A clearer view of modern technology
HodgePodge by Charlie Hodge
I woke up Wednesday afternoon with a better view about life and a clearer eye on the benefits of modern technology.
To suggest I am thankful is an absolute understatement.
I was the lucky one in my family when it came to eyesight. The household of Hodge all needed glasses at an early age, which obviously I was aware of but not cognizant of how fortunate that made me. I simply remember thinking my siblings (both much older than I) looked geekie in their horn-rimmed glasses. Truth be known they were geekie – yet that was more due to the fact they were brilliant minded, focused, mature teens and I was a hyper, happy-go-lucky, bratty, younger brother.
My sister Sylvia sailed through school, hoping to leave home asap and escape to university as soon as possible – which she did. Brother Vic was a genius at anything he put his mind to. It took him many years and several heart breaks to figure out which routes to pick, but he eventually did. Once a solid path was chosen it was sound sailing towards success.
I digress. My eyesight was perfect as a youngster and I had no issues until my mid-20’s and took a roundhouse kick to the head in a martial arts tournament. That blow badly bruised the orbital bone and eye and cut the eyebrow and around the eye for a dozen stitches. I spent the next five months wearing an eyepatch.
Still, the eye recovered pretty good. Even after that scary scenario I foolishly continued to take my great eyesight for granted.
My career choice as a journalist, however, dictated it was only a matter of time before I would pay a price for my ignorance. I spent the better part of 40 years working full time staring at a computer as a reporter or editor around the province before finally getting around to writing books and running a communications company (writing brochures, magazines, programs). While writing my latest book, which took five years to complete, I noticed my eyes were getting blurrier and my ability to read significantly impacted. Slowly my long-distance vision started to disappear as well, to the point where I could not watch presentations at council on the video screen without moving very close.
My family doctor at the time never paid a lot attention to my concerns so I also brushed it off as not that big of a deal. I started by purchasing cheater glasses at the dollar store. They helped for a while, but soon that was not effective.
I was still reluctant and playing silly, stubborn male about how bad my situation really was until one evening while driving with Tez I nearly got us killed. “Did you not see that person pull out there,” Tez screamed at me (and rightfully so). The truth of the matter was no – I had not seen the car.
My new doctor, acquired a few years ago, hummed and hawed for about 15 seconds and sent me to a specialist for tests. I finally had to admit that perhaps (like my siblings) my eyes were screwed.
That’s when I met Dr. Waite, who has literally opened my eyes to how wonderful good vision is. I’d forgotten how fortunate I’ve been most of my life. Waite put me through a battery of tests and finally announced I needed cataract surgery in both eyes. During consultation that day, he jokingly told Tez (not aware of our hair-raising encounter) “I wouldn’t let him drive you anywhere.”
For a couple months I anxiously awaited surgery. September 28 is a day marked on my calendar and etched in my brain after many months waiting, I was finally fortunate enough to receive cataract surgery in my right eye. On January 4 this year I had the cataract in my left eye operated on.
The first surgery was effortless however I never appreciated how impactful it was until the second eye was done. When I had the patch removed permanently a few days later I was thrilled to be able to see a world I had not really seen all that well for years. Dr. Waite told me the sight would get even better after a little healing and I possible laser surgery to remove some scar tissue.
I was pleased with the results despite the long wait, but just how blessed I truly was had not set in.
Late last week, Dr. Waite once more performed his magic on my eyeballs. I admit to some trepidation about ‘laser’ surgery. It sounds so ominous. The good doctor assured me it was pain free, which it was, though the laser is damn bright and you are not allowed to blink. I assured Dr. Waite I would not blink under pressure – after all I am a politician.
I went to bed early that night not noticing any real difference. When I awoke it seemed I had stepped into another world. Everything was bright, clear, and spectacular to look at. I felt like I had just walked through a miracle. Once again there was definition and crispness to that which my vision encompassed. Colours were vibrant and spellbinding.
It’s a little scary for me now to recognize that I’d failed to appreciate how improved my vision had become after the first two cataract surgeries. I had simply accepted the miraculous improvement as normal, that it was my birthright. I had far too quickly taken my good fortune it for granted.
Today I sing the praises of laser surgery and the skilled hands and knowledge of eye-masters such as Dr. Waite. In my books, he’s not only a kind, classy man – but a miracle worker.
