We did a simple celebration (with cakes) for my parents' 66th wedding anniversary just now.
Dad will be going for his cataract procedure tomorrow. Over the past year, his vision has deteriorated rapidly. He used to watch badminton a lot on tv, but has gradually cut down. Early this year I began noticing he stopped watching all together. He has essentially lost his vision on his right eye primarily due to glaucoma (which causes nerve damage) and cataract. His left eye is also affected by glaucoma and cataract, but still have some vision left.
We realized we've taken him to see an eye specialist about 12 years ago, when his cataract wasn't that bad. Couldn't remember why we did not proceed with it. And just around 3 years ago, we went to see another eye specialist, but the doctor discouraged (did not want to perform) any procedure due to age factor - his supposingly inability to listen to instructions clearly as dad is also relying on his hearing aid. No word about glaucoma back then.
At his age now (94), it is going be a lot higher risk to undergo the procedure - but then there is nothing much to lose I guess, as he is already almost blind. A successful cataract removal will also likely to help improve pressure from glaucoma and arrest further decline in his left vision. Really worried about tomorrow, and I pray he recovers well.
One lesson I learnt from managing my parents is that if you need to go for a procedure for a health problem at a younger age, just go fix it. The longer you delay and the older you get, the risk is going to be higher and healing much slower - and sometimes, some doctors decline to perform the procedure.
Sigh ... I fear about growing old - both mum and dad have totally different set of health problems:
- Dad - Sharp memory, failing vision and hearing, limited mobility (weak knees)
- Mum - Alzheimer's, sharp vision and hearing, two-times cancer operation (oral, colon)
