Cataract: Cloudy or Kayak?
One of the markers of getting older in our society is having to get your eyes operated on. As humans age, we develop cataracts. These are common reactions to aging but can be accelerated by lifestyle choices. At 82, mine are age related. However, the experience has raised questions in my mind.
I find the word that describes them a bit odd. Isn’t that also a natural water feature loved by kayakers? The origin of the word usage is very old. In premodern times, cataracts in the eye ended vision and left the eyes white and cloudy looking. The wakes and foam created in the river cataracts were usually white and foamy. * Thus the use of the term for both. But that was not what I was going to talk about. Sometimes, my teacher’s gene just takes over.
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This past Wednesday, a skilled optical surgeon, Dr. Lara Dudek, removed a cataract from my right eye. The left comes next Wednesday. However, in holding my right eye closed, I discovered that my view of the world is changing drastically.
Out of my left eye, the world has a glow. I see the world with a haze of gold on everything. It has grown so slowly, I really didn’t notice it. The whole world is tinted and looks as if we are in one of those B-grade movies trying to create an atmosphere of joy. I was not aware of it, honestly. I wonder if my attitude about the world will change also? I know I will definitely have to have sunglasses now.
Good grief, that sun is bright in the kitchen window. Put down the shade!
*For more information: Cataract or Waterfall: The Etymology of Words in Ophthalmology — OphthoQuestions
