics work fast! I had a five day course and this time it seems to have cleared it up completely, unlike the last time, when the infection returned a couple of days after finishing the course. I am drinking loads of cranberry juice as well, which reputedly lines the bladder with something which prevents the bacteria from taking hold.

I do have bladder issues from nerve damage caused by the chemotherapy I had in 2015. I am unable to feel the need to pee until my bladder is really full. I was referred to a physiotherapist specialising in bladder problems a couple of years ago and she said it was very important to go frequently even if I didn’t feel the need, and recommended every two hours. I’m afraid I don’t always keep to this because it’s very inconvenient when I’m right in the middle of something, and sometimes my bladder does get extremely full! She said when it is allowed to fill to this extent, it stretches, and it is then less easy to control and can lead to incontinence problems (which I was beginning to experience before being referred to her). Reading up a bit more about UTIs this week, one recommendation for prevention is to empty one’s bladder frequently and not let it over-fill, so I really must take care to do this and not slip back into my old ways!

Oh, the joys of being the same age as old people…