Insights from Cataract Surgeries

First of all, let me apologize for the title which, no doubt, made you roll your eyes. I was searching for something that might catch your eye, but....
sorry, those puns keep bouncing around my brain like emoji faces, the ones laughing hysterically.   
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Since my last blog posting (back in December), I've had two cataract surgeries – the left eye on April 3 followed by the right on April 23.  An unexpected complication on the left extended my recovery time; but since then, the healing has gone smoothly. Clarity has improved, especially at a distance, and colors are more vivid than ever. Those house slippers, which I thought were brown, are actually purple!

For the patient, cataract surgery is all about the eye drops, at least in my surgeon's protocol. During the first ten days following the operations, multi-colored bottles lined the edge of my desk, waiting for their turns – every four hours from 8 am to 8 pm. 

I was instructed to put in a drop, wait 5 minutes, put in the next, wait 5 minutes, and down the line. The doctor added that if I could close my eyes for each of those 5-minute periods, it would be "helpful."  So four times a day, I sat in a chair, bottles at the ready, and timer set for 5-minute intervals.

​ To my surprise, this period of non-activity was challenging. I had regularly sat in meditation for 20 minutes at a time, so mindful sitting wasn't new to me.  But instead of taking advantage of the eye-drop opportunities to practice mindfulness, I searched for ways to multi-task with my eyes closed.  Perhaps I could listen to an audio book, music or podcast.  I could talk to a friend, record the grocery list  into my phone, do yoga stretches. Why was sitting, simply sitting and breathing, listening to birds outside my window or a train whistle in the distance, so difficult for me? 

Maybe the reason was restlessness, limited patience, annoyance or an over ambitious To Do list. All could be contributing factors, but none felt like an epiphany until I made a connection.

For the past 6 months I have allowed my almost-daily meditation and writing practices to dwindle practically down to zero – practices being the key word. I could itemize their replacements, but that's not the point. If I value these activities and expect them to thrive, which I do, I need to show up for them, regularly. 

With only a week of drops remaining from a single bottle, my wait time is greatly reduced. However, I'm sitting longer in quiet meditation most mornings as I listen to my Headspace app.  And I've started writing again, beginning with daily journal prompts and this blog, which feels joyful!

Who knew that eye drops could help me refocus in such a meaningful way? I know, I know... 

 
 

  




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