Eye Surgery Update, Good News!

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I’m two months past my last surgery and I have a lot to be thankful for.

First, I should tell you that I have lost what little sense of time I had to begin with. It feels like way more than two months, but Sept 26 was the date of my last surgery. I saw my doctor this morning and he is very happy with how I am healing. There is still some ground to cover and a bit of uncertainty, but for those who are following, here’s where I am.

I do have some PVR scar tissue from my last surgery but it is far less severe than what formed after the previous surgery. It has caused some small tears in my retina, but both the tears and the scar tissue are outside of my field of vision. That is itself unusual and a function of the size of my eyes. I have learned that my eyes are exactly twice the size of a normal eye. You know what they say? Big eyes, thick glasses.

The good news is that the laser work done in the last surgery is holding well and containing the problem. My doctor does not think I am at risk of my macula detaching again. That is great news! Keeping the macula attached is the real goal of all of this. My vision will not be good, maybe 20/200, in my right eye but if the macula we not to stay attached, the eye would have to be removed. The odds seem very high that we are winning that battle. Please knock wood with me!

The plan is to let the eye continue to heal and the scar tissue mature for about another sixty days. At that point I will have a laser procedure, which will not involve an incision, to reinforce the area where the tears have occurred. We will then monitor the healing, and if everything goes really well, I will have one more surgery to remove the oil put in my eye to support the retina, and clean up some issues left over from my first retina surgery. Both minor issues, but real surgery with real recovery time.

If all of that goes perfectly, I could be done as early as spring and move on with my life. I know that sounds like a lot but the average number of surgeries for my condition is more like six to eight. That puts me way below average, again, if all goes well. That’s the best news we’ve had and Kathy and I are both thrilled. 

I have saved the best news for last.

My doctor says that he feels like I am stable enough to host the Bonefish Schools at Bair’s Lodge in January! There is no way I can tell you what a relief that is. I can not wait to be in the Bahamas with my friends talking about and even doing a little bonefishing. 

He did caution me, “Now, you can’t lie in a hammock and drink a bottle of whisky.”

“Damn,” I answered, “have you been to my Bonefish School before?”

Any way, joking aside, I certainly have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I feel like I’m getting my life back. I am guardedly optimistic and incredibly happy. I owe an eternal debt to Dr Ajay Alurkar, of Omni Eye Services. He is an incredible doctor and a great human being. 

If you are a G&G fan, please join me in thanking Dr Ajay for getting me back on track. Those bonefish better look out, I’m coming for them!

We did have a cancelation, so there is one spot open for the January Bonefish school, Jan 4-11. If you are interested, get in touch at hookups@ginkandgasoline.com.

Have a safe and wonderful holiday!

Louis Cahill
Gink & Gasoline
www.ginkandgasoline.com
hookups@ginkandgasoline.com
 
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22 thoughts on “Eye Surgery Update, Good News!

  1. great news, hang in there. It’s years since I had similar operations to my right eye and the sight is still slowly improving. I was lucky when they did the cataract in the left eye as they inserted a lens which gives me better than 20/20 in my left eye and that helps my vision out on the flats chasing the Bones or whatever I’m chasing. Cheers from down under.

  2. Great hearing your news. Now I understand that you are really just Grandmother in disguise. (What big eyes you have, Grandmother!) Kidding aside, very happy for you.

  3. I am so happy that your recovery is better now than when we talked earlier last month. I suppose all those little prayers I said for you worked. I hope you and the wife have a wonderful Christmas and New Years and hopefully someone will fill your glass with a large portion of Crown XR

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