So I thought that 6 months of being effectively blind on one side because of cataracts, followed by another few months of being effectively blind on the same side due to having no lens, would be ample preperation for being blind on tht side after retinal (re)attachment surgery.
Seems I was wrong.
My previous inability to play badminton due to lack of depth perception, was just an inability to play badminton.
It turns out, than one and a bit eyes, are a lot more than one eye alone, as several coffee’s where the water missed the cup will attest. Equally, following a friend, I repeatedly tried to tap him on the shoudler when he was still 6 feet away, and I find approaching lamposts often seem to loom and veer suddenly.
Strictly, I am not seeing “nothing”, but, if I’m moving, it’s little more than light and dark, plus my regular eye drops dilate that pupil slighlty, so daylight is dazzling, and sunglasses are recommended.
However, when you’re walking into people and things on an overcast day – wearing sunglasses – you get short shrift and no sympathy, (I have found). So I have taken to wearing my collection of patches (lovingly sent after prevous Ops), which don’t stop my barging lurching gait, but do at least cause the victims to pause and consider , or at least, wonder whether I’m a pirate. (Thank you Karen).
Otherwise all I can do is wait. My body clearly knows it has work to do, as I’ve slept 12 plus hours several days now (a skill I thought I’d lost). Naturally I’ve also spent some time looking (squinting) on line, at my condition, to supliment the NHS book of retinal detachment (or Ladybird book as I liken it), with it’s big pictures and lowest common denominator language.
The most interesting thing is the contrast between, UK and US web results;
UK: – Don’t swim US – Move to Nevada or Arizona
UK: – Avoid Gardening US – Stay inside, fasten windows and doors, close blinds
UK:- Take it easy for a few weeks US – Just DON’T!
Obviously their litigenious society is to blame… “Don’t use your eye for opening beers, don’t juggle chainsaws, don’t inject chemicals to change your eye colour…… the surgeon general advises against blah blah….”
My reading does however ram home the point that this is a more serious condition, and I need to dial down my efforts to continue “normally” and actually accept that some recovery is required.
As a sobering thought, my treatment is very new. Perhaps as lttle as ten years ago, all that could have been done is to give me a white stick and dark glasses. I shall try to appreciate science a bit more…
Next week on IaDL : All the things you can miss with a patch…
Dalmallyfest the Asylum 