Off with the waxed paper!
Several years ago when I had surgery to remove cataracts on both eyes, the doctor said that eventually there would be a build-up of deposits on the new implanted lenses. He explained that it would seem just like the cataracts had come back, but not to worry. Cataracts wouldn’t form over artificial lenses. A simple procedure with a laser would remove the deposits, and then my vision would be clear once again.
The initial surgery was a wonderful success. It was a miracle of modern medicine which helped me to see better than I had since the sixth grade, when it was first discovered that I was very near-sighted and would need to wear glasses.
Gradually however, the vision in my left eye worsened until it seemed as though I was looking through waxed paper. Knitting and reading especially tired out my eyes. My ophthalmologist recommended the laser procedure, which had been refined during the decades since the cataract surgery.
With this procedure there was no need for anesthesia. Numbing eye drops helped alleviate any pain. The doctor pointed the instrument at my eye and told me to focus on the green dot, which I did. There were some tapping sounds and then it was over. He signed a few papers before leaving the room.
“Is that it?” I asked the nurse.
“Yes,” she replied.
“Well, what did he do?”
“He made a vertical line down the center of the lens and then made another horizontal one, like a cross.”
She went on to explain that the filmy substance would separate in the four corners of the cross-shaped incision and fold back, providing an opening through which I would be able to see.
“Are there any restrictions on things I should be doing when I go home?” This all seemed too easy.
“No. You can carry on with all of your normal activities.”
It was hard to believe, no pain, no grogginess and best of all clear vision in both eyes. The only immediate side effect was that I kept seeing black birds, crows and bats floating across my field of vision for the remainder of the day.
A cross-shaped cut on my eye — now that is something to think about. May we spend these weeks prior to Easter focusing our spiritual eyes and hearts upon another cross — the cross on which Jesus Christ died as a ransom payment for our sins. What great love He has for us.
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” — Acts 2:37-38 NIV
Judy Lowery lives in Springville. The Good News column appears regularly in the Porterville Recorder. You can read more at Judy’s blog, goodnewswithjudy.blogspot.com.
