This incident is amusing to me now, but it wasn’t at the time. My phone was in my hand when it rang. Although I could read nothing on the screen, I hit the right area and was talking to the doctor who had removed my second cataract that morning. He called to ask how I was, and I blurted out something one should never say to an eye surgeon, “I can’t see!”
I should have said I can’t read, or more specifically, I can’t see to read. Perhaps he is used to people being overly dramatic, because he asked if I had any pain. I had the correct answer to that – none.
I could see things at a distance, which was exactly as it should be. I could read ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. That, too, should have been expected, but it was a rude shock. I wanted to let daughters Lise and Kate know that the surgery was successful. I guessed the placement of the icon on the phone for texting, but I couldn’t pick out individual names. John got one for me and touched the microphone icon so that I could dictate. If you’ve ever dictated to a phone, you know it is fraught with danger. It maliciously substitutes bizarre words. Somehow I think we got the news to Kate, and Lise called when she got the initial statement.
I was not prepared for the almost total despair that came over me. How could I get through the rest of the week with grandson David and son John $pencer working and John away for the weekend? If important notices came on the phone or computer, I wouldn’t be able to see them. Deleting spam would be impossible. There would be no writing or commenting on blog posts.
David saved the day, suggesting I get readers found in many stores. I had forgotten that Kate pointed toward a rack of readers in Walmart. David mentioned Dollar General, and we would pass four of them on the way home from the doctor’s office the next morning. John was a life-saver, reading the labels and helping me try them on. At the first store we found a pair of sunglasses with clear glass on the top and lenses for reading on the bottom. The second store had a greater selection of plain readers. I don’t know that I picked the best ones, but I can see the phone and monitor now. In about a month the eyes will have settled enough that I can get new prescription glasses.
Mehrling Muse 
Thankful this had a good ending! Your eyes look marvelous.
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My eyes can see long distances without glasses! I haven’t been able to see this well since I was six years old.
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If those are Dollar Store glasses, they look very nice. Good luck. From what I understand, it will settle down soon.
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I had no idea readers could be so inexpensive. Evidently things have changed with cataract removal. I remember that people complained about having to put many drops in their eyes. I put one drop in the eye once a day. My instruction sheet also mentioned that I am free to bend down. There must have been restrictions on movement years ago. It’s marvelous that this surgery has become so commonplace.
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Hmmm…they should have let you know that would happen so that your daughters wouldn’t react to a malicious spellcheck message! It gave me a giggle though. You are on your way!
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There are nearly always funny things that happen with age-related incidents. Getting old is exciting!
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Well, exciting isn’t the word I would use.
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You are right. Exciting doesn’t go with age. There are lots of amusing things that happen, though.
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They say we need to learn something new every day.
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I’ve heard that often, too. Learning to read again was a one-day wonder.
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Why’d you have a waterfall in your eye in the first place?
Massive Hugs
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There is no explaining some things.
Visible Hugs
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That must have been so frustrating! Mom P. uses Siri (in your case you can use Google, I think) saying: Hey (AI name) Send a text to (person ex: Lise) saying (whatever you want to say). They might still get some gibberish, but at least they will get the general idea (that’s how about 80% of my texts to you go through in the winter while I’m texting through my airpods on the slopes). 😀
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You are much better than most of us at harnessing technology. I was on my way to dictation. I said, “Hey, Google. Send a text message to Lise.” The phone responded, but I couldn’t see what it said. Either David or John looked at the screen later and said it was waiting for me to dictate. If I’d only known at the time, I would have saved myself a bit of anguish.
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It’s decided. You need a visit from me to test things out together.
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Best idea of the year!!!!
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When is a good time?
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❤
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Is this your first time to have your cataract removed Anne? My opthalmologist gave me a free eye glass when i had my left eye cataract removed.
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This is my second cataract removal. The surgery went well, but I think the extreme changes with my sight have made me a bit unbalanced. It’s hard to concentrate, and every little blip becomes a big problem. Hopefully this will stop in a day or so.
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That must have been a horrifying feeling, cataract surgery seems to have so many different initial reactions, there must be many different ways to do it that cause these differing recoveries. I’m so glad to hear that you are back to reading and seeing clear enough to be comfortable with your recovery process!
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There are lots of adjustments when your vision is drastically changed. I didn’t expect that, but it should be over soon.
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Hopefully you are getting back to normal with your eyes. I can imagine your eye doctor’s face when you said “I can’t see!” I like the glasses – I am thinking of getting darker frames which are sturdier than what I have now. A few weeks ago I was sitting here and the one lens popped out of the frame. I got lightweight frames after I stopped wearing contacts to get used to them.
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Today I haven’t worn glasses except to sew a seam in David’s slacks. Today has been much better than yesterday.
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That’s good – I’d have been apprehensive too. My mom had laser surgery for glaucoma many years ago. The surgeon did it at the eye doctor’s office. He had a huge machine and sat on the floor to aim the machine at her eye. Before the procedure, he took a penny and showed how how a laser beam could make a hole inside President Lincoln’s eye in the penny. Very precise. It was outpatient and we had to put in milky drops, that was it. He called to ensure she was okay and putting in the drops.
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I’ve never heard anyone talk about glaucoma surgery. They test John and me for it all the time.
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It was pretty amazing – done in the doctor’s office. Dr. Carver was a specialist who came into the Eye Clinic of Wyandotte twice a week. It was an opthalmologist’s office. I was sorry that he closed down his practice. I went to the new doctor, as did my mom, but they were/are optometrists.
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Omygosh! I’m so glad this ended well, with the reader glasses – and they look so good on you!! I have a growing cataract that I’ll have to have removed, so when the time comes I’ll write you for support and info! 🙂
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Cataract removal is much easier now than it used to be. I remember hearing about restrictions for bending over and the endless eye drops. Now you’re not supposed to do heavy lifting, and I put one drop in my eye at night. Easy!
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Great, I’m so glad to hear this!
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Do you know that you have been on my mind quite often recently? I prayed for you and sent my best wishes in the wind. What a scare, but not hopeless. I so appreciate the banter you and your friend share- You two do make a good pair! Know that my prayers will continue. Oh! I somehow had missed so many posts, but am getting caught up now. love Michele
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Thank you for thinking of me and praying for me. I get the first injection in my eye tomorrow. I don’t know what might change in my eye, but I’m ready to receive changeless grace from heaven. They were short a soprano in the choir this morning. I went to the balcony willingly and froze going down one step and up another. After sitting down, I didn’t get up until the service was over. The view without glasses, strange reading glasses, and fumbling with the music messed up my head. It hit without warning. And to think, I used to play the organ, sing, and direct the choir from a balcony!
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My sweet Anne- I am so sorry to hear of your plight. I will continue to pray for you. You feel like an old friend to me. I think you are wonderful. x Michele
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Many thanks for your prayers. You are a very dear friend to me, too. x Anne
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Beautiful pic.
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Thank you. You are catching up on many posts. Thank you for reading them.
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