SAFETY continued The fact that I may no longer need to use prescription glasses OR need to have prescription lenses in my masks was really appealing, but brought with it the need to purchase a new primary and backup mask. My cataract surgery was scheduled for a Monday morning for my left eye, and the surgery for the right eye was scheduled for the following Monday. For the three days prior to the first surgery, I had to self-administer (with my wife Betty’s help) combination eye drops three times per day. These eye drops included antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, helping to pre- pare the eye for surgery by minimizing the risk of infection and reducing inflammation.
he was very satisfied with the results and that over the next few days, my vision in that eye would continue to improve. As the week progressed following my left eye surgery, my vision in that eye significantly improved - so much so that I could no longer comfortably wear my old glasses. I also con- tinued to use the prescribed eye drops, but now for both eyes in preparation for the right eye surgery the next week. The right eye surgical process was exactly the same as with the left eye, with the scheduled follow-up the following day. During the follow-up, the surgeon evaluated his work and During a scheduled-follow up evaluation with my optometrist, he evaluated my overall vision and said my vision had improved from a pre-op- eration uncorrected 20/80+ to a post-operation 20/20+. The “+” has to do with my left eye that, due to scar tissue in that eye from many years ago, the vision is not quite as good as the right eye but has certainly improved from pre-opera- tion vision. My surgical experience was an absolute success and was, therefore, the genesis of this article. After any kind of eye surgery, it's crucial to talk with your surgeon about your desire to continue to scuba dive following any kind of eye surgery or treatment. In my case, the surgeon suggested that I wait a minimum of one month before con- sidering a return to the water to allow for proper healing and minimize the risk of complications. pronounced that the surgery went well. During all of this, one thing was constantly on my mind, and that was how this surgery, and any eye sur- gery, would affect my ability to continue to enjoy scuba diving. Since there are no controlled studies specifically addressing the suggested length of convalescence before a return to div- ing from any type of eye surgery, recommendations on a re- turn to diving are generally based on clinical experience and recommendations from diving medical organizations such as Divers Alert Network (DAN) and the Undersea and Hyper- baric Medical Society (UHMS). Here's a more detailed explanation with some general recommendations: A general recommendation is to consult with your ophthalmologist and wait a specified and recom- mended period of time after surgery before returning to div- ing. If your ophthalmologist is unfamiliar with diving, it would be advised that they contact the Medical Department at DAN or the UHMS for consultation. The most common types of eye surgery and recommenda-
On the day of surgery, we arrived at the clinic and were ushered into the surgical waiting room. After the requisite paperwork and insurance forms, I was taken into the surgical suite where I met the surgical nurses who took my vital signs and set up an IV to administer the anesthetic. I met the anesthesiologist who explained that I would be made comfortable during the surgical procedure, but I would still be conscious in order to follow instructions from the surgeon. I then met the surgeon. Not only was the surgeon a board-certified ophthalmologist and corneal
Pre-Surgery Vision Test
specialist but, as luck would have it, a scuba diver! He ex- plained the procedure he was going to perform, and then we talked about diving!! As that conversation went on, I began to feel the effects of the anesthesia and, before I knew it, I was listening to instructions as my clouded lens was being re- moved and the new lens put in its place. The entire procedure lasted only about 15 minutes, and I soon found myself back in the recovery area with a patch over my left eye and listening to instructions from the nursing staff. I was led out to the surgical waiting room, given a pair of very dark glasses to wear because my eye was still very sen- sitive to light. Betty met me and took me to the car. Since I’d had nothing to eat for the previous 24 hours, our first stop was at McDonald’s! During the 90-minute drive home, I napped while Betty drove. That evening, as suggested by the surgeon, Betty removed the patch covering my left eye and taped a plastic shield over the eye to keep me from accidentally touching or rubbing that eye during the night. The next morning, we had a follow-up appointment with the doctor. Since my pupil in the left eye was still dilated, I had to continue wearing the dark glasses. Even though it was less than 24 hours since the surgery, I could already tell that my vision had improved. The doctor fully evaluated my left eye and pronounced that
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