Since my first cataract surgery in February 2020, I knew that something wrong was done to my left eye. As a result, no lens can improve my left eye vision; it is constantly blurry, no matter contacts or glasses. In addition, it affects my double-vision negatively, and all my attempts to fix it didn’t provide any positive outcome.

Each year, when I go for my annual, an optometrist tries to send me “to a real doctor” so that I can “finally figure out what’s wrong.” Last summer, the same call was made again, but this time, an optometrist wanted to confirm my long-time suspicions about the cataract surgery ourcome.

He referred me to a specialist on Chicago North Side, and when I called her office, they said that the earliest they could see me was in December.

On December 13, I finally went to my appointment. After all measurements were taken, the doctor came in and told me that she was confident my suspicions were justified and I should never had a multifocal lens (which I was trying to get from the surgeon who did that first one). She went on with her examination and confirmed and told me that she would send me for a consultation with the best specialist in Chicago, Dr. Rubenstein. He would be able to evaluate the risks/benefits. Since I waited for an appointment with Dr. Rogers for four months, I was mentally prepared for at least the same with Dr. Rubuinstein, but she escorted me to the reception and asked the receptionist to make a call and see if “maybe something with holidays and such.” The receptionist made a call and said that Dr. Rogerst was wondering, understanding that holidays-and-such-but-may-be-something, and then she turned to me: will you be able to come on Monday? Yay!!! Having that it was Friday, and having that it was mid-December, and having that I already took a day off for that Monday.. Yay!

That’s, by the way, how my last attempt to finalize the cookie-sending without sleep deprivation failed! On December 16, I spent the morning with the pest control person, baked extra tea cakes in the early afternoon, and then went to Rush University Medical Center.

Even though I planned my trip perfectly, and all public transportation cooperated, I left home at 12-15 and returned at 6-15. Six hours! The travel in one direction took over one hour; the wait was minimal, so the rest was extensive testing. I really liked Dr. Rubenstein and all his staff. In a funny way, I felt a deep connection with him as a professional. When I was informed that although I have my test results from three days ago, “Dr. Rubunstein still wants to have them in his fingertips,” I laughed and said that it’s the same way as I always want to run a query execution plan myself, even when it is provided along with a ticket.

I spent over two hours being tested on different equipment, known and unknown, and finally, the doctor came to talk to me. He said that he had reviewed all the information, and he believed that I was a perfect candidate for a lens replacement surgery, although he usually does not recommend it lightly. I felt even more related to him when he said that he always fixed other surgeons’ mistakes and that other surgeons would send their patients to him whenever it was a complicated case. That’s exactly what happens with me! He said that this surgery would be more involved than my first one, but still, it would be an outpatient one.

Next, I went to a scheduling person. The next available date was February 19, and again, it worked perfectly for me! I still need clearance from my physician closer to the surgery date, but that’s it, and I am staying cautiously optimistic.