Eye Update: Vision Worsens

Since my last update, vision in my right eye had peaked around 20/30. However, at last doctor visit, vision in both eyes was hovering around 20/40. Since then, vision has worsened, especially in my right eye. It’s somewhat anticlimactic, not to say disappointing, to still be experiencing vision problems after undergoing cornea transplants in each eye. However, my situation is actually pretty good and there is much to be grateful for. My doctor believes my current vision problems are caused by the cataracts, which progressed much faster than expected following the cornea transplants. This is good news, since cataracts are relatively easy to address. My situation could be much worse. For example, I’m not experiencing any retinal detachment (previously I had a retinal tear, but it was addressed long before it could lead to permanent blindness). I don’t have glaucoma or high eye pressure. I don’t have keratoconus (bulging of the corneas). My biggest fear was graft detachment, or rejection of the donor tissue in my eyes, but both cornea transplants are fully attached and functioning properly. Aside from the cataracts and some corneal scarring from the Fuchs Dystrophy, my eyes are relatively healthy. My doctor thinks that with cataract surgery, my vision might reach 20/25 or better.

I’ve been living with blurry vision for so long. It seems normal now. I was very hopeful when vision in my right eye reached 20/30 and I was able to see textures and details with such clarity, but now I’m back to fuzzy edges. I confess, it’s easy to lose patience with the healing process, but on the positive side, I’m not living in the fog as I was before the surgeries. Hopefully the cataract surgeries will enable me to see the fine details again. 

Eye Update: Improving Vision

At this time, vision in my left eye is hovering around 20/40, while my right eye seems to have reached about 20/30. While not the highly coveted 20/20 vision, this result is dramatically better than before the surgeries, where vision in my right eye was maybe 20/50 (on a good day), and my left eye was worse than 20/70 (yes, that bad! I could read the big "E" at the top of the Snellen chart and also the next line down, but after that, everything was turning to fog). The doctor says I probably can't expect better than 20/30 until after we address the cataracts. 

Even so, I am absolutely thrilled with the progress so far. I am seeing the textures on tree trunks, the shapes of individual leaves and blades of grass, even the dust I missed while cleaning the house. I can read books without a magnifying glass. I can see drawings and paintings on the walls that I have not seen clearly in years. Colors are more vibrant, and I am definitely seeing a fuller range of contrast (whereas lights and darks were previously grayed down). 

I am still trying to process the impact of my vision problems on my art. I have been collecting my thoughts and planning to write about how my drawing habits changed as the Fuchs Dystrophy progressed. I will post those thoughts when I'm ready.