I aged 10 years this week.
I’m not sure how long cataracts have impaired my vision. In August 2024, I was told they were covering 20%. By March 2025, it was hard to read a book in most lighting conditions. Now, reading a book is impossible without a magnifying glass.
If you have received an email from me in recent weeks, you may have noticed typos that were not auto-corrected. Black on my screen was a light gray, and many letters looked the same.
As part of my August 2025 Optometrist exam, I received a referral for cataract surgery. Yesterday, I had surgery on my left eye. That eye was completely covered, blocking the optic nerve.
Within hours, my vision improved. Gray is now black. Colors look bright and cheery. I can read a book.
When I cover my left eye, it’s back to gray. When I cover my right eye, it looks good.
Now, the downside, I’ve looked at myself in the same mirror each morning for the past 15 years. For the first time, I can see the gray in my eyebrows and hair. Somehow, I aged 10 years.
At my follow-up appointment this morning, my left eye was back to 20/20 and improving.
I’m not allowed to run until December 1. I can walk as I want. For a month: no gardening, swimming, weight lifting, or bending over.
My right eye surgery is on December 19.
Many thanks to my daughter, Sandra, for coming up from Richmond to take me to the surgery and follow-up appointment. The extra ears helped me remember those things I need to do and can’t do for the next month.