Eye to Eye

My vision is blurry tonight because I had eye surgery earlier today. I'm going to keep this post short and sweet. The eye surgery is something I've mentioned in previous blog posts and family and friends are aware of the issue with my left eye. After several consults to rule out brain tumors, strokes, paralysis, etc. it was finally determined that I've been suffering from a condition known as ptosis (drooping or sagging of the eyelid) it is completely harmless and typically occurs as a result of paralysis or disease or as a normal part of the aging process (in both eyes). The reason my condition was approved for treatment is because it affects only my left eye and has been going on for at least 10 years so not the result of normal aging but likely the result of an injury to the eye when I was younger. The procedure I underwent today was an eyelid lift both for cosmetic as well as medical (vision) reasons. The surgery involved going behind the eyelid to tighten the levator muscle. Typically the procedure is performed on the outside of the eyelid (exterior) leaving a visible scar. My case made me a perfect candidate for the behind the eyelid method due to my age and the slightness of the ptosis. A resident named Zach observed the surgery and assisted my physician, Dr Korbrin, MD. The entire procedure took about an hour and I didn't feel a thing after the painful injections used to numb the eyelid. I was prescribed diazepam /valium to calm my nerves prior to surgery and I took one of the two tablets about 30 minutes before the procedure and was feeling like an overcooked spaghetti noodle by the time my name was called. I needed to be awake and alert for the procedure in order to follow instructions such as "look up, look down, look at your toes." I was still loopy from the valium, and joking around with the staff asked to hear some Polynesian music which a nurse managed to find on the internet and cranked it up loud enough for me to enjoy. After the procedure I was given some instructions on how to care for my eye over the next several days and what to expect as far as pain. I asked Dr Korbrin if I should take the other Valium tablet;,his response "you might want to take it before you look at yourself in the mirror tomorrow" LOL! Apparently, I'm going to look like a hot mess tomorrow after the swelling and black and blue bruising kicks in. I took a look at myself in the operating room and I looked homely but apparently it's nothing compared to how awful I'm going to look in the morning, I can't wait. I asked the nurse to take my picture both before and right after the operation and I plan to post those pictures in a few days and of course I’ll snap a few tomorrow when I look like something straight out of the house of horrors.. Judy R. my friend and former colleague was a real sweetie to volunteer to drive me to and from the surgery. She waited through the procedure (a little over an hour) and gave me a lift back to her house where I had left my car. Back at Judy’s I was treated to a Coke and a slice of yummy cake not to mention a nice chat with Judy and her husband Tom. After I left Tom and Judy's I drove myself to a pharmacy to pick up some extra strength Tylenol because the numbing drugs were already starting to wear off and the left side of my face was beginning to ache. My eye feels sore and gooey and it looks sad and homely:<(

Attached photo ptosis in the left eye a few months before surgery