Wednesday, September 06, 2006

A Clear Vision

I've been a bit silent lately on the blog due to recent eye surgeries I had. Now that I'm back to somewhat normal (who IS really normal?) I thought I'd update my blog. Yet, being practically homebound over the two weeks I had each surgery, not a lot happened in my life - other than this miraculous surgical procedure.

For quite a few years, I've had cataracts on both eyes. Now, I'm quite young for such a condition, but they were brought on due to another medical condition I have. But, according to my opthomalogist, everyone will get cataracts if they live long enough. For those who don't know, a cataract clouds the lens you view the world through. The advancement in medical research allows a lens replacement surgery to fix that problem with ease. The doctor simply removes the clouded lens and replaces it with a new bionic one. (Ok, maybe not bionic, but it makes me feel agent-like to say that) The blessing in this condition was that through this procedure, he could power the lens to correct my severe nearsightedness. I've worn glasses or contacts since second grade and if my contacts weren't in, I better know exactly where my glasses were or I was lost. For the first time ever, I can wake up in the night and read the clock (prior to second grade, my Mom read the clock for me) I still have some blurry-ness 15 feet or so away due to the astigmatism I have, which will soon be corrected by glasses and eventually contacts if I prefer. But, for now, I can read, watch TV, work, and drive corrective lense free!

Being stranded at home had its advantages. Aside from catching up on a lot of rest, I was able to spend a lot of time with God. He has a unique way of getting our attention by forcing us to slow down to be able to talk to us. Through this experience, I've learned a couple of things. I never really knew how bad my vision was and how cloudy it had gotten until I had surgery. Now everything is so clear and colors so vibrant. It's a lot like sin in my life. I start off gradually doing something once or twice, then it becomes a habit and I don't realize the hold it has on me. Just like my eyes, I had no idea I was seeing so poorly because the decline was so gradual.

I hope I remember this lesson learned through the experience of getting a new pair of eyes. I can see things clearly like never before - although, for those who are curious, Blogger word verification is still hopeless to read. One day, though, everything will be even clearer than I can imagine it now...and what a vision that will be...."For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known. Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." - I Corinthians 13:12-13

6 comments:

Emily said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog and for the sympathy :)

Alisa said...

I'm so glad things are going well. We now have an excuse to revisit Nonesuch, KY!!!

Katrina said...

What a wonderful reminder of our clear-sighted future! (Sometimes it's hard to remember when we're in the fog of today!)

Congrats on your new eyes! I want eye surgery so badly, but it will probably be a few years.

SheThinker said...

I had my cataracts removed when I was 6yo. The lens implants are an option for me, but not yet. Apparently I've not stopped growing yet, according to my doctor, so I have to wait longer. I'm getting really tired of contacts, but I'm definitely not going back to glasses full time. I'll take dry contacts to 1/2" thick glasses anytime.

RosieBoo said...

Emily,

I'll be sure to stop by again!

Lisie,

Think of all I may have missed in Nonesuch. ;)

Katrina,

Thanks...it's amazing what God has gifted surgeons to be able to do.

Bekah,

I hear ya on the glasses. For people who are really nearsighted, contacts give us much better vision than those bulky glasses. My doctor assured me yesterday that when I get new glasses to correct my astigmatism in a few weeks they'll be glasses unlike I've ever had before!

Lorie said...

I wondered where you were! Now I know! Glad the surgeries went well.