Seeing is believing
Aug 6th, 2007 by Cathy Nelson
Some of my fellow colleagues and friends have inquired about my eye surgery progress, so I’m writing about it here. Today marks five days since eye number one (my right eye) was surgically “fixed” with a synthetic lens replacement. The left eye was done four days ago. Today I have accumulated most of my distance vision and a lot of my midrange vision back. Reading distance though is still very blurry. The reading glasses help some, and the ability to enlarge text on my computer has been a godsend! But I have to share my favorite tool! It’s a book marker that I got somewhere at a conference–I wish I could remember where. It is clear and has a hotel logo on it (Hilton Columbia Center / Hampton Inn Downtown Historic District in Columbia SC). This makes me want to think perhaps I got it from the SCASL conference in March? Anyway, it is clear but has a miniature fresnel lens of sort on it. If you are not sure what a fresnel lens is, the easiest way to make you understand is to refer to that old dinosaur overhead projector that many of you probably no longer use. The lens sits in the projector and enlarges the clear transparency on an overhead screen. Anyway, here is the handy little tool I am using. It enabled me to get through the Payroll/Benefits meeting this morning–you know, the one where you fill out your I-9 form, or W-4 forms, deductions, insurance, retirement, and all that necessary stuff in order to get a paycheck. The text on those documents is microscopic. This little tool was a lifesaver today as I used it to read and complete forms and text-messaged my husband from the meeting to ask those hard questions (like what his and the boys’ social security numbers were, and things like that.) It felt weird having to use it in front of other people–I sort of felt handicapped! But use it I did! I also have a pair of super-sized solar sun glasses that you see many “mature” women wearing. Well I’m wearing them too, as the surgery has made my eyes extremely sensitive to the bright sunlight. I can’t even describe the nighttime lights with their weird halos. Driving at night is absolutely impossible and downright unsafe for me right now. I sound so OLD! But in two more weeks I’ll be glasses free, which hopefully will take at least five years off! Here’s a picture of the tool I used today. 
