No more cloud in sight! PART 2

Continuation from Part 1..

In late 2009. I started noticing that my sight had become cloudy, especially in bright light. I searched up the net for a picture that would describe what it was like most accurately, I found this:

Some parts were clear but the center of my sight was very blurry and cloudy.

It felt like my contact lens were dirty but even after I changed to a new one, it was still cloudy and blurred. I started to search up in the net and was kinda convinced that it was cataracts. I started worrying even more when I couldn't see what was the number of the bus I usually catch. I could only tell whether it was 504 or 940 when it's realllyyyy close. So I just stopped any bus and get on it because it would be embarrassing if I didn't get on the bus I stopped lol. I can go to uni both ways anyway.

I searched up wikipedia and other websites and it said that using steroid based creams relate to developing cataracts. And that's when I immediately suspect that my eye problem was because of my eczema cream.
I went to an optometrist and she said "No, no it's not cataracts! You're still too young! It's just astigmatism!" She gave me some trial astigmatism contact lenses but I found them not helping at all! I then tried to ignore the problem and continue with uni and life.

Well into 2010, I really had difficulties with my eyes, the cloud just got worse. During labs I couldn't measure the transparent water or other transparent fluids in measuring cylinders because the light in labs are bright. Using pipettes were a nuisance and I sometimes embarrassingly need to ask the person next to me to check if it was the right dosage. I couldn't copy down answers in bright light. And in the pharmacy, I couldn't read the instructions behind the medicine boxes, making it hard to give quick answers to customers. One of the pharmacist also taught me how to dispense medications but I couldn't really see the computer screen, so I proceeded very slow. It was so embarrassing.

Basically, the cataract was TROUBLESOME!

One day, I told myself: that's it! I'm gonna need to get it checked! So Shawn accompanied me to an optometrist in Karawara. The optometrist there confirmed that it was cataracts and it was a rare sort. It's not located on the surface of my lens, but instead in the middle of the lens. Therefore, simple laser slicing of the top part is not possible and he referred me to an ophthalmologist. Before that, I partly suspected hat it was cataracts but I partly hoped that it wasn't. I went home crying on that day because the later option was wrong.

My grandma had a cataract removal surgery with Dr. Ian Constable form Lions Eye Institute. Therefore my mum brought me there too. I was pretty scared about it because I had never gone under the knife before!
The surgery was early in the morning at 7 am.

The anesthetist was very friendly! He asked me what course I do at uni and I told him I do pharmacy. I also told him that  I was missing a lab session on that day. So he started telling me all the names and functions of the drugs that he put into the canula that was injected on my left hand. After all was done he said "See, you didn't miss out on learning stuff today!" and I just laughed xD

My bed was rolled a short distance to the operating theater. It was like in movies! I saw the ceiling lights rushed past over my head as the bed moved.

This is a diagram of the type
of artificial lens inserted
to my right eye.

The operation was amazingly fast. I fell asleep and then I kinda woke up a bit towards the end. I saw the blurry Dr Constable and I don't know if I imagined it or not, I saw his hand holding a lens. Then everything went black and I can feel something pushed from the right side of my eye. I think it hurt a tiny bit, but not really. Then I felt someone stripping off a large sticker off my face (it felt like someones waxing my face lol). Then someone wipe an alcohol like (probably antiseptic) liquid on my face with a tissue. Then that's it!
I was rolled back out and woke up feeling refreshed lol.

Crazy right. I had a shield covering the eye for a couple of days and then it got taken off and everything was CLEAR. Like crazy. I even got headaches from it.

So yah. :) I'm now (as a friend's brother said) a bionic eyed girl.
Even thought it was pretty sad I got cataracts from the cream that was suppose to help me with eczema, I'm pretty thankful cos at least now I have better sight. Also, the artificial eye will NEVER get cataracts anymore the doctor said. And eventually if someone lives long enough, they will get cataracts apparently. So i got an early surgery hehe..

THE END

PS: Careful for those using eczema creams not to use it near your eyes!!!!!!!!

No more cloud in sight! PART I

As some of you know, I had a cataract surgery done about 3 months ago. "A cataract?! At your age?? I thought it's only for old people..." That would be the response I get from friends, aunties/uncles, even optometrists and doctors..How did it happen? When did you realise you had it? Is it clear now?? Was the operation scary?? Well.. here goes the story..

Starting around late Year 11 in 2007, I started to have this lil tiny bit of itchy, dry patch of skin on my left eyelid. I didn't know what it was, and I thought it was just simply because of the dry weather. I put on my moisturiser as usual but it never did got away. I would have days when my double eyelid would be retarted cos of this dry patch lol. One day, a friend at school told me that she thinks that it's eczema! I was like.. what's eczema? She told me about it and that would be the first time I know about the condition. Afterwards I just totally forgot about it. 

2008. TEE. The stressful year 12. I started having intensely itchy skin on the insides of my elbows and behind my knees, then the neck and under my eyes. When my GP told me that it's eczema, I got reminded of what my friend told me the previous year! For those who are not familiar with it:

"Eczema is a term used to describe itchy, red inflammation of the skin with oozing of fluid and crusting, which doctors also describe as atopic dermatitis. People who have eczema usually have a family history of asthma, hay fever and atopic dermatitis (eczema). Some people who have eczema also have asthma or hay fever." http://www.dermcoll.asn.au/public/a-z_of_skin-eczema.asp

I got prescribed some creams which are called "corticosteroids" which are, well, steroid based. I did read the precautions etc on the package, and was being careful of not putting too much of the cream on my skin. However, the creams only worked for a few while and then my eczema got worse. The GP referred me to the dermatologist and I went to the one in Applecross.

What can I say... The visit was :S . pretty much I went in, then the dermatologist said: "So, you have eczema is it? (He found out from the sheet I filled in at the reception) Can I have a look?" Then I said, " Yes, it's here and here and here and a little bit here". He straight away went to me, roll up my pants sleeves, roll up the back of my shirt and checks the eczema. I was a bit :S Also, the consulation was probably only about 20 minutes? Including the time he spends on writing the prescriptions, which seems longer than the information that he gave me about the condition or the drug. 

He prescribed me the low dosage cream (I found out from the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary book that a Pharmacy student/Pharmacist must buy. Pretty handy huh ;) ). As before, it worked for a while, then it didn't work. And worst, it made really deep wrinkles and extra extra dry skin under my eyes! I pretty much looked like a granny! He then gave me a stronger one that in the end works, but he never told me that I am not to put it under my eyes or anywhere near my eyes! I also want to mention that the eczema was gone, but the deep deep wrinkles did not.

I went to another dermatologist in Fremantle on recommendation from 2 friends. He was so much better, explained everything thoroughly, and told me that I am NOT to put those creams under my eyes, and even labeled the tubes as to which one is okay for the face and which one for the body. 

2010. University, I'm much better at handling my eczema. Know when to put my creams and when to just continue moisturising it. But guess what started happening on my eyes... Cataracts. 

(to be continued) sorry it's long xD It is a long story afterall..