Yes, an actual hole forming on its way to blindness. This is one surgery which is a no-brainer. Why lose 50% of one’s vision by not having it or dragging one’s heels?
It’s only been around since 1992. Before that, people just lost the vision in that eye. (Gulp!) Takes about 1 hr. or less. Is done with local anaesthetic. They give your stomach a med to keep it under control, plus a mild sedative immediately before the surgery so you’re conscious, but not inclined to move. You can’t see much with your good eye covered, only shadows as you listen to the dr. at work. In my case, with rock music in the background and something like 6-8 assistants moving around the machine-cramped operating theatre (theatre, a misnomer that).
The main problem for recovery is napping and sleeping for 3 days and nights min. with face-down, eye covered by a shield. Try doing that on your own sometime!)
It’s a slow healing once that gas bubble is injected. 6-8 weeks. No planes, mountains, heavy lifting, driving, the whole ten yards. Bubble gone by then. I would venture an opinion that it would be impossible to do a job as usual for that time, including the driving restriction. A basic shutdown of routine for anyone in the working world.
There is more. In my case, the cataract was going to be taken out, but the dr. and I agreed that the gap in vision and prescription would be too much of a hassle during the recovery period, so it was nixed. Thus, my eyesight prescription stays the same (a plus in healing): less fuss or need for transition lenses.
The other thing is that the cataract will likely be done in 6 mos. or so, followed in a week by the other one. 2018 will likely be The Year of New Insights and Visions.
There is also a possibility (a slim one) that a hole could occur in the other eye. Uh, we’ll see, so to speak.
Anyway, lines of print no longer have half-letters or missing letters and scrunched-up sections or faces when viewed with the repaired eye. Progress. Moving forward. As usual. Dealing with whatever priority in my life.