As some of you know or may not know, on August 2, 2007 I had surgery on my left eye. I had a detached retina. This was the second time around for this eye.
The procedure was a little more difficult to repair this time though, not only for the doctor, but for the patient as well. The procedure required inserting a gas bubble on the eye, which required me to remain upright for two weeks. This was a little tricky because this meant sleeping in a chair upright for two weeks. This was difficult at first because I did not get much sleep. But as the time ended I was sleeping better and when it was all right to lay down, I couldn't get to sleep.
Although I was out of work for a month, I was able to work on our convention. So I guess that wasn't so bad.
I was not able to bend or lift any heavy objects until the gas bubble dissolved. The doctor said this could take some time and I had to be patient.
On September 4th I returned to work. Boy what a challenge. Even though I have JAWS and MAGIC for the computer, reading regular print was a bit difficult.
When using the right eye, some of the letters would be cut off because of prior surgery to that eye. Reading out of the left eye was impossible because vision was blurry because of the recent surgery.
After the gas bubble dissolved, a new problem crept up. The left eye had fluid built up behind the retina. The doctor prescribed drops that I had to take 6 (yes I did say six) times a day; every 3 hours. Boy if that was not a pain in the you know where, especially when you?re at work.
Well it paid off. After numerous visits and scans at the doctor, the fluid has gone away. Oh I forgot to mention this but the doctor did say that it could take six months to two years for the fluid to go away!! Fortunately this did not happen.
While all this was going on, I had my case opened with the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped. I now have new magnifiers, an Amigo portable CCTV unit and new glasses.
Although this was a lot of work on my part, it was well worth every effort!
Thanks to the support of co-workers and especially my husband Frank, who for Christmas bought me a hand held CCTV, the Compact Plus, from Optelec. Thank you all!!