Prepare for a new procedure
One of my eyes attracts a lot more attention than the other. From strangers, mainly. Highly trained strangers. For the last few years, my only real contact with the medical world has been based on an evolving strategy of trying to maintain what (little) vision remains. I’ve been lasered. I’ve been “trabbed”. I’ve even learned to prepare a steady diet of chemical soup. Today, I received the promise of my very own DSAEK.
The doctor was kind enough to print out the full term, in case I wanted to Google it. Well, yes! I even found a YouTube video. Tonight, my education is more complete. Here you go… Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty. As it was explained, my new cornea will be held in place by an air bubble, rather than stitches. Just until it “takes”. Three days, max, on my back. Not exactly a vacation, because trying to read in that position is a circus trick. Maybe I’ll finally understand why the market produces audio books.
Anyhow, I spent five and a half hours at the hospital. Out of which one half hour was productive and five hours were dedicated to the sociology of the waiting room. No chance of sleeping, with an intercom that interrupted every three minutes, ending with a CLACK! The chairs were OK.
No, I did not sit in each one to see which was the most comfortable…
In the active period, my intraocular pressures were tested, my ability to count fingers was verified, my biometrics were recorded and I had a chance to sing the praises of my Island. Busy, busy.
