Eye Update: The Cataract Crossroads

[For those who may be new here, my Eye Updates document my recovery from Fuchs Endothelial Dystrophy (a disease which impacts the corneas) and other vision problems. I’ve also explored how vision problems impact the life and work of a visual artist.] 

It’s been one year since my last DMEK cornea surgery, and I am happy to report that the cornea transplants in each of my eyes are healthy and functioning normally. No signs of graft rejection. Vision is stable (no more changing eye glass prescriptions every few months). Eye pressure is good. The retinas appear to be healthy (no signs of retinal tear).

With the DMEK surgeries safely behind me, my ophthalmologist says we are ready to discuss my next hurdle on the road to fully restored vision - the cataracts. Within a few months of each cornea surgery, I briefly experienced wonderfully clear vision (almost as good as 20/25 in my right eye), but then the cataracts grew worse, creating a double vision effect as well as blurred vision. I also experienced dry eyes (fairly common in cornea transplant patients) which disrupts the surface of the eye, contributing to the blurred vision.   

At present, my vision is dramatically better than it was before the surgeries. Up close, I see fine details and textures that eluded me for years (lately I’ve been marveling at spider webs – a common occurrence in an old house, but I hadn’t been able to see them for years). Also, colors appear more vivid and saturated. I’ve been excited to look at paintings and read art books again! However, distance vision remains a problem. Even with new glasses, I struggle to read street signs or see faces clearly across a coffee shop. This will not likely change until the cataract surgeries – probably sometime later this year or early next (we want to give the cornea transplants plenty of time to fully heal).

With cataract surgery, I face a major decision: what kind of artificial lens to put into my eye? Modern lenses come in several varieties, but for DMEK patients, a monofocal lens may offer the sharpest detail and fewest visual artifacts. However, I need to decide between near vision and far vision. All of my life, I have been extremely nearsided. I’ve always needed glasses to see the chalkboard or anything at a distance. But for working close up (writing, drawing, painting), I’ve always taken off my glasses. Now, I have a chance to correct my nearsidedness - but I would need glasses for working close up. So, the big question is: should I get lenses set for working up close, and need glasses for distance? Or should I get lenses set for distance and need glasses for my illustration work? I’m so accustomed to working on illustrations without glasses, I’m a bit nervous to do anything that might jeopardize that. On the other hand, the opportunity to correct my lifelong nearsideness is appealing. Fortunately, I have plenty of time to research this decision. Any artists out there who have had cataracts, please feel free to comment and share your experience. 

In the meanwhile, I am enjoying drawing in a small sketchbook again (something I was unable to do in the years leading up to my DMEK surgeries). Here is a recent page from my sketchbook, along with a short video showing how the drawing progressed from initial lay-in to its final state.

For the painting stage, I scanned my sketchbook page into Photoshop and painted digitally, laying in color like watercolor or airbrush. For the background textures, I experimented with spatter-brushes.