DOCTOR, WILL I GO BLIND??

Intraocular Lens Saved Me from Getting Blind

Surgical Specialist at Princeton

Performed by Dr. Hitesh K. Patel of Patel Eye Associates 

at Plainfield, Edison, NJ.

by Henry Libo-on 

* * * * * * * * 

For the past many years, I had little idea that both my left and right eyes had been slowly developing cataracts.  My first impression was that my vision was blurred and I seem to feel that there was something that clouds my vision. 

Today, Touristang Pobre is going to deviate from the travel adventures that he used to blog by sharing with you his story about his Cataract Surgery.  Old-age is chasing me no matter how I tried to avoid it, haha.

Source:  www.webmd.com

One day, I decided to have a check-up with the intention of having a new set of eyeglasses, but the doctor told me that my eyes have cataracts.  He assured me that they are not really serious at that time but if they stay long enough without medical intervention, they may become a serious concern for my well-being. Will I go blind? The thought scares me because I have a dear friend who had a successful career then suddenly she was out of circulation. I, later on, found out she became blind. 

Manay Erlinda P. was a vibrant lady, she can relate the history of Negros Occidental without batting an eyelash. She's a good conversationalist and an intelligent professor. 

As much as I can, I want Dr. Patel to help me beat the odds now before it became a serious one.  

Reading and writing are my life.  There is no day that I do not read or write.  As a personal assistant to the Governor of Negros Occidental and Mayor of Bacolod City, many moons ago, and as a city planner of my hometown, my eyesight had been my greatest asset.  

Now, as a travel blogger, I still read and write most of the days. So, I cannot imagine losing my power of seeing. Besides, who wants to suffer from seeing difficulty if medicine can intervene and make one's life a happy and fulfilling one? 

So, I decided to have cataract surgery on both my left and right eyes. 

My right eye was the first to undergo the surgery.  There was a series of eye examinations, then the scheduled surgery at Princeton.  

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

My comment: 

I researched online and these are a few facts about cataracts and glaucoma. 

• Affected areas:
  • Cataracts: Lens of the eye.
  • Glaucoma: Optic nerve at the back of the eye.
• Cause:
• Cataracts: Breakdown of proteins in the lens

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

Few days before surgery, (I think it was four days), I used four different kinds of eye drops on my right eye - where the surgery will be done.  

The surgery went well.  It took the doctor and his team about half an hour to complete the surgery.  I thank the surgical team for a job well done. 

After the surgery, the doctor told me to use dark eyeglasses during the day to protect my eye from the glaring sun or light.  A protective eyepiece was also given to me so I can use it before and when I go to sleep.

After about six (6) months, my left eye was subjected to cataract surgery too.  Now, both my eyes have IOL or Intraocular Lens.

Wikipedia publishes a detailed description of the Intraocular Lens, and I quote: 

"Intraocular lens is a lens implanted in the eye as part of a treatment for cataracts or myopia. The most common type of IOL is the pseudophakic IOL. These are implanted during cataract surgery after the cloudy eye's natural lens (colloquially called a cataract) has been removed. The pseudophakic IOL provides the same light focusing function as the natural crystalline lens. The second type of IOL, more commonly known as a phakic intraocular lens (PIOL), is a lens that is placed over the existing natural lens and is used in refractive surgery to change the eye's optical power as a treatment for myopia, or nearsightedness.^[1] IOLs usually consist of a small plastic lens with plastic side struts, called haptics, to hold the lens in place within the capsular bag inside the eye.^[2] IOLs were conventionally made of an inflexible material (PMMA), although this has largely been superseded by the use of flexible materials.^{[citation needed]} Most IOLs fitted today are fixed monofocal lenses matched to distance vision. However, other types are available, such as multifocal IOLs which provide the patient with multiple-focused vision at far and reading distance, and adaptive IOLs which provide the patient with limited visual accommodation."

* * * * * * * * * 

  After several days from the surgery, I visited Dr. Patel. Both my eyes were examined to also determine their grade for reading eyeglasses.  

Now, I enjoy my new set of IOLs as my vision has returned to 20/20.  With these new IOLs, my vision of the world has tremendously changed.  Now, I see the beauty of colors, the trees, the flowers, the sunrise, the sunset, the people around me most especially my grandchildren - they looked awesome now that I can see them clearly with my 20/20 vision. 

* * * * * * * * 

My Reflections

Life has more meaning when you can clearly see the beauty of nature and the world. 

Finally, this moment of reflection strengthened my idea that we have to enhance our personal health and one of the many ways we can do that is by minimizing the pressure that we expose our eyes to.  Too much reading, watching television for long hours, staying too close to our laptops and iPods' screens, and maybe, lack of sleep could put too much pressure on our eyes. We must give our eyes, a break.

In another instance, there are ways that we can enhance the health of our eyes through the food that we eat.  Eating more green and yellow (leafy) vegetables and fruits could help improve our vision.

Broccoli. 

Source: dreamstime.com

* * * * * * * *

Now that I regained my 20/20 Vision, I am strengthening my "fight" to prevent cancer.  Don't get me wrong.  I do not have cancer yet. 

But, a few years ago, I was hospitalized because of problems with my prostate.  So, I had a series of examinations by several doctors, blood was drawn and analyzed, my chest was X-rayed, and all other physical examinations. I was given antibiotics for two weeks and Tamsulosin for three months.  A week before three months I was ordered to have a complete blood analysis. 

During that three-month period, I eat broccoli three times a day and drank Pomegranate Juice almost every hour.  I drunk that juice like it was water. 

One week before 3 months, I went to LabCorp for my blood analysis.  Then, I went to the Urologist at Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center.  

To make the story short, the doctor was surprised to see my blood works result.  According to him, they were ok and he was surprised to know that the blood work does not show so much problem considering my age level at that time. 

* * * * * * * 

That hospitalization, however, made me fear the unknown.  That something may arise sooner than I thought.  So, in order to prevent the worst to come, I am continuing my consumption of these two-cancer prevention food and drink - Broccoli and Pomegranate Juice.

 

Pomegranate fruit and juice. 

Source: pomegranatejuicepress.wordpress.com   and www.bing.com 

Research conducted by the Mayo Clinic produced evidence that Broccoli and Pomegranate Juice prevents cancer, specifically in my case, the problem with Prostate.  I just trust the credibility of the Mayo Clinic, so I started eating Broccoli and drinking Pomegranate Juice in 2015.  A few years ago, my blood analysis revealed a PSA level of 4 which is still normal.  PSA Test measures a Protein in the blood called Prostate Specific Antigen.  Prostate Cancer makes the PSA level high.  Although that situation is not conclusive.  So a further study is needed.  This year, 2018 my doctor ordered a complete blood analysis. I had "nerves" for one week while waiting for the results.  Thank heavens,  my PSA Level was one (1).  

All other areas of the blood analysis revealed a normal health condition.  The doctor however emphasized that I have to be extra careful with my cholesterol level.  My kidney and liver were all ok. My blood sugar was 94.  My average blood pressure level is manageable and considered normal for my age.  This first quarter of 2018, most of the time my bp is 130/80 - up or down but stay in this bracket.  

In 2020, my BP was in the average bracket of Below 120 for Systolic and Below 80 for Diastolic. I'm confident that the status of my health is good. 

At my age, I just want to be careful with what I eat.  Nothing to lose if we go vegetarian even if it is just being a partial vegetarian.  

* * * * * * * *

In conclusion, I regained my 20/20 vision and happy that I can see better now.   So, I wish to thank Dr. Hitesh Patel and his Team at Princeton for a wonderful job. 

If you have a problem with your vision brought about by cataracts or other reasons, please do not waste time........talk to your eye specialist immediately.

Cheers.

The
Beauty of Nature
Source:  YouTube by balatarinn.

* * * * * * * * 

If you find my story informative, please LIKE my Facebook Page and SHARE this with your friends. Thank you. 

Updated September 26, 2020. 

Reviewed on December 18, 2020. 

Reviewed on August 28, 2021. 

Reviewed on April 17, 2024.