The Miracle of Vision.
(I'm writing this so I'll remember the details of the miracle years from now).
58 days. 58 whole days!! From July 30th to September 25th, I had one or the other of my hard contact lens out due to my corneal cross-linking surgery. So naturally, my vision was never 100% during this time. I had the surgery on my right eye on Wed. August 2nd. My surgeon, Dr. Ashford, and the entire nursing staff were awesome. There wasn't much prep for the surgery, other than lying down, getting a warm blanket, and having some betadine wiped around my eye.
The procedure itself was an hour long. Awake the entire time, with deadening drops to numb the eye was the extent of medicines given. The Dr. removed the thin layer of the cornea called the epithelium. After that was done, it was riboflavin drops in my eye every 2 minutes. My nurse, Melody, was right there with me the entire process. I could close my eye after the drops for the first 30 minutes. The next 30 minutes, though, the eye had to be open with a speculum so the infrared light could activate the riboflavin drops to "crosslink" with my cornea. After that 30 minutes, I was pretty much done. They put a patch over my eye and gave me care instructions for the next 24 hours until the post op visit.
The pain set in about an hour later. My wife, Melanie, was a champ of a nurse for me. We stayed in a hotel to be close to the doctor's office and to keep from traveling back the next morning for the post op. Honestly, the pain the first 24 hours is pretty intense. Not much sleep at all. After the initial 24 hours, about another day of it feeling scratchy, and that was the extent of the uncomfortableness. I did wear a shield at night for 7 days to keep from accidentally rubbing the eye while sleeping.
I had a post-op 7 days after surgery, and the epithelium had completely healed back in those 7 days. (For both surgeries.) 21 days after the first surgery, I was able to be fitted for my new scleral lens. Dr. Nettie Hines is my optometrist that specializes in scleral lens. She does a fantastic job of getting a good fit (which is super important when dealing with scleral lens). My first visit to her, they put in a lens that had zero power in it. She asked me to read the lines of letters. I could read the 20/25 line without anything added to the lens. Side note: Crosslinking isn't a surgery to correct vision. It is primarily to stop kerataconus from progressing. However, some patients have seen an improvement in vision after the surgery.) I obviously was one of those people. With the lens, I was simply amazed that I could see 20/25 with zero power added. Dr. Hines continued to adjust the power until I could see virtually 20/20 (missing one letter on the 20/20 line).
Sept. 5th--Surgery number 2. I was ready. I knew what to expect. I knew the pain that was to come. But I also knew the possibility of a positive outcome. I even had my cross linking spotify playlist ready to be played while surgery was taking place. That's how awesome the nursing crew is. They play music for you. Here's a link to the playlist. Melanie had me ready, along with everything we needed for after the surgery. I can't tell you how much of a blessing my wife has been through the process. From helping me around at home, navigating our schedules, and the limitations of only being able to "half-see" during these days. Pain was virtually the same as surgery number one. I think I had a better handle on how to "get through" my normal activities better the second time around.
I got my new lens for the 1st eye the day after the second surgery. I was just amazed. I was halfway back to being able to see. This time, though, without the fear of the kerataconus progressing.
Sept 25th--Second lens fitting.
The left eye has now healed, and it's time to get the second lens. THIS IS THE MIRACLE! Having both lens in at the same time is a blessing. When your vision has been out of whack for 58 days, then suddenly you can see clearly again, you recognize the miracle of what God has done. He has used my surgeon, Dr. Ashford, the nurses, my optometrist Dr. Hines, and my wife to get me to a point of seeing clearly again. These next few weeks, minor adjustments to fit and power in the lens is what is happening.
A little over 10 years ago when I was diagnosed with kerataconus, cross linking wasn't available. Now I sit here typing this with clear vision. God is so faithful. He STILL performs miracles. Some would say "well you just had doctors get you straight". And that is part of it. My doctors, the technology, and the advancement of medicine IS part of the miracle. I'm thankful that God has his hand on me (and my eyes). I pray that I will continue to recognize the miracles that happen every day because of who God is. Not a day will go by that I won't realize that my vision IS a miracle, and God uses many people to be a part of bringing Him glory.
My family. When I think about the patience they have had with me over these past 58 days, I'm brought to tears. We knew this process would be tough. My wife Melanie is the best. When we said I do, almost 18 years ago, the "sickness and health" part was lived out over the past two months. I know that things won't be perfect with my vision, and I'll probably still have some issues. But I can tell you that we are in it together. My kids. Micah and Malaree. They have been so kind and understanding, and HELPFUL during this time. I'm so thankful to be back to a place where I can experience life to the full with my tribe. M4. Family. God gets the glory for all He has done.
Link to my first post about my surgeries: When your vision changes, your reality changes.
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