Chore Day, March 5, 2022 -- Doing research about cataract surgery and lens replacement

Besides doing the laundry and vacuuming, I watched a shit ton of Youtube videos about cataracts and lens replacement. With my set of physiological needs (myopia and severe astigmatism), I’m thinking that I’ll be getting monofocus lenses, which means that I’ll still be wearing glasses.

One of the virtues of monofocus lenses is their price. The cost of treating both eyes is about $5,000 cheaper than with tri-focal lenses. I’ll need glasses for intermediate and close vision but I’m okay with that.

I’ll be glad when I get this surgery worked out. Then I can think about something other than my eyes.

Real Life Makes Itself Known as Cataracts!

I visited my optometrist yesterday and got the news I’ve been expecting for some time: my cataracts are at the point that my vision cannot be corrected. She recommended cataract surgery. The idea of having eye surgery has always made me feel queasy. Youtube to the rescue!

I’ve watched dozens of videos about what happens in cataract surgery, what can go wrong, how long it take to heal, which kind of lens is best, how much it will cost, how long the surgery takes (15 minutes), what my insurance will cover, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Then I made a firm decision: cost should not even be considered. Over the last 60 years my eyeglasses have cost me hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars every few years, and my vision still deteriorates. The upside of lens replacement is that it’s a one time deal and I’ll be able to see better than I can see with glasses. I’ll be able to read, drive, draw cute animals, appreciate colors better, and admire the distant mountains of Southern Oregon without glasses. Awesome!