Clay Scheduled for Eye Surgery

I think the biggest thing coming up in our lives is Clay's eye surgery. We have been talking to his doctors about the possibility for quite some time. If you know us, you are aware that my husband is legally blind. He has effectively no sight in his left eye. He has some sight in the right eye, but that has been deteriorating over the last 20 years.

He decided to have the surgery because of the decline in his eyesight. He feels that if the decline continues he would eventually not be able to see well enough to get around without a dog or cane and may eventually lose his sight altogether. I think the clincher that helped him decide to do this was back in February when he got his eye cut on a display stand at Hallmark because he didn't see it. That injury could have been bad, but we were lucky the cut didn't go into the seeing part of his eye.

The surgery is scheduled for Thursday, November 3rd at 1:15 p.m. They will give him a transplanted cornea and also replace the lens of his eye with an artificial one. The procedure is expected to take about an hour and a half. He will have general anesthesia and will be asleep for the surgery. As long as he comes out of the anesthesia well he will be able to come home with me that evening. He will wear an eye patch overnight and that will probably come off the next morning when he sees the doctor for follow-up.

It may take a few days or even as long as 3 months before we will know for sure if the surgery helped. The odds they gave us are as follows: 50 percent chance of improved eyesight. That would mean he could possibly recover as much eyesight as he had 20 years ago. It would be easier to get around and he would feel safer to walk around the neighborhood alone. Then 40 percent chance of no change in his sight. And 10 percent chance that his eyesight would be worse. Within that 10 percent is 1-2 percent chance that he could lose his sight. I think that would be in case of something going wrong like hemorrhage or infection. Those kinds of risks are always present when you have surgery. Needless to say we are optimistic that he will fall in the 50 percent good result.

I will take some time off work during the first few days following Clay's surgery to help him get around and take him to follow-up doctor appointments. With luck all will go well and he will soon be recovered and seeing better than he has in a long time. Many thanks to those of you who have already expressed your good wishes and are sending up prayers on Clay's behalf.