TL;DR somewhere below.
I thought it would be better to post this here rather than reply to you guys on the Screenshot thread.
02/20/20 (hahah) Pivotal eye examination:
I paint landscapes. I paint plein aire (outdoors) and, in the studio from my own photographs, and from memory. In the last couple of years, have added painting from my screenshots of No Manās Sky. I also paint from my imagination both landscapes and spacescapes, as well as abstracts. I use a variety of media, but mostly I paint with artist grade single pigment acrylics. I donāt really know if my paintings are any āgoodā. But some people like them.
In other words, painting is my lifeblood.
I noticed about 20 years ago that I wasnāt seeing distant details as well as I used to. My husband would point out a hawk on a power line and I could not see it. It didnāt affect much then so I went to an eye doctor and ended up with glasses. But the vision got worse.
Ten years ago, my complaints about jitterring edges in my vision making it more and more difficult to read or place a single fine line on a drawing or painting, made my eye doctor take a much closer look at the insides of my eyes. His diagnoses? Fuchās Syndrome: The five layers of the cornea begin separating. Scary.
He sent me to a nearby surgeon whoās son had taken over the practise. And the son scared the hell out of me both by his behavior toward me, and by the things he described would have to be done to correct the problem, and that it would only last a few years and I would have to have it all done again. I didnāt want that man anywhere near me, so I said no thank you and told myself it wasnāt so bad and went for my yearly eye appointment and got new glasses.
Then it got so I couldnāt see the ground where I was walking and I could no longer read my beloved books, and I had to reduce the size of my canvases so I could still see the whole image I was creating, even when I was peering at it from one foot away.
When we called for another eye appointment, we found that they had closed. We searched for our usual eye doctor and found him a year later. This time he said I really needed to get the surgery done as I was going blind. and that my cataracts would have to be removed if I wanted to go on painting. He suggested a very popular eye surgeon saying he was gentle and respectful, but my mind was full of the previous eye surgeon, so I was rather hoping I wouldnāt have to. That some miracle would happen. (Did I mention I have a phobia --a terror of the medical profession, hospitals, nurses, doctors. An added complication. āIs your blood pressure usually this high?ā the nurses inevitably ask. Only when Iām in a medical institution. )
So we called and tried to make an appointment with the surgeon, only to find that his office did not accept my current Health insurance.
My husband worked tirelessly to switch to one they did accept, and finally we got the appointment, and we went to it yesterday.
The place was crowded, but there was always a place to sit. So many people seeking help with their vision. But their systems for processing people through it was efficient without sacrificing human interaction. They were kind/compassionate, gave clear information and instructions. I never felt rushed, though they worked quickly themselves. Everything was set up perfectly so that the surgeon had all the information he needed before examining my eyes himself. I didnāt expect to actually be seen by the surgeon on this visit but I was wrong. Such a huge change from the previous surgeon who was a nightmare.
He explained that it would be best if I have the cataracts removed during the same operation as having my corneas replaced, but that since my right eye was much worse than my left, he would start with that one, and leave the other until the right eye was completely healed. The whole operation would take about an hour, I would not be put to sleep, but would be given a drug that numbsā¦ what? The nervous system maybe? (I will have to research that) But I would have no memory of the operation itself.
We were there for a total of three hours. Then we went for Sushi because --starving!
So TL;DR: Really good experience, Corneal replacement and cataract removal on May 7th or 9th at a hospital, date depending on if acceptable donor tissue is available at the time. --Sushi!
Also Iām terrified. Trying to block out my usual worst-case scenario brainwaves.
Please send me prayers/good vibes. And if you have any questions about any of this please feel free and I will do my best to answer them.
Thank you, my friends! 
)
